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Best in BC Men's Curling on display in Nelson at Canadian Direct Insurance Curling Championships

The Nelson Daily Sports
By The Nelson Daily Sports
February 5th, 2016

Want to see the Tim Horton’s Brier?

Head to Ottawa’s TD Place to see Canada’s top men’s curlers in action.

Want to get a taste of what it’s going to be like in the Nation’s Capital?

Then pick up tickets immediately at the Nelson Chamber of Commerce for the 2016 Canadian Direct Insurance BC Men’s Curling Championships beginning Wednesday at the Nelson Curling Club.

“This is the starting point for a rink going to the Brier and to host such a huge event here in Nelson is just going to be awesome,” said committee chairperson Brent Pihowich.

“The committee has been working hard since last March and now in a few days the event is going to be here.”

The Canadian Direct Insurance BC Men’s Curling Championships begin Tuesday with practice sessions for all 16 teams.

The day concludes with the Team Banquet at the Nelson Curling Club.

“As many people know Sportsnet is coming in to broadcast the event Saturday and Sunday but it is actually a lot of fun to be at the rink in person watching the event live,” said local curler Fred Thomson, part of the BC Champion Deane Horning rink in 2005.

“You not only get to see the action live, but you also get to interact with the players.”

“Most curlers are very interactive and like to get the crowd going. It really is a fun place to be and you get right into it,” Thomson added.

Wednesday, teams begin play in the triple-knockout event, which concludes Friday.

The top four teams then begin the Page Playoff with 1 vs 2 at p.m.

The 3 vs 4 Page Playoff game is slated for Saturday at 7 p.m.

Sunday, the semi final game, televised by Sportsnet, begins at 11 a.m.

Sportsnet is one of the two major sports specialty cable services in Canada.

The winner advances to the final at 4 p.m., which is also televised live on Sportsnet.

Award presentation follows the final.

Pihowich said a professional icemaker from Curl BC is heading to Nelson to fine tune the ice.

Special playing rocks have also been brought in for the championships Thomson said will allow players to mirror shots of seen at the Tim Horton’s Brier.

Five of the six sheets will be used for play from Wednesday to Saturday. The sixth sheet is having bleachers install for spectators to watch the games from ice level.

Sunday’s semi final and final will be played on a special sheet of ice specialty tailored for the Sportsnet broadcast.

Thomson, who is throwing the first rock during opening ceremonies, said all eyes would be on Nelson when the best of the best come to the Heritage City for the chance to represent BC at the Tim Horton’s Brier.

“Everyone is going to be excited to be watching this event in Nelson,” he said, “and hopefully everyone has a good memory of the event and of Nelson.”

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