By Nathan Kanter

Twin Rivers helping grow sport during Meridian Canadian Open

Dec 16, 2016 | 11:00 AM

The Twin Rivers Curling Club is the host organization for the upcoming Meridian Canadian Open, and with that means a lot of planning.

Many months ago, they had to develop a bid, approach Sportsnet, and negotiate.

Because of that, North Battleford mayor Ryan Bater said they should be given credit for giving the community the opportunity to host such an event.

“The organizing committee, the core committee, has been working since last spring in developing the plan,” Bater, who is also a volunteer on the committee, said. “There’s a lot of people behind this effort.”

But Twin Rivers Curling Club president Richard Pratchler pointed to two specific individuals when asked how the whole process began.

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“I’ve got to give credit to Wayne Cubbon and Russ Brown. Both of those guys started the process on their own,” Pratchler said. “Once they had Sportsnet interested, then they approached the curling club to sponsor it and continue through with it. The whole credit goes to Wayne and Russ.”

As the host organization, Twin Rivers is doing more than just putting on the event. They are also helping give an opportunity to young curlers around the community, with two events taking place on the final day of the Meridian Canadian Open, which is Sunday Jan. 8.

First, the top two finishers from each division of the Northland Power Junior Slam Classic, a tournament that was held two weekends ago for U-15 and U-18 athletes at Twin Rivers, are going to get on-ice instruction from some of the professional curlers participating in the Grand Slam event.

“They get an hour and a half of ice time,” Bater said. “Really, [it’s] an amazing opportunity for those younger teams.”

The second event is for children under the age of 13, as they will have an opportunity to curl at the Civic Centre on the Sunday when the pros aren’t playing.

“They get to actually come and curl for an hour in the arena under the lights,” Bater said. “Kids can participate through their school programs if they’re interested in that.”

And by hosting such a marquee event, the hope is also to help grow the popularity of the sport in general.

Bater said he absolutely expects that to happen.

“My expectation would be that there [are] a lot of people in the public who are coming maybe just to watch the event who aren’t curlers and maybe they’ll get an interest in curling,” he said. “[Maybe] they’ll want to check out the Twin Rivers Curling Club and the Northland Power Curling Centre, maybe come in for a drop-in night and learn how to curl.

“It’s a good opportunity to build the sport up and to build the club up.”

Pratchler pointed out that because it’s a big money event, it gives the sport more credibility, which could also get more people interested.

“The money that is made by the winning teams brings that whole aspect of a pro sport type attitude to the sport,” he said. “Just from that you’ll get future people into the sport.”

Much of the proceeds from the tournament will go the club, including the 50/50 draw that will run during the Grand Slam of Curling event will also go towards the club.

“That’s all going to the junior curling program so you’re able to build up the club and get more people interested and support,” Bater said. “There’s a real long-term viability here just by having this one event.”

“The club is very excited in hosting this event, both from the attention it’ll bring to the sport, the attention it’ll bring to the city, and again, the attention it brings to the curling club,” Pratchler added.

Nathan Kanter is battlefordsNOW’s sports reporter and voice of the Battlefords North Stars. He can be reached at Nathan.kanter@jpbg.ca or tweet him @NathanKanter11