Alberta heavyweights line up in the Brier's opening draw
The opening draw of the 2024 Canadian men's curling championship will feature a rematch of Alberta rivals.
Aaron Sluchinski upset Kevin Koe 6-3 in the provincial men's curling final Sunday and will represent Alberta for the first time March 1-10 at the Brier in Regina.
Four-time national champion Koe, who earned entry via a wild-card berth, will face Sluchinski again in the Brier's opening draw at the Brandt Centre.
Brad Gushue opens defence of his Canadian title against Nova Scotia's Matthew Manuel, host Saskatchewan skipped by Mike Mcewen meets Prince Edward Island's Tyler Smith and Jamie Koe of Northwest Territories takes on Quebec's Julien Tremblay to kick off the tournament March 1.
The field features 14 provincial and territorial champions, Gushue's Team Canada and three wild-cards based on national rankings.
Along with Brendan Bottcher, Alberta has three teams in the field. Manitoba and Newfoundland and Labrador each have two.
Bottcher, Manitoba's Matt Dunstone and Reid Carruthers, Ontario's Scott Howard, B.C.'S Catlin Schneider, New Brunswick's James Grattan, Northern Ontario's Trevor Bonot, Andrew Symonds of Newfoundland and Labrador and Yukon's Thomas Scoffin comprise Pool A.
Gushue, Alberta's Koe, Mcewen, Sluchinski, Tremblay, Manuel, Smith, N.W.T.'S Koe and Nunavut's Shane Latimer are in Pool B.
Calgary goaltender Jacob Markstrom, Florida goalie Sergei Bobrovsky and Montreal centre Nick Suzuki have been named the NHL'S three stars of the week.
Markstrom guided the Flames to three straight road victories with a 2.00 goalsagainst average and .939 save percentage to lift the Flames within three points of the final Western Conference playoff spot.
Bobrovsky stopped 56 of the 58 shots he faced and posted a 2-0-0 record, 1.00 goals-against average, .966 save percentage and a shutout.
Suzuki had a league-leading six points (four goals).