Canada s Curling Best are Coming to Camrose

Transcription

1 All EYES ON CAMROSE

2 Page Home Hardware Canada Cup of Curling December 3-7, 2014 On behalf of Meridian, we are proud to be the presenting sponsor for this event! As a dedicated supporter of communities across Canada, it is our pleasure to support one of our nation s most beloved sports and welcome fans and participants to the vibrant and warm-hearted community of Camrose. Glenn Friesen, Senior VP of Sales and Marketing, Meridian Manufacturing Canada s Curling Best are Coming to Camrose Every year, a host of elite championships thrill passionate curling fans across Canada and around the world. But, in the eyes of the top competitors, there is one that clearly stands out as the toughest of all. This season, Camrose has the honour of playing host to that highly regarded event the 2014 Home Hardware Canada Cup, presented by Meridian Manufacturing that will see 14 of the very best teams in the country face off Dec. 3 7 in the Encana Arena. John Morris and Jennifer Jones, two-time Canada Cup champions and Olympic gold medallists, are at the forefront of competitors who speak so highly of the event. The Canada Cup has such a high quality field every time out, said Morris, who won titles in 2009 and 2011, throwing third stones for Kevin Martin. It s tougher than any other event and for the fans, there s great games underway on every sheet in the arena. Morris will also skip the first-ever men s Team Canada at the 2015 Tim Hortons Brier, presented by SecurTek Monitoring Solutions, heading up a Calgary-based team featuring Pat Simmons, Carter Rycroft and Nolan Thiessen. It s just a great event, said Jones, the women s champion in 2007 and You re facing all the top teams, and every team s just so pumped up for it. When you re playing the best, it brings out the best in you. Two-time Scotties Tournament of Hearts champion Heather Nedohin of Edmonton sees the event as a great opportunity for curling fans. It s a wonderful opportunity for fans from our area to take a look at Canada s best competing. The 11th edition of the all-star competition features Canada s top seven men s and women s squads in a round-robin format, with the top three of each gender advancing to the playoffs. The two winners will join Team Canada at the 2015 World Financial Group Continental Cup, presented by SecurTek Monitoring Solutions, and also secure the first entries to the 2017 Road to the Roar Pre-trials event. The complete men s field includes the Olympic gold-medal winning team skipped by Brad Jacobs, along with Morris, Kevin Koe, Glenn Howard, Jim Cotter, Brad Gushue, and Mike McEwen. The women s side is headlined by Jones and two-time defending Scotties Tournament of Hearts champion Rachel Homan. Nedohin, Sherry Middaugh, Sherry Anderson, Val Sweeting and Allison Flaxey round out the field. The celebration of championship curling doesn t end when the rocks come to rest at the Encana Arena. Right next door, in the Camrose Community Centre, the party will be underway in the Patch. It s the perfect place to enjoy a bite and a beverage, dance to the sounds of live bands and join in on interactive activities designed for family fun. The Patch is also the place to meet faceto-face with the athletes when the games are done. And admission is included in the price of every ticket! The Home Hardware Canada Cup is the first event in this season s Alberta Triple Crown. It will be followed by two events in Calgary: the World Financial Group Continental Cup, Jan at the Markin MacPhail Centre at WinSport s Canada Olympic Park, and the 2015 Tim Hortons Brier, Feb. 28 March 8 at the Scotiabank Saddledome. Live it Live when the greatest stars on pebbled ice launch an exciting new Season of Champions in Camrose. Tickets are available online at curling.ca/tickets.

3 Tickets from $20 curling.ca/tickets Page 3 Message from Honourable Jim Prentice Premier of Alberta On behalf of the Government of Alberta, it is my pleasure to welcome you to the 2014 Home Hardware Canada Cup of Curling in Camrose. Alberta has a deep appreciation for curling that goes back more than a century, when players of all ages and abilities would gather on sheets of ice for fun and fellowship. While the stakes are now higher, the pleasure we take from the game is the same, and that is why Alberta is thrilled to be hosting such an incredible event. This weekend, the Canada Cup kicks off the Triple Crown and an exciting season of curling in Alberta, which will culminate in Calgary with the World Financial Group Continental Cup and the Tim Hortons Brier Canadian men s championship. Over the next few days, you will see some of the best curling action in Canada as players vie for top spots as well as the chance to qualify for the 2018 Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea. Whether you are here as a player or spectator, I hope you enjoy the tournament and everything curling has to offer. Best of luck to all those competing. Jim Prentice December 2, 2014

4 Page Home Hardware Canada Cup of Curling December 3-7, 2014 Meet men the Team Morris Carter Rycroft, John Morris, Nolan Thiessen, Pat Simmons After losing to Kevin Koe in the final match of the 2014 Tim Hortons Brier, John Morris has taken over as the skip of the championship squad for the coming season. The Alberta curlers have the honour of becoming the first-ever men s Team Canada at this year s Brier which will be hosted by Calgary. Morris won two Canadian and one world championship, as well as the gold medal at the 2010 Olympics, shooting third rocks for Kevin Martin. Team Jacobs Team McEwen Brad Jacobs, Ryan Fry, E.J. Harnden, Ryan Harnden The biggest dream in the sporting world became a reality for Brad Jacobs just nine months ago. The sharp-shooting skip, and his teammates from Sault Ste. Marie, Ont., celebrated a gold-medal victory at the 2014 Olympic Games in Sochi, Russia. Jacobs has been a rising star on the curling scene for the past several years, winning the Tim Hortons Brier and silver medal at the Ford World Men s Curling Championship in Mike McEwen, B.J. Neufeld, Matt Wozniak, Denni Neufeld Winnipeg s Mike McEwen is back in the hunt with the team that has been one of the most dominant on the competitive curling circuit over the past several seasons. In spite of an outstanding record on the World Curling Tour, McEwen is still waiting for his turn to represent Manitoba at the Tim Hortons Brier. In the past five provincial playdowns, he has fallen short in the championship final four times. The team bowed out in the semifinal in 2013.

5 Tickets from $20 curling.ca/tickets Team Koe Page 5 LISTEN TO Kevin Koe, Marc Kennedy, Brent Laing, Ben Hebert Kevin Koe won the 2014 Tim Hortons Brier, and then embarked in a new direction with a team that comes with all kinds of competitive experience. Koe is joined by longtime Kevin Martin front-enders, Marc Kennedy and Ben Hebert, along with Brent Laing who previously played second for Glenn Howard of Ontario. Koe was also the Canadian and world champion in Team Gushue EDMONTON S SPORTS LEADER PROUDLY SUPPORTS THE HOME HARDWARE CANADA CUP OF CURLING Always on the mark Brad Gushue, Mark Nichols, Brett Gallant, Geoff Walker Brad Gushue has a familiar face back at third with the return of Mark Nichols, his gold medal-winning teammate from the 2006 Olympic Games. The Gushue team is off to a strong start to the new season with an early November victory at the Grand Slam Masters. The skip has represented Newfoundland/Labrador at the Tim Hortons Brier 11 times. Nichols served as his third for eight of those appearances. Fresh, craft brewed beer made right here. Enjoy three styles of craft beer made in Camrose at the Norsemen Inn Avenue, Camrose

6 Page Home Hardware Canada Cup of Curling December 3-7, 2014 Team Howard Team Cotter Glenn Howard, Richard Hart, Jon Mead, Craig Savill Ontario s Glenn Howard has two significant changes to his line-up of the past three years, one of them leading to the return of a former teammate. Richard Hart served as Howard s third until the conclusion of the season. During their time together, they won six consecutive Ontario titles, the Tim Hortons Brier and a world curling championship. Jon Mead, former third for Winnipeg s Jeff Stoughton, takes over at second and Craig Savill remains at lead. Jim Cotter, Ryan Kuhn, Tyrel Griffith, Rick Sawatsky The past season was the most successful of Jim Cotter s competitive curling career with a pair of silver-medal performances at the two major men s championships of the year. Throwing fourth stones on the British Columbia team skipped by John Morris, Cotter advanced to the final games of the 2013 Tim Hortons Roar of the Rings and the 2014 Tim Hortons Brier. He returns to the skip position for the 2014 Home Hardware Canada Cup. Amisk (Andrukow Group Solutions) Camrose (Andrukow Group Solutions) Clyde (Flatlander Agri Services Ltd.) Crossfield (Providence Grain) Daysland (Andrukow Group Solutions) Sedgewick (Andrukow Group Solutions) Fort Saskatchewan (Providence Grain) Gaudin (Providence Grain) Marengo, SK (Providence Grain) Marsden, SK (Andrukow Group Solutions) Mundare (Andrukow Group Solutions) Paradise Valley (Andrukow Group Solutions) Provost (Andrukow Group Solutions) Rycroft (Dunvegan Agri Services Ltd.) Ryley (Andrukow Group Solutions) St. Paul (Andrukow Group Solutions) Strathmore (Crowfoot Ag Solutions Inc.) Viking (Andrukow Group Solutions) Viking (Providence Grain) Wainwright (Andrukow Group Solutions) Waskatenau (Providence Grain) For over 35 years, Andrukow Group has been providing leading edge agricultural solutions to farmers across Alberta. From the first seed sewn in spring, to the last swath of bountiful harvest and every day in between, our goal is to see you succeed. Offering a full compliment of canola and cereal seed options, liquid and dry fertilizer, chemical, nutrition, and farm business planning solutions, we truly are your How To, Go To People committed to getting you what you need, when you need it. Our mission remains simple: Making agriculture, our clients, and our people better, stronger, and proud of their profession. Call your local AGSI & Partner location today, or visit for more information. Proud to support curling in Alberta, and across our communities.

7 Tickets from $20 curling.ca/tickets Page 7 Wild Rose Co-operative is the Silver Sponsor of the 2014 Home Hardware Canada Cup of Curling! Locations: Camrose, Killam, Sedgewick, Viking, Hardisty, Galahad and Alliance. Where members matter most! As a member of Vision Credit Union, you are not only a member, you re an owner! Member-owners share in our profits annually and have a voice in our Credit Union. If you want to find out how you can join and then share in the profits of your credit union, stop by your local branch. visioncu.ca PROUD VOLUNTEER SPONSOR OF THE 2014 HOME HARDWARE CANADA CUP Call today or visit CanaltaHotels.com to book your next stay in Camrose with us.

8 Fun for the whole family in Camrose The experience of live championship curling is unlike that of any other major sporting event in the world. Once the action comes to a close at the arena, the fun moves over to the Patch where curling fans of all ages come together for a unique celebration. The Patch, the legendary social centre for every Season of Champions event, is the scene of a party that comes complete with live music, a tasty array of food and beverages and interactive activities for the entire family. It s also the place to see another side of the best curlers in the game during Team Autograph sessions and Up Close and Personal interviews. Social Media Stay in touch with all the excitement taking place at the Home Hardware Canada Cup whether it s on the ice at the Encana Arena or at the party in the Patch. You can find up-tothe-minute updates on Facebook and Twitter. & #CanCup Live Entertainment Every night following the final draw, the spotlight turns to the Patch where fans dance up a storm to the sounds of a host of top-notch entertainers taking centre stage. Wednesday Trevor Panczak The entertainment starts off on the right note with a solo performance by Trevor Panczak, one of the bright rising stars of Canada s country music scene. Born and raised in southern Alberta, the personable performer has a natural knack of making every audience feel right at home with his music. Thursday Trevor Panczak and Rough Stock Panczak kicks it up a notch for a return performance of contemporary country sounds, this time with the support of the Rough Stock Band. It s the same ensemble that opened for Tim McGraw in July at Edmonton s Rexall Place. Friday The Chevelles The Chevelles set the tone for the weekend with another of their legendary hard-driving performances. Gear up for a wild ride when one of Canada s most dynamic cover bands draws from its repertoire of over 200 rock classics. Saturday The Orchard The Orchard, an Edmonton-based duo, brings their southern country sounds to the Patch. These talented musicians have received numerous nominations from the Alberta Association of Country Music, including Group or Duo of the Year, Rising Star and Song of the Year. Suite 33 Suite 33 will take the party to the next level to close out the night, featuring the very best from the pop music genre. These five gifted musicians have been perfecting their act at hundreds of performances in venues ranging from Western Canada to Las Vegas. Sunday The Orchard The Orchard returns for a final performance in the Patch in between the women s and men s championship finals.

9 Team Autograph Sessions Cool Shots Cool Shots has become the rage among curling fans at Season of Champions events. It s the small-scale version of the roaring game played on shuffleboard-style tables. Take your best shot in the daily competitions with cash prizes up for grabs. Bring along your programs, curling memorabilia and anything else you d like to have signed by the stars of Canadian curling. Wednesday 11:45 a.m. Teams Sweeting, Howard, Jacobs and Koe 4:45 p.m. Teams Nedohin and Middaugh Thursday 11:45 a.m. Teams Morris and Homan 4:45 p.m. Teams Gushue and Cotter Friday 11:45 a.m. Teams Jones and McEwen 4:45 p.m. Teams Flaxey and Anderson Up Close and Personal Interviews The inaugural edition of Winter Fest, Nov. 28 Dec. 7, is the perfect icing on the cake for the Home Hardware Canada Cup turning Camrose into a virtual winter wonderland. The Camrose Community Centre will host family oriented entertainment, in and around the Patch, featuring dance groups, magicians, buskers, mascots, skill demonstrations, and a whole lot more. The wide range of family activities includes ice sculptures, outdoor curling, horse drawn hayrides and carolers. There s no better way to get a head start on your holiday celebrations! Wednesday 11:45 a.m. Beaumont Dance Troup 4:45 p.m. Ukrainian Veselka Dancers Friday 4:45 p.m. About Time Productions Musical Theatre The athletes will be sitting down for a candid conversation with the fans in the Patch. You get to ask the questions and you might be surprised by some of the answers! Saturday 11:00 a.m. Horse drawn wagon rides between the Rec Centre and Field House 4:45 p.m The Running Thunder Dancers Wednesday 4:45 p.m. Thursday 4:45 p.m. Friday 4:45 p.m. Saturday 12:30 p.m. Team Homan Team Jones* Team Jacobs* Team Morris* Sunday 1:15 p.m. Horse drawn wagon rides between the Rec Centre and Field House 1:15 p.m. Camrose Academy of Dance *Autograph opportunity to follow

10 Page Home Hardware Canada Cup of Curling December 3-7, 2014 Schedule Time A B C D E Wednesday December 3rd 8:30am 1:30pm 6:30pm 1 Sweeting Nedohin Cotter Morris Jones Flaxey Homan Middaugh Nedohin Jones Koe McEwen Koe Jacobs Flaxey Homan Sweeting Anderson 2 3 Howard Morris Gushue McEwen Jacobs Cotter Anderson Middaugh Gushue Howard Thursday December 3rd 8:30am 1:30pm 6:30pm Howard McEwen Flaxey Middaugh Morris Gushue Flaxey Anderson Jacobs Howard 5 Cotter McEwen Jacobs Gushue Homan Sweeting 4 Middaugh Jones Cotter Koe Nedohin Anderson 6 Homan Nedohin Jones Sweeting Morris Koe Friday December 3rd 8:30am 1:30pm 6:30pm Anderson Homan Koe Gushue Gushue Cotter Middaugh Sweeting McEwen Morris Anderson Jones Howard Koe Middaugh Nedohin 9 Sweeting Flaxey Morris Jacobs Jones Homan 7 8 McEwen Jacobs Nedohin Flaxey Howard Cotter Saturday December 3rd 8:00am 1:30pm 6:30pm tie-breaker if necessary Women s Semi Final Men s Semi Final Sunday December 7th 10:00am 5:00pm Women s Championship Game Men s Championship Game

11 Tickets from $20 curling.ca/tickets Page 11 Key matchups The Home Hardware Canada Cup will have no shortage of intriguing matches during the round robin as Canada s best curling teams begin their quest for a berth in the 2018 Winter Olympics. Narrowing them down to one per draw was tough, but we tried our best. Watch these games closely! 1, Team Sweeting (Edmonton) vs. Team Nedohin (Sherwood Park) A great reason for Edmonton curling fans to make the early drive to Camrose! A possible preview of the Alberta Scotties provincial women s final, with Heather Nedohin looking to show the defending champ Val Sweeting she s still a force to be reckoned with. 2, Team Gushue (St. John s) vs. Team McEwen (Winnipeg) Remember what happened the last time they met in a big game? Mike McEwen made a shot-ofthe-year candidate to score four in the Grand Slam Masters final in Selkirk, Man., but it was Brad Gushue prevailing in the end. McEwen gets his chance at revenge! 3, Team Jacobs (Sault Ste. Marie, Ont.) vs. Team Cotter (Vernon, B.C.) The reigning Olympic champs will play every game this season with a target on their collective backs. The Cotter foursome will be looking to close out its first day with a win, and beating the gold-medallists would be a huge momentum boost! 4, Team Middaugh (Coldwater, Ont.) vs. Team Jones (Winnipeg) A rematch of the Tim Hortons Roar of the Rings final 12 months ago in Winnipeg! Jennifer Jones and Co. are looking to hold on to the magic of their amazing season, while Team Middaugh has shown it can beat any team in the country. Should be a dandy! 5, Team Jacobs (Sault Ste. Marie, Ont.) vs. Team Gushue (St. John s) You re in the only country on the planet where you can have Olympic gold-medal skips going head to head. The two Brads have proven their credentials on the sport s biggest stage, and both have their sights set on a second gold medal, perhaps in 2018 in South Korea! 6, Team Morris (Calgary) vs. Team Koe (Calgary) Look no further for the most intriguing round-robin game! Kevin Koe left his old team to form a new squad featuring Morris s old teammates Marc Kennedy and Ben Hebert. Taking over Koe s old team? John Morris. Still keeping track? Also, Morris and Koe were longtime teammates in the early 2000s. Should be some intensity in this one! 7, Team McEwen (Winnipeg) vs. Team Jacobs (Sault Ste. Marie, Ont.) The two hottest teams to open the season, this should feature plenty of drama. Both skips have shown they re not afraid of any situation, and both skips have shown they can bail out of trouble with the peel-weight takeouts. Should be fun to watch! 8, Team Nedohin (Edmonton) vs. Team Flaxey (Listowel, Ont.) Two teams potentially on the playoff bubble, and likely in must-win territory! The Nedohin foursome has plenty of big-game experience over the years, whereas Team Flaxey is still fresh on the scene. Who will be able to handle the nerves the best? That will decide it! 9, Team Jones (Winnipeg) vs. Team Homan (Ottawa) Does this matchup need any hyping? Of course not, but we ll try anyways. The Trials champs go head to head with the Scotties champs, with first place and a bye to the final potentially on the line! It s always an amazing battle when these teams go at it!

12 Page Home Hardware Canada Cup of Curling December 3-7, 2014 community engagementdelivered with energy We don t just work in our communities - we proudly live there, too. Getting involved and making a difference is something we choose to do. Enerplus is proud to be a Silver Sponsor for the 2014 Home Hardware Canada Cup of Curling event. INSPIRING GREATNESS HURRY HARD! albertasport.ca $20 PACKS A LOT OF PUNCH. To purchase tickets, and for complete details, visit:

13 Tickets from $20 curling.ca/tickets Meet women the Team Jones Team Homan Page 13 Rachel Homan, Emma Miskew, Joanne Courtney, Lisa Weagle At 25 years of age, Rachel Homan of Ottawa heads up one of the most impressive teams in women s competitive curling. She will be making her fourth appearance at the Scotties Tournament of Hearts this year, returning to defend as Team Canada for the second year in a row. Homan will have one change to the team with Joanne Courtney taking over from Alison Kreviazuk at second. Team Anderson Jennifer Jones, Kaitlyn Lawes, Jill Officer, Dawn McEwen Jennifer Jones has firmly established a reputation as one of the greatest athletes to ever play the game, winning every significant championship in the curling world. The highlight of her illustrious career came this past February in Sochi, Russia where she led her Winnipeg team to the gold medal podium at the 2014 Olympic Games. Jones has also won the Scotties Tournament of Hearts four times, one world curling championship and two Canada Cup titles, Sherry Anderson, Sherri Singler, Marliese Kasner, Stephanie Schmidt Sherry Anderson was vice-skip for Stefanie Lawton when the team won the women s side at the 2012 Canada Cup. When the team comes to Camrose, she moves up to skip. Anderson is no stranger to calling the shots, skipping Team Saskatchewan on four occasions at the Scotties Tournament of Hearts. She earned silver and bronze medals at the national championship.

14 Page Home Hardware Canada Cup of Curling December 3-7, 2014 Team Sweeting We ll always help you score in the end. Contact your local office today. Visit GrantThornton.ca/locations Camrose Street Suite #201 T4V 1S1 T Grant Thornton LLP. A Canadian Member of Grant Thornton International Ltd GrantThornton.ca Audit Tax Advisory Val Sweeting, Lori Olson-Johns, Dana Ferguson, Rachelle Brown Val Sweeting of Edmonton comes into the 2014 Home Hardware Canada Cup with plenty of momentum on her side, thanks to a victory at the recent Grand Slam Masters. The win over Sweden s Margaretha Sigfriddson, 2014 Olympic silver medallist, represents a major breakthrough for the Edmonton skip who has worn Alberta colours twice at the Scotties Tournament of Hearts, taking home the silver medal in Team Nedohin Document Solutions The solution to your Copier, Printer, Scanner & Software needs. Proud Sponsor of the Home Hardware Canada Cup Heather Nedohin, Amy Nixon, Jessica Mair, Laine Peters, Jocelyn Peterman The new competitive curling campaign symbolizes a year of change for the Heather Nedohin team, with an expanded roster to better accommodate the players busy schedules. The lineup for the Alberta squad includes Amy Nixon, Jessica Mair, Laine Peters and Jocelyn Peterman, skip of the 2012 Canadian junior women s champions. Nedohin is a two-time Scotties Tournament of Hearts champion.

15 Tickets from $20 curling.ca/tickets Team Flaxey Page 15 Precisely Put. Allison Flaxey, Katie Cottrill, Kristen Foster, Morgan Court Allison Flaxey s introduction to the national curling scene came at an early age, skipping Manitoba s representatives in the 2001 Canadian Junior Women s Curling Championship when she was just 15 years old. She captured the Canadian Mixed Curling Championship, playing third for Sean Grassie, a combination that won bronze at the 2009 World Mixed Doubles Curling Championship, the only time Canada has medalled at the event. Flaxey represented Ontario at last year s Scotties Tournament of Hearts. Team Middaugh When the margin of error is small, precision wins the game. John Deere is a proud supporter of the 2014 Home Hardware Canada Cup of Curling. Sherry Middaugh, Jo-Ann Rizzo, Lee Merklinger, Leigh Armstrong The Sherry Middaugh team, that came just one win away from a trip to the Sochi Olympics, makes its Season of Champions debut at the 2014 Home Hardware Canada Cup. The Ontario skip battled to the championship final of the 2013 Tim Hortons Roar of the Rings in Winnipeg last December before falling to Jennifer Jones, who went on to win Olympic gold. Middaugh was the women s champion at the inaugural Canada Cup in JohnDeere.ca briltd.com

16 Page Home Hardware Canada Cup of Curling December 3-7, 2014