News
The World’s Best Curlers will compete for $670,000 in Prize Money – The Capital One Grand Slam of Curling enters its second decade
Oct, 28th, 2011
TORONTO, October 28, 2011 – The World
Curling Players‟ Association and iSport Media and Management announced today the details of the 11th season of the Capital One Grand Slam of Curling. Consisting of the four major events on the World Curling Tour, the „Slams‟ have consistently presented the strongest fields in curling.
“We are thrilled to be entering our second decade of the Capital One Grand Slam of Curling,” said Kevin Albrecht, CEO, iSport Media and Management. “I believe the secret to the Slams longevity has been the ability to present the best curling fields in the world each and every year and the best curlers inevitably produce the best curling in the world.”
Held annually since 2001-02, the Capital One Grand Slam of Curling is a series of four elite international events providing the largest prize purse in curling, $670,000.
Last season, Team Kevin Martin (Edmonton, Alta) won The Swiss Chalet National and an unprecedented 7th GP Car and Home Players’ Championship on his way to capturing the prestige year end Capital One Cup and the $50,000 bonus that goes along with it. Martin has won 17 major titles in his illustrious career, one more than tennis superstar Roger Federer and only one behind the legendary Jack Nicklaus for the most major victories in any sport.
“The Grand Slam events have been an important part of my career success over the last 10 years,” said 2010 Vancouver Olympic Gold Medalist, Kevin Martin. “The curling is always so good that you can never take anything for granted and that helped me get to the next level. Hopefully, our team has a few more wins in us as it would be very special to secure major wins 18 and 19.”
The 2011-12 Capital One Grand Slam of Curling series will begin with the GP Car and Home World Cup of Curling at the Essar Centre in Sault Ste Marie, Ont. from November 2-6, 2011. The K-Rock Centre in Kingston, Ont. will host the series‟ second event, the BDO Canadian Open, from December 14-18, 2011 while Dawson Creek‟s EnCana Events Centre will be the site of the third event, The Swiss Chalet National from January 25-29, 2012.
The 2011-12 Capital One Grand Slam of Curling concludes with the GP Car and Home Players’ Championship, an event featuring separate men‟s and women‟s draws. The announcement for the 2012 GP Car and Home Players’ Championship will take place later in October.
“All of our teams know that the Slams are so difficult to win,” said Pierre Charette, President of the World Curling Players‟ Association. “You always have to be at the top of your game as there are no easy games at a Grand Slam event.”
CBC Sports will air live playoff coverage of the first three 2011-12 Capital One Grand Slam of Curling events as well as the men‟s and women‟s finals of the 2012 GP Car and Home Players’ Championship.
About iSport Media and Management: iSport Media and Management is Canada’s leading sports Digital Media and Event Sponsorship Company. iSport specializes in:
• Leading edge digital media strategies and operations
• Event development, execution and sponsorship sales
• Sport Federation sponsorship sales and strategic counsel.
For more information visit www.isportmedia.com.
About the World Curling Players’ Association: The WCPA represents the elite curlers of the world and its Executive Board consists of eight
elected members that include a minimum of three Canadian men and two Canadian women representatives, as well as one member from the United States along with one member from Europe. The final board position is awarded to the candidate who receives the highest remaining vote total from the player elections.
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For additional information, please contact:
Kevin Albrecht
CEO
Capital One Grand Slam of Curling
(416) 593-4273 ext: 226
Pierre Charette
President
World Curling Players‟ Association
(819) 775-7578
Christopher Plummer And The Entire Original Creative Team Of Barrymore Reunite At Toronto’s Historic Elgin Theatre For 30 Performances Only
Jan, 27th, 2011
Christopher Plummer’s Tony Award-winning tour-de-force is an unforgettable portrayal of legendary actor, John Barrymore, a man of colossal talent and contradictions, and one of the greatest Shakespearean actors of all time. Set in 1942, the final year of John Barrymore’s life, BARRYMORE takes place on the stage of a Broadway theatre, where the actor is struggling to recreate his performance in the title role of Shakespeare’s Richard III.
Battle Of The Blades – Learn What Happens After The Ice Melts
Dec, 6th, 2010
It was a season of blood, sweat and tears – eight weeks of stunning performances, incredible showmanship, thrilling victories and heart-breaking defeats. In a one-hour special that closed out the season, the cast of 2010′s super-hit Battle of the Blades gathered together for the very last time to relive the laughter and the tears in After the Ice Melts.
Power Wheelchair Hockey Shoots For Live Broadcast
Aug, 6th, 2010
Toronto Power Wheelchair Hockey League (TPWHL) is bringing players together for a
full weekend of competitive Hockey. What makes this event special is that for the first
time, games will be broadcasted LIVE on Gretky.com/tpwhl/ through web streaming video.
This will allow teams to play for a national audience and will allow fans to tune in to
support their favourite North American TPWHL teams in real time.
The TPWHL is for kids and young adults with various disabilities who have limited upper
body strength and/or mobility. The league works hard towards physical and emotional
growth by teaching the game of hockey. This builds players into strong leaders in
sportsmanship and team spirit, regardless of their skill level.
Gretzky.com is very pleased to present this amateur sport live online and hopes this
will lead to stronger fan interaction and greater excitement for the sport of hockey.
TPWHL provides the opportunity for families to come together to share their own
experiences and offer support to one another. The tournament runs from August 6-10th
so come join in on the fun this weekend at Ryerson University, 350 Victoria St, 2nd floor
in Kerr Hall West.
For more information call 416-690-1412 or email: torontopwhl@gmail.com
The Kevin Smith & Walter Gretzky Show
Feb, 26th, 2010
When filmmaker Kevin Smith first learned about the Gretzky family, he never imagined he would get the chance to stage a press conference with Canada’s most famous hockey dad.
On Wednesday, a dream came true, as he and Walter spoke to the press at Wayne Gretzky’s Restaurant in Toronto to announce their plans for the fourth annual Walter Gretzky Street Hockey Tournament.
“Never in a million years did I think I’d do this,” Smith said during an interview following the announcement. “Reading about the Gretzky family and all the work they’ve done was something … This was just incredible. Aside from everything else that is happening with this tournament, I got to hang out with Walter Gretzky today.”
True to his style, Smith started the event with a joke, saying he had called the press conference to announce that the Edmonton Oilers were trading Walter to the Los Angeles Kings.
He and Walter then spoke about the fourth edition of Brantford’s street hockey tournament.
Skatebuzz designed to keep fans and newbies plugged in
Jan, 8th, 2010
When Skate Canada CEO William Thompson had the idea of an interactive, and at times, live website devoted to coverage of figure skating, he wondered if the older skating fans would get on board.
He soon had the answer when his 70-something mother was in the stands at the HomeSense Skate Canada International event in Kitchener last fall. She was plugged in and listening to the www.skatebuzz.com in-house commentary called Skatebug.
“She loved it; she really enjoyed it” said Thompson, a skating judge, who had an assignment at the last Winter Olympics in Turin, and a former competitor.
“It’s not just appealing to a younger demographic.”
Skatebuzz had a soft launch in October and has been adding material ever since.
This week at the Canadian Figure Skating Championships at both the Western Fair Sports Centre and the John Labatt Centre, daily coverage is offered on the website, with host Debbi Wilkes leading the way.
Capital One Million Dollar Button Contest
Jan, 1st, 2010
Guelph’s Alma Laidlaw Wins $1,000 in Capital One Million Dollar Button Contest
Alma Laidlaw, 63, of Guelph, Ont. won $1,000 in the finals of the Capital One Million Dollar Button contest today at the MTS Centre in Winnipeg, Man. after her rock failed to reach the rings.
“It was a lot harder not having a practice shot,” said Laidlaw following her throw. “It was hard to know what weight to throw but the whole experience has been a fabulous opportunity.”
As the national finalist of the Capital One Million Dollar Button contest, Laidlaw had just one opportunity to cover the button for $1 million (CDN).
Laidlaw’s $1 million attempt aired live on CBC Television during the fourth end break of the BDO Classic Canadian Open championship game between Kevin Martin and Glenn Howard.
Laidlaw advanced to the finals of the Capital One Million Dollar Button contest yesterday after emerging from a pool of six semi-finalists when her rock landed 63.5 inches / 161.3 centimetres from the button – the closest of all the competitors.
During the finals of the Capital One Million Dollar Button contest, Laidlaw had an opportunity to win $100,000 (CDN) if the rock touched any part of the button. Alternatively, $25,000 (CDN) would have been awarded if the rock touched the four-foot circle. A prize of $10,000 (CDN) would have been awarded if the stone touched the eight-foot circle while a rock that touched the 12-foot circle was worth $5,000 (CDN). A throw that did not land on any of the rings was worth $1,000. Full contest details are available at www.capitalone.ca/button.
Last year, Ron Trottier of Osoyoos, B.C. came within 35 inches / 89 centimetres of winning $1 million after his shot slid just past the button. Trottier’s shot was good enough to earn him $10,000 (CDN) as the inaugural finalist of the Capital One Million Dollar Button.
The Capital One Million Dollar Button is Canada’s first ever million dollar curling contest.
