North Battleford's Northland Power Curling Centre will take centre stage on the provincial curling scene next week. (Martin Martinson/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By Martin Martinson

Best in Sask

CURLSASK Mixed Provincial Championship coming to North Battleford

Mar 9, 2023 | 3:22 PM

The biggest names in Saskatchewan mixed curling will be coming to North Battleford next week, when Twin Rivers Curling Club hosts the 2023 CURLSASK Mixed Provincial Championship.

Taking place March 16-19 at the Northland Power Curling Centre, the event will feature 17 teams from across the province, including the 2021 Saskatchewan Mixed Champion, and hometown favorite team of Dean Grindheim, Sherry Just, Cole Tenetuik, and Alison Ingram, representing the Twin Rivers Club.

Other notable teams heading into play include:

• 2019 World Men’s silver medalist Colton Flasch, and his team, also comprised of multi-time Olympic and World Women’s participant Kelly Schafer, and previous Provincial Mixed Champs Chris and TeeJay Haichert from Swift Current Curling Club.
• Former World Women’s & World Junior silver medalist Amber Holland, who returns with 2022 Mixed finalists Tyler Hartung, Mat Ring, and Deb Lozinski from Saskatoon’s Sutherland Curling Club.
• 10-time Scotties Tournament of Hearts participant Michelle Englot, playing with Kerrobert Curling Club’s Mitch Heidt (skip and multi-time Saskatchewan Tankard participant), Brett Barber, and Derek Schneider.
• Four-time Provincial Junior Champion Rylan Kleiter from the Sutherland Curling Club, with sister and 2023 Provincial Junior finalist Madison Kleiter, Trevor Johnson, and Jennifer Armstrong.
• Local Juniors Ava & Leah Beausoleil, with fellow U21 curlers Annika Steckler, Caden Snow, and Matthew Drewitz (2022 Canadian U18 Champion skip) from Saskatoon’s Nutana Club.

President of the Twin Rivers Curling Club Al Gabert said they’re looking forward to hosting this year’s event, as it will mark the community’s first Mixed Provincials, after hosting a fall Mixed Bonspiel about a half-decade ago.

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“It gives us an opportunity to showcase our organization and our rink, and it brings some top-end curlers into the city to [support local business] and show us their curling skills, and it’s terrific,” Gabert said.

He added the local talent coming to compete also brings an added air of excitement for fans of the sport throughout the Battlefords and area.

“Last year Cole [Tenetuik] and Alison [Ingram] were on the Grindheim team that won provincials so they went on to nationals and did very well, and the younger [Beausoleil] girls also just finished U18 Nationals out in Ontario, so you bring them back to something like this and it gives them a chance to showcase their skills,” he said. “People will come and see that because they’re local, and it’s a great asset for our club.”

Mixed Provincials will open with the first two draws Thursday, Mar. 16 at 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. at the Twin Rivers Curling Club, with the final scheduled for 5 pm, Mar. 19. Admission is $5 per day or $10 for an event pass, available at the door.

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Martin.Martinson@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @MartyMartyPxP1