Abbotsford hosting B.C. men’s curling provincials

Twelve teams battling for the right to represent the province

Dean Joanisse (far left) is one of two Abbotsford-based skips competing at the event. Joanisse represents the Golden Ears Winter Club at the event.

Dean Joanisse (far left) is one of two Abbotsford-based skips competing at the event. Joanisse represents the Golden Ears Winter Club at the event.

The best men’s curling teams in the province are coming to Abbotsford.

The B.C. Men’s Curling Championship takes over the Abbotsford Curling Club from Feb. 8 to 12, with the top team earning the right to represent the province.

The tournament will showcase the top 12 teams from across the province, and will decide the B.C. team that will go on to compete at the 2017 Tim Hortons Brier.

“This tournament brings together B.C.’s best men’s curling teams and will provide some of the most exciting curling this province has seen this year,” Curl BC CEO Scott Braley stated.

Abbotsford-based curlers Dean Joanisse and Sean Geall will skip two teams at the event, although they will be representing rinks from outside the Fraser Valley.

Others teams competing are from Burnaby/New Westminster, the Kootenays, Victoria and Vancouver Island, Kelowna, Vernon, Vancouver, Richmond and Surrey.

Among the teams is six-time B.C. champion Jim Cotter from Vernon, who is curling with Alberta’s John Morris as well as Kelowna’s Tyrel Griffith and Rick Sawatsky.

For full rosters of all the teams participating, visit bellairdireectmens2017.curlbc.ca/teams.

“The Abbotsford Curling Club is excited to be hosting this prestigious event and to have such talented curlers on our ice,” club manager Kent Bird said.

The tournament opens at 9 a.m. on Wednesday, with the champion being crowned on the afternoon of Feb. 12.

Tickets for the event are available through the ACC’s website at: abbotsfordcurling.com/curling/events-bonspiels/.

For live scores and the draw schedule, visit playdowns.curlbc.ca.

Abbotsford News