The teams and the draws are now set for the Meridian Canadian Open.
That is the Pintys Grand Slam of Curling event coming to North Battleford Civic Centre Jan. 8 to 13.
Sixteen men’s and 16 women’s teams are competing. Each division includes seven teams each from the World Curling Tours Order of Merit rankings, seven teams from the World Curling Tours Year to Date rankings, one sponsor’s exemption and one Tour Challenge Tier 2 winner.
The men’s teams competing in North Battleford are:
Team Brendan Bottcher, Edmonton, Alta.
Team Braden Calvert, Winnipeg, Man.
Team Reid Carruthers, Winnipeg, Man.
Team Peter de Cruz, Geneva, Switzerland
Team Matt Dunstone, Regina, Sask.
Team Niklas Edin, Karlstad, Sweden
Team John Epping, Toronto, Ont.
Team Jason Gunnlaugson, Winnipeg, Man.
Team Brad Gushue, St. Johns, Nfld.
Team Glenn Howard, Penetanguishene, Ont.
Team Brad Jacobs, Sault Ste. Marie, Ont.
Team Rylan Kleiter, Saskatoon, Sask.
Team Kevin Koe, Calgary, Alta.
Team Scott McDonald, Kingston, Ont.
Team Bruce Mouat, Edinburgh, Scotand
Team Kirk Muyres, Saskatoon, Sask.
The lineup of women’s teams is:
Team Chelsea Carey, Calgary, Alta.
Team Kerri Einarson, Gimli, Man.
Team Tracy Fleury, East St. Paul, Man.
Team Satsuki Fujisawa, Kitami, Japan
Team Anna Hasselborg, Sundbyberg, Sweden
Team Rachel Homan, Ottawa, Ont.
Team Jennifer Jones, Winnipeg, Man.
Team Eve Muirhead, Stirling, Scotland
Team Darcy Robertson, Winnipeg, Man.
Team Nina Roth, Chaska, USA
Team Casey Scheidegger, Lethbridge, Alta.
Team Robyn Silvernagle, North Battleford, Sask.
Team Elena Stern, Oberwallis, Switzerland
Team Silvana Tirinzoni, Aarau, Switzerland
Team Laura Walker, Edmonton, Alta.
Team Isabella Wran, Stockholm, Sweden
The Silvernagle and Kleiter teams received the sponsor’s exemptions; the Muyres and Stern teams earned their way in by winning the Tour Challenge Tier 2 titles in Thunder Bay.
The format is a triple-knockout with eight teams emerging from that to go to the playoffs. The event runs at the Civic Centre Jan. 8 to 13. Full event and weekend passes and individual draw tickets are available at 2019canadianopen.goigniter.com.
The event will also be carried on Sportsnet with TV coverage beginning Jan. 10.
