– Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games gold medallist Team Jacobs and bronze medallist Team Edin to compete in third Grand Slam of season –
TORONTO (March 11, 2014) Curling fans, get ready for a rockin’ good time! With curling fever at an all-time high in Canada, the Grand Slam of Curling sweeps into Fort McMurray, AB this week for the Syncrude National, the third event of the 2013-14 series. Sportsnet’s broadcast coverage begins Thursday, March 13 at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT on Sportsnet East, Ontario, West and Pacific, live from MacDonald Island Park (full broadcast details below).
The fast-paced round robin bonspiel will see 18 of the world’s most elite men’s curling teams go head-to-head for a combined purse of $100,000. The competition field has never been more fierce, with the Syncrude National welcoming teams from around the world, including Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games gold medallist Team Jacobs (Sault Ste. Marie, ON) and bronze medallist Team Edin (Sweden).
Sportsnet’s stable of curling experts will be at the heart of the action in Fort McMurray, with Rob Faulds handling the play-by-play alongside 1998 Olympic silver medallists and former teammates Mike Harris and Rich Hart, and 1998 Olympic gold medallist Joan McCusker.
Fort McMurray is pulling out all the stops for an unforgettable Syncrude National both on and off the ice; including a junior Grand Slam of Curling clinic on Saturday, March 15 followed by a community barbeque and a special concert by Juno award-winning band The Sheepdogs.
Owned and operated by Sportsnet since 2012, the Grand Slam of Curling is an elite series of men’s and women’s curling events which are part of the World Curling Tour and feature the best teams from across Canada and around the world. In addition to the Syncrude National, the 2013-14 series also included The Masters (Abbottsford, BC) and Canadian Open (Medicine Hat, AB) in 2013. The Players’ Championship (Summerside, PEI, April 15-20, 2014) caps off the 2013-14 series. Tickets for the Syncrude National can be purchased online at macdonaldisland.ca.
Talent Interviews:
Sportsnet’s curling talent are available for interviews to discuss the Syncrude National
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The Syncrude National Broadcast Schedule
Thursday, March 13
- Round Robin, 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT (Sportsnet East, Ontario, West and Pacific)
- Round Robin, 10:30 p.m. ET/7:30 p.m. PT (Sportsnet East, Ontario, West and Pacific)
Friday, March 14
- Round Robin, 3:30 p.m. ET/12:30 p.m. PT (Sportsnet East, Ontario, West and Pacific)
- Round Robin, 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT (Sportsnet East and Ontario)
- Round Robin, 10:30 p.m. ET/7:30 p.m. PT (Sportsnet East, Ontario, West and Pacific)
Saturday, March 15
- Quarter-Finals, 5 p.m. ET/2 p.m. PT (Sportsnet East, Ontario, West and Pacific)
- Semifinals, 8:30 p.m. ET/5:30 p.m. PT (Sportsnet East, Ontario, West and Pacific)
Sunday, March 16
- Final, Noon ET/9 a.m. PT (Sportsnet East, Ontario, West and Pacific)
About Sportsnet
Sportsnet connects Canadian sports fans to their favourite teams and athletes, using five platforms: TV, Radio, Print, Online and Mobile. Sportsnet is Fuelled By Fans, and delivers storytelling on a local, regional, national and global level. The multiplatform brand consists of Sportsnet, sportsnet.ca, Sportsnet 590 The FAN, Sportsnet 960 The FAN, Sportsnet magazine, Sportsnet Mobile and the Hockey Central app on iPad and Playbook. Sportsnet consists of four regional channels (Sportsnet East, Ontario, West and Pacific), and the nationally-distributed Sportsnet ONE, Sportsnet World, and Sportsnet 360. Sportsnet is the Canadian leader in NHL and MLB television broadcasts and is home to 162 Toronto Blue Jays games, plus MLB Playoffs and the World Series. Sportsnet is an official licensed broadcaster of the 2014 FIFA World Cup BrazilTM and also offers an exciting sports lineup including the NFL, the Memorial Cup, CIS Vanier Cup, Ultimate Fighting Championship®, Grand Slam of Curling, IndyCar, the Rogers Cup tennis tournament, and extensive soccer programming including Barclays Premier League, UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League, CONCACAF and Canadian national team matches for men and women. Connected is the network’s nightly news program, providing regional and national coverage of the day’s events in the world of sports.