Winnipeg to Host World’s Best Curlers in Support of Foundation
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Winnipeg to Host World’s Best Curlers in Support of Children’s Hospital Foundation
For the fifth time in six years the world’s top curlers will hit the ice, in support of the Children’s Hospital Foundation, at the MTS Centre from January 20-24, 2010 for the Capital One Grand Slam of Curling’s BDO Classic Canadian Open, the last international event prior to the 2010 Olympic Winter Games.
”Not only is this an opportunity to bring some of the world’s best men’s curlers to Manitoba’s curling fans, it is an opportunity for the Children’s Hospital Foundation to remind audiences the importance of supporting child health care,” said Greg Lauder, Event Co-Chair and Board Member of the Children’s Hospital Foundation of Manitoba. “Together with our partners, we are thrilled to bring world class curling back to Winnipeg for the last tournament before the teams curl for gold in Vancouver.”
The competition will host 18 of the world’s top foursomes. Curling fans will have a chance to watch as several 2010 Olympic qualifiers from around the globe compete, one last time, before entering the Olympic arena in Vancouver. Among the athletes to see includes, Canada’s Vancouver 2010 representative.
“This tournament will be an excellent final tune-up for the world’s 2010 Olympic qualifiers,” said Jeff Stoughton, the 2005-06 BDO Classic Canadian Open champion and one of Canada’s 2010 Olympic Winter Games hopefuls. “With some very notable Olympic teams expected to compete, this will be an extremely competitive affair as everyone will be looking to assert themselves as one of the medal favorites heading into Vancouver.”
Teams expected to take the ice at the BDO Classic Canadian Open include former World Champions Kevin Martin, Glen Howard, Randy Furbey, Wayne Middaugh, Winnipeg’s Jeff Stoughton and Kerry Burtnyk, as well as former Olympic gold medallist Brad Gushue.
International qualifiers expected to compete include, reigning World Championship gold medallist David Murdoch (Lockerbie, Scotland), reigning World Championship bronze medallist Thomas Ulsrad (Oslo, Norway) and 2006 Olympic bronze medallist John Shuster (Duluth, Minnesota).
World-class events like these help make a difference in the lives of more than 130,000 children who come through the doors at the Children’s Hospital every year. With nearly $6 million committed each year to programs, equipment and life-saving pediatric research at the Manitoba Institute of Child Health (MICH), the Children’s Hospital Foundation greatly relies on proceeds raised within the community.
The BDO Classic Canadian Open will help the Children’s Hospital Foundation meet our goals of doing all that we can to make hospital visits better for all children.
Ticket packages for the BDO Classic Canadian Open are on sale now and are available at all Ticketmaster outlets. Seats are also available by calling (204) 780-3333 or online at www.ticketmaster.ca.