OLDS — Your chance to see some of the best curlers in the world compete in Olds begins at 11 a.m. today (May 3) when the first draws of the 2022 KIOTI Tractor Champions Cup take place at the Sportsplex.
The tournament runs from May 3-8 on the main ice surface at the Sportsplex. It's the final event of the 2021-22 Pinty’s Grand Slam of Curling season.
All the competing teams from across Canada, the U.S. and the world have won multiple major tournaments over the years.
At 11 a.m., Draw 1 will see the E. Kim rink take on the Gim rink of South Korea on Sheet A. The Jennifer Jones rink competes against the Dupont rink of Denmark in Sheet B. The Bruce Mouat rink of Scotland will take on S. Kim on Sheet C and the Brad Jacobs rink will face the Sturmay rink of Edmonton on Sheet D.
At 2:30 p.m., it’s the Einarson rink of Gimli, Man. versus the Christensen rink of Duluth, Minn. on Sheet A, the Tirinzoni rink of Switzerland versus the Amber Holland rink of Saskatchewan on Sheet B, the Brendan Boettcher rink of Edmonton versus the Dropkin rink of Duluth, Minn. on Sheet C and the Kevin Koe rink of Calgary takes on the Jacques rink of Edmonton on Sheet D.
The evening draw at 6 p.m. will feature the Tracy Fleury rink of East St. Paul Man. versus the Rachel Homan rink on Sheet A, the Anna Hasselborg rink of Sweden versus the Peterson of St. Paul, Minn. on Sheet B, the Edin rink of Sweden versus the Gunnlaugson rink of Winnipeg on Sheet C and the Brad Gushue rink of Newfoundland takes on the John Epping rink of Toronto on Sheet D.
The finals will be held on Sunday, May 8. The men’s final will take to the ice at 10 a.m. that day and the women’s final will be held at 2 p.m.
Gary Gaudette, who co-chairs the KIOTI Tractor Champions Cup organizing committee along with Nancy McInerney, can’t wait for the action to begin.
“It’s the best men’s and women in the world that are coming,” Gaudette said during an interview.
McInerney and organizing committee member Lowell Peterman have another reason to be especially excited for the event because their daughter, Jocelyn Peterman, plays second for the Jennifer Jones rink of Winnipeg.
In a news release, Lowell said the couple are thrilled to see their daughter compete in a top-level curing competition in her home country although “we know it’s a competitive field and they’ll have to work hard to earn their spot.”
