Colin Hodgson said he was very excited when he saw the news that his team will be in the Champions Cup in Sherwood Park, Alta.
Hodgson plays lead for skip Reid Carruthers and their West St. Paul, Man., rink were among the World Curling Tour event winners who earned spots last week to the season finale Pinty’s Grand Slam of Curling tournament.
Born and raised in Alberta, Hodgson is looking forward to having the crowd on his side.
“My family is very close to there,” said Hodgson, who now resides in Winnipeg. “I never really get to play in front of my family and get to have the support of them in the stands.”
It’s been almost a year since Hodgson most recently had the opportunity to play in front of his family when he made his Tim Hortons Brier debut in Calgary last season as the Manitoba champion.
“It was really important to me that they were there at the Brier,” Hodgson said. “I’m really excited to play in a fun Slam event where everyone can travel a short distance and we can enjoy the event.”
Team Carruthers, which also features third Braeden Moskowy and second Derek Samagalski, have taken another step forward in their second year together finishing runner-up at the National and reaching the semifinals at the Canadian Open. The foursome qualified for the Champions Cup as winners of the DEKALB Superspiel in Morris, Man.
The Champions Cup — running April 26 to May 1 at the Sherwood Park Arena Sports Centre — features all of the top winners over the course of the curling season in one final showdown with 15 men’s and 15 women’s teams. Carruthers joins a high-profile field that includes 2006 Olympic gold medallist Brad Gushue from St. John’s, reigning Brier champion Pat Simmons of Calgary and six-time Pinty’s GSOC event winner Mike McEwen of Winnipeg among others.
Tickets are now available for the Champions Cup, click here for details to purchase yours today.