Best Canadian curlers on list for trip to Moose Jaw

The cast is now complete for the 2012 Capital One Canada Cup of Curling taking place Nov. 28 to Dec. 2 at Mosaic Place. The Moose Jaw event is the first stop on the Season of Champions circuit and is exclusive to Canada’s top 14 teams based on their performance over the past year of competition. Teams will be vying for Canada Cup honours and direct entry to the Tim Hortons Roar of the Rings – the Canadian Curling Trials Dec. 1-8, 2013 where two teams will earn the right to wear the maple leaf in the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia. Topping the men’s list of teams is Glenn Howard, this year’s Brier and Canada Cup winner, and Kevin Martin, winner of the 2011 Canada Cup, and gold medal winner in the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver. Other men’s teams will include Mike McEwen, Kevin Koe, John Epping, Jeff Stoughton and Brad Gushue. On the women’s side will be Jennifer Jones, four-time Scotties winner, 2008 world champion and defending Canada Cup winner and Heather Nedohin, winner of the 2012 Scotties Tournament of Hearts. Other women’s teams will include Sherry Middaugh, Cathy OvertonClapham, Stefanie Lawton, Chelsea Carey and Crystal Webster. “This is unquestionably the toughest field of the year and means it’s a real treat for the fans,” host committee chairperson Danielle Sicinski said in a news release. “All these teams earned their way to the competition based on their performance over the last season.” The Canada Cup, presented by the Mosaic Company, is in its 10th year. Men’s and women’s teams will compete in round robin format with the first place teams advancing to the respective finals. The second and third place teams will meet in the semi-finals with TSN providing coverage of all playoff games. A total of $70,000 in prize money is at stake for both the men’s and women’s pools, with up to $26,000 awarded to the winners. Tickets are currently on sale at Mosaic Place. Volunteers are also still being recruited.