The South Korean national team will headline the St. Albert OK Tire Men’s Bonspiel.
Team Kim is one of 28 rinks confirmed for the four-day event, starting Thursday night at the St. Albert Curling Club.
The finals are Sunday afternoon.
Mike Hutchings, winner of the last four St. Albert men’s spiels with a slightly different lineup each year, will defend his crown.
Last year the Bellerose Composite High School teacher drew to the four foot with last shot in the extra end to edge Doug McLennan 6-5 in the final. His team of third Chris King, filling in for the injured Bryan Connell, second Brian McPherson and lead Derek Skarban pocketed $580 for the win and $1,055 in prize money at the 32-rink competition.
Two years ago Hutchings won 3-2 when McLennan missed a tricky tap back with the hammer in the last end.
Hutchings’ crew for this year’s spiel includes King, Skarban and Matt Willerton, in place of the unavailable McPherson.
The last spiel for Hutchings was the Shamrock Shotgun last month on the World Curling Tour. In the final he lost 5-3 to Tom Appelman.
Hutchings is also 3-3 in the Big Rock Edmonton Super League.
The Bellerose Bulldogs advanced to the men’s and women’s quarter-finals in metro Edmonton division two volleyball after winning their respective opening-round matches Thursday.
The lady Bulldogs (9-0) beat the McNally Tigers (2-7) 3-1 and the Bellerose men (8-1) swept the W.P. Wagner Warriors (2-7) in three sets at Bellerose Composite High School.
Tuesday the Bulldogs host the Holy Trinity Trojans (6-3) in the men’s bracket at 4:45 p.m. and the lady Bulldogs play the visiting Archbishop Jordan Scots (5-4) at 6:30 p.m. in the women’s bracket.
The semifinals are Thursday and the finals are Friday at 6 p.m. for the women and 8 p.m. for the men at Bev Facey High School.
The last Bellerose senior team volleyball championships were 2002 for the men and 2004 for the women in the city conference.
The Paul Kane Blues and the St. Albert Skyhawks are also in the running for the men’s division two title.
In Tuesday’s quarter-finals the Blues (8-1) host Holy Trinity (6-3) at 4:45 p.m. and the Skyhawks (5-4) travel to play the Leduc Tigers (9-0) at 5 p.m.
Meanwhile, in the women’s division one quarter-finals Wednesday, the Skyhawks (8-4) dropped a 25-20, 22-25, 20-25, 25-16, 12-15 decision to the visiting Jasper Place Rebels (8-4).
Last year in the premier conference semifinals the Skyhawks suffered their first loss of the season in five sets to the fourth-place Ardrossan Bisons in St. Albert.
Up next for the Skyhawks is the 3A zones.
Last year as the No. 1 seed and co-hosts for the zone tournament the Skyhawks missed the provincial cut with a 1-3 record.
Provincials are Nov. 28 to 30 at the Saville Community Sports Centre.
The only St. Albert team remaining in the metro Edmonton junior volleyball playoffs are the Skyhawks in women’s division two.
In Wednesday’s semifinals the Skyhawks (10-1) host the Memorial Marauders (8-3) at 4:45 p.m.
Last month in pool B action the Skyhawks beat Memorial 3-2 in St. Albert.
The winner plays the St. Francis Xavier Rams (11-0) or St. Peter The Apostle Spartans (6-5) for the metro championship next Saturday at 11 a.m. at Bev Facey High School.
The last junior banner for the Skyhawks was their 2009 repeat performance in the city conference.
The second playoff win in three days for the Skyhawks was 3-0 over the Ardrossan Bisons (6-5) this week in St. Albert.
It was the Skyhawks’ fourth best-of-five sweep in a row and the sixth this season.
