NEWS RELEASE

 

Shannon Kleibrink and Cheryl Bernard Advance to Quarterfinals at Grey Power Players’ Championship

Wayne Middaugh inches closer towards securing the last men’s direct Canadian Trials berth at season’s final Capital One Grand Slam of Curling event

GRANDE PRAIRIE, ALTA., April 16, 2009 – Shannon Kleibrink (Calgary, Alta.) and Cheryl Bernard (Calgary, Alta.) became the first two women’s teams to secure a berth into the quarterfinals of the Grey Power Players’ Championship today after both clubs emerged from the “A” bracket with perfect 3-0 records during the season’s final Capital One Grand Slam of Curling event, taking place at the Crystal Centre in Grande Prairie, Alta.

 

Kleibrink advanced to Friday’s playoff round with a 10-4 win over Jennifer Jones (Winnipeg, Man.) while Bernard powered past Sherry Middaugh 8-2.

In the men’s draw of the Grey Power Players’ Championship, Wayne Middaugh (Midland, Ont.) moved one step closer to securing the fourth and final direct Canadian Trials berth with a 6-2 win over Jeff Stoughton (Winnipeg, Man.) while defending champion Glenn Howard (Coldwater, Ont.) posted his second consecutive victory with a 7-2 decision over Joel Jordison (Moose Jaw, Sask.).

 

The top seed in the women’s draw, Kleibrink broke open the game in the fifth end after Jones inadvertently picked her own rock on a two-point runback attempt.  Jones’ miscue allowed Kleibrink to steal three points for a 5-1 advantage.

Jones rallied to pull within one point of Kleibrink heading into the final frame after scoring two points in the sixth end and forcing a steal of one point in the seventh.

In the eighth end, Kleibrink sealed the victory after executing a short run back to remove Jones’ rock from the button, scoring five points.

 

“As long as I crossed the base a little bit we were good,” said Kleibrink, referring to the game’s final shot.  “If I hit it too high, it might go over top.  (Jones) made the best shot she probably could.  That was a really good place to put (her final rock).”

 

Bernard won her third straight game after forcing Middaugh into consecutive three-point steals.

Tied at 1-1 after two ends, Bernard was able to place a cluster of rocks at the four-foot to guard the button.  Middaugh was left with limited options on her final shot. 

 

“We just kept locking stuff in on the four-foot,” said Bernard describing her first three-point steal.  “She really had nothing.  She just about made that shot though and she could have got it for one with the long hit and roll.  It was close.”

 

Bernard was able to steal another three points in the fourth frame after Middaugh’s final draw slid into the back of the house.

 

In other women’s action, Kelly Scott (Kelowna, B.C.) kept her Canadian Trials hopes alive with a 6-3 victory over Stefanie Lawton (Saskatoon, Sask.). 

 

Trailing Bernard and Lawton in the race for the final two women’s direct Trials berths, Scott needs a victory at the Grey Power Players’ Championship to overtake one of the two clubs.  Scott’s victory over Lawton moved the former World Champion to within one victory of the quarterfinals.

 

Middaugh and Stoughton battled closely through four ends.  Tied at 2-2, Middaugh executed a perfect double takeout in the fifth to score two points and seize control of the game.

 

“We had some good chances in the (fourth),” said Middaugh.  “I missed a bad one in the (fourth). Typical of the way my guys have played all year they just set up another good end for me where I just had to throw it down there and hit it in the right spot.”

Middaugh’s victory also keeps the former World Champion ahead of the pack in the race to secure the men’s fourth and final Canadian Trials berth alongside Kevin Martin (Edmonton, Alta.), Howard and Kevin Koe (Edmonton, Alta.).

 

Stoughton, Randy Ferbey (Edmonton, Alta.) and Kerry Burtnyk (Winnipeg, Man.) are currently in pursuit of Middaugh for the final men’s Trials berth.

 

Howard continued to advance through the brackets after scoring three-points in both the fourth and sixth ends to slide past Jordison.

 

With the victory, Howard will face Middaugh tonight at 8:30 p.m. MT with the winner securing a berth in the tournament’s quarterfinals.

 

The Grey Power Players’ Championship represents the final opportunity for teams to earn points towards securing a direct berth into the 2009 Canadian Olympic Trials event or a spot into the 2009 Canadian Olympic Pre-Trials tournament.

 

The Grey Power Players’ Championship is also the final event where Canada’s men’s and women’s teams to earn points towards the Capital One Cup.

 

Featuring a $170,000 purse, the Capital One Cup is a points-based competition that awards each curling team a point value based on their performance during each 2008-09 Capital One Grand Slam of Curling event.  Following the conclusion of the Grey Power Players’ Championship, the top men’s and women’s teams in the Capital One Cup standings will each receive a $50,000 (CDN) bonus.  The second and third place men’s and women’s squads will each receive $25,000 (CDN) and $10,000 (CDN) respectively.

 

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

For a complete overview of the women’s tournament bracket for the Grey Power Players’ Championship, click here.

 

For a complete overview of the men’s tournament bracket for the Grey Power Players’ Championship, click here.

 

Featuring the top 16 men’s and the top 16 women’s teams from the 2008-09 season, Friday’s draw times for the Grey Power Players’ Championship are set for 10:00 a.m., 1:30 p.m., 5:00 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. MT respectively.

 

The top eight teams to advance through the knockout rounds will qualify for the tournament’s quarterfinals.  The women’s quarterfinals are set for Friday, April 17 at 8:30 p.m. MT while the men’s quarterfinals will take place on Saturday, April 18 at 4:30 p.m. MT.

 

As the official television broadcaster of the Capital One Grand Slam of Curling, CBC Television will air the women’s final on Saturday, April 18 at 1:00 p.m. MT and the men’s final on Sunday, April 19 at 10:00 a.m. MT.  Additionally, on Saturday, April 18, CBC’s digital channel bold will present live coverage of the men’s quarterfinals at 4:30 p.m. MT and live coverage of the men’s semi-finals at 8:00 p.m. MT. 

 

The men’s and women’s draw of the Grey Power Players’ Championship features a total purse of $100,000.  Each tournament’s winning team will receive $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 or the 2009 Canadian Pre-Trials event.

 

About Grey Power

Grey Power is the industry leader in providing auto and home insurance to mature Canadians.  Grey Power recognizes it takes years of skill and experience to achieve a good driving record and rewards that experience with substantial savings through the Experience Advantage™.  With Grey Power, Canadians not only save on their insurance but also get superior service and expert advice.  Grey Power products are provided by Trafalgar Insurance Company of Canada, which is part of ING Canada, the country's largest provider of automobile, home and commercial insurance.

 

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).