Note: In order to help accommodate deadlines for national and provincial media outlets, the following press release summarizes Draws 6, 7, and 8 of the BDO Classic Canadian Open. This evening’s ninth and final robin draw is scheduled to take place tonight at 8:30 p.m. CST.  Following its conclusion, an updated press release will be circulated.

 

 

NEWS RELEASE

 

Burtnyk Perfect Heading into BDO Classic Canadian Open Quarterfinals

Martin and Stoughton also secure playoff berths at the men’s third 2008-09 Capital One Grand Slam of Curling event

WINNIPEG, January 23, 2009 – Kerry Burtnyk (Winnipeg, Man.) completed round robin play with a perfect 5-0 record today en route to clinching a berth in the quarterfinals at the BDO Classic Canadian Open, the third leg of the men’s 2008-09 Capital One Grand Slam of Curling series, taking place at the MTS Centre in Winnipeg.

 

Kevin Martin (Edmonton, Alta.) and Jeff Stoughton (Winnipeg, Man.) also secured berths in tomorrow’s playoff round after each team posted a victory in their afternoon draw to move to 4-0.

 

After sliding past Glenn Howard (Coldwater, Ont.) 7-3 earlier in the day, Burtnyk used a five-point sixth end to oust Jean-Michel Ménard (Quebec City, Que.) 9-4 for his fifth consecutive victory.

 

“We’ve been playing pretty steady and we’ve seemed to make some big shots when we need them,” said Burtnyk.  “We’ve also gotten a couple of breaks when we could really use it.”

 

Martin, aiming for his third consecutive BDO Classic Canadian Open title, kept his perfect record intact after powering past Greg McAulay (Richmond, B.C.) 7-1. The reigning World Champion once again jumped on his opponent early, scoring a pair of points in each of the first two ends to seize control of the game.

“We like to play offensively in the first end,” said Martin.  “Sometimes it doesn’t pan out, but with the ice being this good, we feel that the odds are with us.  So far this week, it’s worked out well.”

 

Stoughton earned his fourth straight victory today with a tight 5-3 win over Reid Carruthers (Winnipeg, Man.).

 

The 2005-06 BDO Classic Canadian Open champion clinched the win on his final shot in the eighth end after executing a double takeout that ran Carruthers out of rocks.

 

“It’s great to qualify (for the playoffs), but we want to win the championship,” said Stoughton.  “That’s our goal.”

 

Reigning Olympic gold medallist Brad Gushue (St. John’s, Nfld.) and Mike McEwen (Winnipeg, Man.), both sit at 3-1 and can clinch a quarterfinal berth with a victory in their final round robin game this evening.

 

The top eight teams following the conclusion of round robin play qualify for the tournament’s quarterfinals on Saturday, January 24 at 2:00 p.m. CST.

 

If necessary, a tie-breaker will be held tomorrow morning at 9:30 a.m. CST to determine the final playoff qualifiers.

 

CBC Television will air live coverage of the tournament’s quarterfinals.  The event’s semi-finals are set for later that evening at 7:00 p.m. CST and will air on CBC’s digital channel, bold.

 

The finals of the BDO Classic Canadian Open will take place on Sunday, January 25 at 1:00 p.m. CST and will be shown live on CBC Television. During the championship game, CBC will air the final of the Capital One Million Dollar Button contest where one lucky fan will have a chance to attempt to cover the button for $1 million (CDN).

 

CBC Sports will also provide live broadband coverage of all playoff draws, exclusively at www.cbcsports.ca/curling.

 

For a complete overview of this evening’s results, click here.

For a complete overview of the BDO Classic Canadian Open standings following Draw 8, click here.

 

The BDO Classic Canadian Open features a total purse of $100,000.  The tournament’s winning team will receive a maximum of $25,000.

 

Held annually since 2001-02, the Capital One Grand Slam of Curling is a series of eight premier men’s and women’s events that boast Canada’s deepest and strongest curling fields. 

 

The Capital One Grand Slam of Curling is one of a select few events that are tied to the Canadian Curling Association's qualifying process for the 2010 Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver. Through their performance in the Capital One Grand Slam of Curling events, rinks can earn points towards securing a berth at the 2009 Canadian Trials.

 

About BDO

BDO Dunwoody LLP is Canada's sixth largest accounting services and advisory firm. Our team serves a highly diverse clientele, which includes owner-managed businesses, large enterprises, mid-market public companies, community organizations, not-for-profit agencies, and professional firms. From agriculture to real estate, technology to union pensions, and aboriginal communities to municipalities, the professionals at BDO Dunwoody have the expertise to handle any business sector.

 

BDO Dunwoody LLP is a Member Firm of BDO International. BDO International is a global network of public accounting firms, called BDO Member Firms, serving international clients. The network is comprised of 95 Member Firms in 107 countries, with over 30,000 professionals on staff in over 600 offices worldwide to take on a multitude of services. For more information visit www.bdo.ca.

 

About Capital One

Located in Toronto, Ontario, Capital One has offered Canadian consumers a range of competitive MasterCard® credit cards since 1996, when the company first introduced the Platinum MasterCard® in Canada.  Capital One Canada is a division of Capital One Bank, a subsidiary of Capital One Financial Corporation of McLean, Virginia (NYSE: COF).

 

About Children’s Hospital Foundation of Manitoba

Since its establishment in 1971, the Children's Hospital Foundation has been working to meet the unique pediatric medical and research needs of children. Funds raised through the BDO Canadian Open will help the Foundation fund specialized equipment and programs at the Children’s Hospital and pediatric research at its research division, the Manitoba Institute of Child Health. Each year, 130,000 kids are treated at Children's Hospital and the Foundation strives to ensure that each of them receives the very best medical care possible….because children need us.

 

About Insight Sports Ltd.

Insight Sports Ltd. is a leading North American sports media and entertainment company which owns, creates, aggregates and distributes sports and entertainment content across multiple platforms, including broadcast television, events, on-line, mobile, in-arena and video on-demand. Among its event assets, Insight Sports owns and operates the Capital One Grand Slam of Curling (www.worldcurlingtour.com), a series of eight high-profile men’s and women’s events that feature Canada’s deepest and strongest curling fields.

 

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For additional information, please contact:

Eric Michalko
Communications Director
Capital One Grand Slam of Curling
(416) 669-2401
eric@wendykane.com