Kootenay Savings Super League curling slides out of the hack tonight at the Trail Curling Club with a full complement of teams taking to the ice.

“After much texts, emails, phone calls, and finagling, the league will once again boast eight teams,” said Super League curler and Times contributor Richard Faunt in an email.

Last year’s champion, the Deane Horning rink, returns to defend its title, while four other teams come back virtually intact, including Castlegar’s Bill van Yzerloo foursome with Trail’s Don Freschi, Myron Nichol of Castlegar with Garry Beaudry, Darrin Albo of Rossland, and the Heather Nichol rink from Castlegar.

New teams this year will see local curlers Larry Kotyk and Ken Fines forming an over-60 Master’s team, while Russ Beauchamp and Brian Lemoel are teaming up in an over-50 Senior Men’s team.

Faunt also sends “a big thank-you to our newest skip,” Nando Salviulo from Nelson, who is joining up with Ken Fines’ old front-end of Craig Fines and Jai Lok to form the eighth team.

Games start tonight and go every Thursday at 7 p.m. at the Trail Curling Club in the Trail Memorial Centre. Spectators are welcome.