Brier Bound – Alberta

As provincial and territorial qualifying events take place across the country leading up to the 2011 Tim Hortons Brier in London, we’re keeping you up-to-date on all the latest developments. Here’s the news from Alberta.The field for the 2011 Boston Pizza Cup provincial men’s curling finals – February 9-13 at the Highwood Curling Club in High River – features the very best in the world from the 2010 season.

Team Alberta at the 2010 Tim Hortons Brier

The initial qualifiers include Olympic gold medalists Kevin Martin, John Morris, Marc Kennedy and Ben Hebert, as well as Canadian and World champs Kevin Koe, Blake MacDonald, Carter Rycroft and Nolan Thiessen.  Both teams hail from Edmonton’s Saville Sports Centre. ACF Bonspiel point leaders Don Walchuck – another Saville club member – and Robert Schlender of the Calmar Curling Club also advanced to the Alberta showdown. Graham Powell from Sexsmith and Grande Prairie’s Geoff Walker earned their berths through the Peace Curling Association. Another three representing the Saville Centre moved on from the Northern Association playdowns – Randy Ferbey, winner of six Canadian and four World championships, with David Nedohin and newcomers Blayne Iskiw and David Harper – as well as teams skipped by Tom Appelman and Glen Kennedy. Steve Petryk of the Calgary Winter Club and Terry Meek and Brock Virtue, playing out of the Calgary Curling Club, led their squads to the Boston Pizza Cup after the Southern Association playdowns at the Calgary Curling Club.