News Releases
 

 

NEWS RELEASE

 

Defending Champion Kevin Martin Aims to Win a Record Sixth TYLENOL® Players’ Championship Crown in St. John’s

 

ST. JOHN’S, March 18, 2008 – After capturing the Brier championship last weekend in Winnipeg, defending champion Kevin Martin (Edmonton, Alta.) will look to extend his record of TYLENOL® Players’ Championship titles to six next month when he faces-off against 15 of the top teams from across Canada at the Mile One Centre in St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador from April 16 to 20.

 

Among the 16 men’s teams that qualified to compete at the season-ending TYLENOL® Players’ Championship include reigning World Champion and 2007-08 Capital One Grand Slam of Curling event champion Glenn Howard (Coldwater, Ont.), reigning Olympic gold medallist Brad Gushue (St. John’s, Nfld.), 2008 Canada Cup winner and two-time 2007-08 Capital One Grand Slam of Curling event finalist Kevin Koe (Edmonton, Alta.), and Wayne Middaugh (Midland, Ont.) a four-time TYLENOL® Players’ Champion (2002, 2001, 1999 and 1996) and the only skip to reach the semi-finals of the first three men’s 2007-08 Capital One Grand Slam of Curling events.

 

The eighth and final leg of the 2007-08 Capital One Grand Slam of Curling series, the TYLENOL® Players’ Championship features both a men’s and a women’s draw. The top 16 Canadian men’s teams on the Canadian Team Ranking System as of March 17, 2008 automatically qualify to compete at the event. 

 

The team list for the women’s TYLENOL® Players’ Championship tournament was previously announced on March 6.

 

Joel Jordison (Moose Jaw, Sask.) qualified for the TYLENOL® Players’ Championship as the 14th ranked squad on the CTRS standings but was forced to withdraw from the event due to work commitments involving their team members. 

 

With Team Jordison’s withdrawal, Martin Ferland’s (Cap-de-la-Madeleine, Que.) squad has been added to the 16-team field. 

 

The Capital One Grand Slam of Curling series guidelines state that in the event of a withdrawal, an invitation must be extended to the highest remaining rink in the CTRS standings. The first invitation was extended to Jean-Michel Ménard (Gatineau, Que.), who could not accept due to work commitments. The second invitation was extended to Ferland, whose squad is ranked 18th in the CTRS standings, one spot below Ménard.

 

After winning the first two events of this season’s Capital One Grand Slam of Curling series, Martin’s team will look to capture three of the series’ four major titles for the second consecutive season.

 

During the 2007-08 season, Martin successful defended his first two Capital One Grand Slam of Curling event titles, winning the BDO Classic Canadian Open in Quebec City, Que. and The National in Port Hawkesbury, N.S., while Howard earned the series’ third championship by successfully defending his Masters of Curling title in Saskatoon, Sask.

 

During the course of his career, Martin has won a record of five TYLENOL® Players’ Championships after capturing the title in 2007, 2005, 2000, 1998 and 1994.

 

The men’s TYLENOL® Players’ Championship has been held annually since 1993.  In 2005, the TYLENOL® Players’ Championship expanded to include both a men’s and women’s draw.

 

The men’s 2007-08 Capital One Grand Slam of Curling series includes the BDO Classic Canadian Open, The National, the Masters of Curling and the TYLENOL® Players’ Championship.

 

The women’s Capital One Grand Slam of Curling series features a total of five events including the Trail Appliances Autumn Gold Curling Classic, the Casinos of Winnipeg, the Wayden Transportation Ladies Classic, the Sobeys Slam and the season-ending TYLENOL® Players’ Championship.

 

During the 2007-08 season, Jennifer Jones (Winnipeg, Man.) captured the Trail Appliances Autumn Gold Curling Classic in Calgary, Alta., while Shannon Kleibrink (Calgary, Alta.) finished first at the Casinos of Winnipeg tournament.  Kelly Scott (Kelowna, B.C.) bested the field at the Wayden Transportation in Abbotsford, B.C., while Sherry Middaugh (Coldwater, Ont.) earned a victory at the inaugural Sobeys Slam in New Glasgow, N.S.

 

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

 

The eight Capital One Grand Slam of Curling events are closely 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 events, rinks can earn a significant amount of points towards securing a berth at the 2009 Canadian Trials.

 

Tickets for the 2008 TYLENOL® Players’ Championship are currently on sale and can be purchased online at www.admission.com or in person at the Mile One Centre box office.

 

The following is a complete list of men’s and women’s teams which will compete at the 2008 TYLENOL® Players’ Championship. Note: Team rosters and positions are subject to change prior to the start of the event.

 

 

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 traditional media assets, Insight Sports operates three specialty television networks: GOLTV Canada (www.goltv.ca), a 24-hour soccer network; WFN: World Fishing Network (www.wfn.tv), North America's only network devoted entirely to fishing, and; GameTV (www.igametv.com), the only Canadian television network that gives viewers a chance to win great prizes, simply by tuning in. The company also owns Aquila Productions Inc., a leader in sports television and event production, and holds a significant interest in the NHL Network (www.nhlnetwork.ca), a 24-hour hockey channel.

 

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, and Ford Major League Gaming Canada (www.mlgcanada.com), an affiliate of Major League Gaming, Inc., and the largest organized league and international sanctioning body for professional video gaming. 

 

Among its other businesses, Insight Sports is the exclusive sponsorship agency of the Buffalo Bills’ eight-game NFL series at the Rogers Centre in Toronto (www.billsintoronto.com) and also manages Wayne Gretzky’s official website, www.gretzky.com.

 

Based in Toronto, the principal shareholders of Insight Sports include Larry Tanenbaum (Kilmer Enterprises Inc., a subsidiary of Kilmer Van Nostrand Co. Limited) and MWI & Partners. For more information see www.insightsports.com.

 

About TYLENOL®
In Canada, a wide range of TYLENOL® products are available for adults and children, all designed to meet their varying pain and fever needs.  TYLENOL
® brand is owned and marketed by McNeil Consumer Healthcare, a division of Johnson & Johnson, Inc. McNeil Consumer Healthcare markets a broad range of well-known and trusted over-the-counter (OTC) products around the globe.  McNeil Consumer Healthcare markets products in the adult and pediatric pain relief, allergy, gastro-intestinal and nicotine-replacement categories.

 

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).

 

 

 

 

 


 

2008 TYLENOL® Players’ Championship – Participating Men’s Teams

 

Team G. Howard (Coldwater, Ont.)           

Glenn Howard             Skip                

Richard Hart                Third                           

Brent Laing                  Second                                               

Craig Savill                  Lead                           

Canadian Team Ranking System Standing: 1st (270.750 points)

2007 TYLENOL® Players’ Championship Finish: Lost in quarterfinals (3-3)

 

Team Martin (Edmonton, Alta.)                            

Kevin Martin                Skip                            

John Morris                 Third                           

Marc Kennedy             Second                                               

Ben Hebert                  Lead                           

Canadian Team Ranking System Standing: 2nd (269.100 points)

2007 TYLENOL® Players’ Championship Finish: Champion (6-1)

 

Team Koe (Edmonton, Alta.)                                           

Kevin Koe                    Skip                            

Blake MacDonald        Third                           

Carter Rycroft             Second                                               

Nolan Thiessen           Lead                           

Canadian Team Ranking System Standing: 3rd (239.400 points)

2007 TYLENOL® Players’ Championship Finish: Lost in finals (5-2)

 

Team Burtnyk (Winnipeg, Man.)                                                  

Kerry Burtnyk              Skip                            

Dan Kammerlock        Third               

Richard Daneault        Second                                               

Rob Meakin                 Lead                           

Canadian Team Ranking System Standing: 4th (189.100 points)

2007 TYLENOL® Players’ Championship Finish: Did not qualify for quarterfinals (1-3)

 

Team Simmons (Davidson, Sask.)                                  

Pat Simmons              Skip                                        

Jeff Sharp                    Third                           

Gerry Adam                 Second                                                           

Steve Laycock            Lead                           

Canadian Team Ranking System Standing: 5th (163.950 points)

2007 TYLENOL® Players’ Championship Finish: Lost in semi-finals (4-1)

 

Team Stoughton (Winnipeg, Man.)                                

Jeff Stoughton             Skip                

Ryan Fry                     Third               

Rob Fowler                 Second                                               

Steve Gould                Lead                           

Canadian Team Ranking System Standing: 6th (155.000 points)

2007 TYLENOL® Players’ Championship Finish: Did not qualify for quarterfinals (0-3)

 

Team Gushue (St. John’s, Nfld.)                                    

Brad Gushue               Skip                            

Mark Nichols               Third                           

Chris Schille                Second                                               

David Noftall                Lead                           

Canadian Team Ranking System Standing: 7th (144.850 points)

2007 TYLENOL® Players’ Championship Finish: Did not qualify for quarterfinals (2-3)

 

Team Ferbey (Edmonton, Alta.)                          

David Nedohin             Fourth                         

Randy Ferbey             Skip                            

Scott Pfeifer                Second                                               

Marcel Rocque            Lead                           

Canadian Team Ranking System Standing: 8th (140.750 points)

2007 TYLENOL® Players’ Championship Finish: Lost in semi-finals (4-1)

 

Team Middaugh (Midland, Ont.)                                     

Wayne Middaugh        Skip                            

Jon Mead                     Third                           

Ian Tetley                     Second                                               

Scott Bailey                 Lead                           

Canadian Team Ranking System Standing: 9th (129.700 points)

2007 TYLENOL® Players’ Championship Finish: Did not qualify for quarterfinals (2-3)

 

Team McAulay (Richmond, B.C.)

Greg McAulay              Skip
Ken Maskiewich          Third

Bill Fisher                    Second

Aaron Watson             Lead

Capital One Order of Merit Standing: 10th (88.350 points)

2006-07 Masters of Curling Finish: Did not qualify to compete

 

Team McEwen (Winnipeg, Man.)

Mike McEwen              Skip

Matt Wozniak              Third

B.J. Neufeld                 Second

Denni Neufeld             Lead

Capital One Order of Merit Standing: 11th (87.950 points)

2006-07 Masters of Curling Finish: Did not qualify to compete

 

Team Adams (Halifax, N.S.)

Shawn Adams            Skip

Paul Flemming            Third

Craig Burgess             Second

Kelly Mittelstadt           Lead

Canadian Team Ranking System Standing: 12th (83.800 points)

2007 TYLENOL® Players’ Championship Finish: Did not qualify to compete

 

Team Corner (Brampton, Ont.)                                       

Peter Corner               Skip                

John Base                   Third                                       

Phil Loevenmark         Second                                               

Paul Moffatt                 Lead                           

Canadian Team Ranking System Standing: 13th (79.850 points)

2007 TYLENOL® Players’ Championship Finish: Did not qualify to compete

 

Team Ursel (Kelowna, B.C.)

Jim Cotter                   Fourth

Bob Ursel                    Skip

Kevin Folk                   Second

Rick Sawatsky            Lead

Canadian Team Ranking System Standing: 15th (78.500 points)

2007 TYLENOL® Players’ Championship Finish: Did not qualify to compete

 

Team Carruthers (Winnipeg, Man.)

Reid Carruthers          Skip
Jason Gunnlaugson    Third

Justin Richter              Second

Tyler Forrest               First

Canadian Team Ranking System Standing: 16th (74.050 points)

2007 TYLENOL® Players’ Championship Finish: Did not qualify to compete

 

Team Ferland (Cap-de-la-Madeleine, Que.)                                         

Martin Ferland             Skip                            

Marco Berthelot           Third                           

Phillippe Lemay           Second                                               

Christian Cantin          Lead                           

Canadian Team Ranking System Standing: 18th (67.950 points)

2007 TYLENOL® Players’ Championship Finish: Did not qualify to compete

 

 

2008 TYLENOL® Players’ Championship – Participating Women’s Teams

 

Team Jones (Winnipeg, Man.)                

Jennifer Jones                         Skip

Cathy Overton-Clapham         Third

Jill Officer                                Second

Dawn Askin                             Lead

Canadian Team Ranking System Standing: 1st (215.950 points)

2007 TYLENOL® Players’ Championship Finish: Champion (6-1)

 

Team Kleibrink (Calgary, Alta.)

Shannon Kleibrink                   Skip

Amy Nixon                               Third

Bronwen Saunders                 Second

Chelsey Bell                            Lead

Canadian Team Ranking System Standing: 2nd (190.850 points)

2007 TYLENOL® Players’ Championship Finish: Did not advance to quarterfinals (2-3)

 

Team Scott (Kelowna, B.C.)                                

Kelly Scott                               Skip

Jeanna Schraeder                  Third

Sasha Carter                          Second

Renee Simons                        Lead

Canadian Team Ranking System Standing: 3rd (160.750 points)

2007 TYLENOL® Players’ Championship Finish: Lost in finals (5-1)

 

Team Lawton (Saskatoon, Sask.)                        

Stefanie Lawton                      Skip

Marliese Kasner                      Third

Sherri Singler                          Second

Lana Vey                                 Lead

Canadian Team Ranking System Standing: 4th (157.450)

2007 TYLENOL® Players’ Championship Finish: Lost in quarterfinals (3-1)

 

Team Middaugh (Coldwater, Ont.)         

Sherry Middaugh                     Skip

Kirsten Wall                            Third

Kim Moore                               Second

Andra Harmark                        Lead

Canadian Team Ranking System Standing: 5th (131.600)

2007 TYLENOL® Players’ Championship Finish: Lost in quarterfinals (3-2)

 

Team Bernard (Calgary, Alta.)                             

Cheryl Bernard                        Skip

Susan O'Connor                     Third

Carolyn Darbyshire                 Second

Cori Bartel                               Lead

Canadian Team Ranking System Standing: 6th (126.250)

2007 TYLENOL® Players’ Championship Finish: Lost in semi-finals (4-2)

 

Team Englot (Regina, Sask.)                              

Michelle Englot                        Skip

Darlene Kidd                           Third

Roberta Materi                        Second

Cindy Simmons                      Lead

Canadian Team Ranking System Standing: 7th (82.700)

2007 TYLENOL® Players’ Championship Finish: Did not qualify to compete

 

Team Anderson (Saskatoon, Sask.)                               

Sherry Anderson                     Skip

Kim Hodson                            Third

Heather Walsh                        Second

Donna Gignac                         Lead

Canadian Team Ranking System Standing: 8th (78.050)

2007 TYLENOL® Players’ Championship Finish: Did not advance to quarterfinals (2-3)

 

Team King (Edmonton, Alta.)                              

Cathy King                              Skip

Lori Olson                               Third

Raylene Rocque                     Second

Tracy Bush                             Lead   

Canadian Team Ranking System Standing: 9th (75.450)

2007 TYLENOL® Players’ Championship Finish: Lost in quarterfinals (3-3)

 

Team Rankin (Calgary, Alta.)                   

Heather Rankin                       Skip

Deanna Doig                           Third

Heather Moulding                    Second

Kyla MacLachlan                     Lead

Canadian Team Ranking System Standing: 10th (60.450)

2007 TYLENOL® Players’ Championship Finish: Did not advance to quarterfinals (0-3)

 

Team McCarville (Thunder Bay, Ont.)

Krista McCarville                     Skip

Tara George                            Third

Kari MacLean                          Second

Lorraine Lang                          Lead

Canadian Team Ranking System Standing: 11th (60.250)

2007 TYLENOL® Players’ Championship Finish: Did not qualify to compete

 

Team Strong (St. John’s, Nfld.)

Heather Strong                        Skip

Cathy Cunningham                 Third

Laura Strong                           Second

Peg Goss                                Lead

Canadian Team Ranking System Standing: 13th (55.900)

2007 TYLENOL® Players’ Championship Finish: Did not qualify to compete

 

Team Moore (Edmonton, Alta.)

Kristie Moore                           Skip

Heather Nedohin                     Third

Beth Iskiw                                Second

Pam Appelman                       Lead

Canadian Team Ranking System Standing: 14th (55.400)

2007 TYLENOL® Players’ Championship Finish: Did not qualify to compete

 

Team Reddick (Brantford, Ont.)

Julie Reddick                           Skip

Jo-Ann Rizzo                          Third

Leigh Armstrong                     Second

Stephanie Leachman              Lead

Canadian Team Ranking System Standing: 15th (48.300)

2007 TYLENOL® Players’ Championship Finish: Did not qualify to compete

 

Team Holland (Regina, Sask.)

Amber Holland                        Skip

Kim Schneider                        Third

Tammy Schneider                  Second

Heather Seeley                       Lead

Canadian Team Ranking System Standing: 17th (43.800)

 

2007 TYLENOL® Players’ Championship Finish: Did not qualify to compete

 

Eve Bélisle (Montreal, Que.)

Eve Bélisle                              Skip

Brenda Nicholls                       Third

Martine Comeau                     Second

Julie Rainville                          Lead

Canadian Team Ranking System Standing: 18th (43.450)