Bottcher proud to wear Maple Leaf on his back
Canadian champion looking to lock up spot in 2022 worlds at Americas Zone Challenge
Brendan Bottcher is all for anything that helps grow curling, so he's happy to have his team represent Canada in the upcoming Americas Zone Challenge as part of the qualifying process for the 2022 world men's championship.
The defending Canadian men's champion and his Edmonton teammates will play a double round robin against teams from Mexico and Brazil Oct. 29-31 at the Lacombe Curling Club in Alberta, with the winner qualifying its country for the 2022 worlds in Las Vegas.
It's almost a foregone conclusion that Canada will win all of its games and qualify, but it's part of the process — teams in the Americas Zone are allowed to challenge — and Bottcher sees it as an opportunity to increase curling 's profile in the world market.
“It's exceptional ... for the growth of our sport around the world. This is awesome,” said Bottcher, whose team includes third Darren Moulding, second Brad Thiessen and lead Karrick Martin.
“This is a chance for us to put a Maple Leaf on our back, a month before the (Canadian) Olympic Trials. Let's do everything we can, as a bit of a dry run, to be ready. I'm expecting my guys to come out and play our absolute best.”
The Bottcher team is almost certain to win against Mexico (skipped by Jesus Barajas) and Brazil (skipped by Marcelo Mello).
Brazil has previously challenged Canada (2018, vs. Russ Howard) or the United States (2009, 2010, 2015, 2017, 2019) six times and has yet to win a game.
This is the first time for Mexico attempting to qualify for the world championship.
However, even if Bottcher does win, it doesn't mean his team will play in the 2022 world championship. That honour will go to the winner of the Brier in Lethbridge, Alta., March 4-13. Bottcher's team will compete as Team Canada (returning champion) at the Brier but will have to win again there in order to represent Canada at the worlds.
Of course, a lot can happen between now and then and there's a chance Bottcher could be representing Canada at the Olympics in Beijing in February. Canada's entry will be decided Nov. 20-28 in Saskatoon.
“They came to us a couple months ago and asked us if we were interested in playing and if it would fit well with our schedule, considering the Olympic Trials and all the prep we need to do for that,” Bottcher said. “We were able to fit it in.
“Of course, we could have said no. Curling Canada has a large chunk of men's teams that are more than capable of going to that event and doing what needs to be done, but we thought,
A) It's another chance to put a Maple Leaf on our back and that's a pretty cool experience that we should take, and B), you know there's some pride in earning Canada a spot to the world championship, just like there was some pride in us earning Canada a spot in the Olympics (by finishing in the top six at last year's world championship). That's a little unfinished business and I'd like to take care of that here with my team.”
This will be the last year of Americas Zone Challenge because, moving into next year, all of the Pacific Zone countries, including all the Asian countries, will be competing in a different event that will be new to the World Curling Federation calendar.
Similar to how the European teams have to qualify for the worlds through the European championship, there will be a Pacific championship, and five teams will come out of that to the world championship. Canada, Japan, South Korea, China, Australia, Mexico, Brazil and the United States will have to compete at that event.
“We, as Canadians, are learning that the international community is catching up to us in a lot of ways,” Bottcher said. “You've noticed that at the Olympics and at the last few world championships. I don't think we can go in there and take any team for granted.”
LIVE STREAMING EXPANDS POTENTIAL FOR BIG GAINS
Curling fans across the country had a unique opportunity to view some of the country's best teams in action over the Thanksgiving weekend, thanks to a new venture called Curling Stadium at curlingzone.com.
While in its infancy, Curling Stadium has the potential to revolutionize how fans watch the sport. It involves streaming live action from every sheet during an event, which was the case during the IG Wealth Management Western Showdown Oct. 8-11 in Swift Current, Sask.
Calgary's Kevin Koe beat Brad Jacobs of Sault Ste. Marie, Ont., 8-1 in the final, and the game was streamed by both teams on their own platforms, as well as on curlingzone.com, using the Curling Stadium equipment.
“We're putting cameras into these curling facilities permanently, four cameras per sheet,” said Gerry Geurts, the creator of both curlingzone.com and Curling Stadium.
“They turn on and off automatically and they're operated remotely.
“My vision for this is to put it into facilities, which clubs can utilize to sell to local sponsors. The value of their rings go up, the value of the sponsors on the wall go up. The ability for the facility to put curling out into the public becomes so much easier.”
So far, the cameras have been installed in three curling clubs in North America — one in Blaine, Minn., one in Martinsville, Sask., and one in Swift Current.
Geurts said matches streamed from the Swift Current event drew about 200,000 views on Youtube.