NEWS RELEASE

 

Team Glenn Howard Clinches Men’s Capital One Cup

Foursome earns $50,000 (CDN) bonus for emerging as the top squad during the 2008-09 Capital One Grand Slam of Curling series

 GRANDE PRAIRIE, ALTA., April 18, 2009 –  After advancing to the finals of the Grey Power Players’ Championship this evening, Team Glenn Howard (Coldwater, Ont.) mathematically clinched the inaugural men’s Capital One Cup, earning a $50,000 (CDN) bonus. 

 

“It’s absolutely fantastic,” said Howard.  “It’s the culmination of four different events. To win the Capital One Cup for the first time is pretty special.  An extra $50,000 for the Cup.  Love it”.

 

Randy Ferbey (Edmonton, Alta.) and Kevin Martin (Edmonton, Alta.) have each secured at least a top three finish in the Capital One Cup standings.  The second and third place winners will not be determined until after tomorrow’s Grey Power Players’ Championship final between Howard and Ferbey.  Ferbey can secure second place in the standings with a win over Howard tomorrow.

 

The runner-up in the Capital One Cup will receive a bonus of $25,000 (CDN) while the third place team will win $10,000 (CDN). 

Apart from advancing to the finals of the Grey Power Players’ Championship, Howard's team enjoyed great success in the 2008-09 Capital One Grand Slam of Curling series, winning the championship at both the Masters of Curling and the BDO Classic Canadian Open.  He also picked up one round robin victory at The National.

 

“It was a tough competition this year, but Team Howard's performance over the season was truly outstanding,” said Ian Cunningham, Chief Marketing Officer, Capital One Canada.  “It was a real privilege to watch these athletes battle it out for the grand prize to be the first to put their names on our Cup.”


Featuring a total purse of $170,000, the Capital One Cup is a points-based competition that awards each women’s and men’s curling team a point value based on their performance during each Capital One Grand Slam of Curling event.


In 2008-09, men received Capital One Cup points at the Masters of Curling, The National, the BDO Classic Canadian Open and the Grey Power Players’ Championship.


The following is an overview of the point system for the Capital One Cup.  Following the first three men’s Capital One Grand Slam of Curling events, the point values were doubled for the Grey Power Players’ Championship.

 

Tournament Result

First Three Events

Grey Power Players’ Championship

First Place

12 points

24 points

Second Place

9 points

18 points

Third Place

7 points

14 points

Fifth Place

5 points

10 points

Non-Playoff Teams

1 point per preliminary round win

2 points per preliminary round win

 

 


 

NEWS RELEASE

 

Martin Foursome Named World Curling Tour’s 2008-09 Men’s Team of the Year


GRANDE PRAIRIE, ALTA., April 18, 2009 – The World Curling Tour announced today that Team Kevin Martin (Edmonton, Alta.) is the winner of the men’s Team of the Year award for the 2008-09 season.


Martin, together with third John Morris, second Marc Kennedy and lead Ben Hebert,

enjoyed another successful season in 2008-09 highlighted by a victory at the Brier in Calgary, Alta., a silver medal at the 2009 Men’s World Curling Championship in Moncton, N.B. and a victory at the Canada Cup in Yorkton, Sask.

 

During the 2008-09 season, Team Martin captured three World Curling Tour event titles including the PriceWaterhouseCoopers Westcoast Curling Classic in New Westminster, B.C., the Flint Energy Classic in Bonnyville, Alta. and the Best Western Wayside Inn Curling Classic in Lloydminster, Alta.

 

“We’ve got a strong unit, obviously,” said Martin.  “To be honest, I’m not positive that we should win the Team of the Year award.  Glenn Howard’s team had an amazing year winning events.  If we don’t win the last game of the Brier against him, I’m not sure who had the best year.  It probably would be him.”

 

This past week, the World Curling Tour presented Martin and Marie-France Larouche (Quebec City, Que.) with the men’s and women’s Most Valuable Player awards respectively.  The World Curling Tour also named Shannon Kleibrink’s foursome women’s Team of the Year and Rachel Homan’s (Ottawa, Ont.) squad Rookie Team of the Year.