The idea for the tour was spearheaded by Pat Berezowski and John Cameron, co-chairs of the Courtesy Freight Northern Ontario Superspiel (Thunder Bay, Ont.) and 2010 Olympian John Benton (St.Paul, MN). The tour was seen as an opportunity to coordinate existing spiels in the Great Lakes region into an organized schedule.

"We have always had great competition with our American friends and The Great Lakes Tour will bring us all together to develop our skills," said Pat Berezowski noting the title sponsor for the Thunder Bay event, Courtesy Freight Systems, is extremely excited to support the effort to promote curling on both sides of the border.

 

Phil Drobnic (Eveleth, Minn.) feels he Great Lakes Curling Tour is something that has been needed for a long time. “As chairman of the Curl Mesabi Cashspiel I feel it is going to not only help participation in our event, but continue to bring the level of play up to world class.  The tour will help grow the depth of curling in the United States giving teams the opportunity to play at a high level many more times in a year because of this tour.”

Five Women’s Events

Five of the 8 Tour stops including the Courtesy Freight spiel in Thunder Bay will include a ladies division looking to attract 12 teams for each event. The same five events will look to draw 24 men’s teams. The Tour kicks off August 19 in Fort Wayne, Indiana with the new summer cash event to feature a 20-team men’s draw.

The Tour will be awarding participating teams with points based on their results throughout the tour season. At the end of the season, Order of Merit points will determine which team has won the season ending Great Lakes Curling Tour bonus. This points system will also be in effect for the ladies divisions on the tour.

2011 Courtesy Freight Northern Ontario Superspiel

The Courtesy Freight Northern Ontario Superspiel will be held at the Port Arthur Curling Club from Friday, November 11 to Monday, November 14, 2011.

The Courtesy Freight spiel will showcase the top curling teams in Northern Ontario as they play to win a first place purse of $5,000 and a berth to the 2012 Men’s Provincials in Sault Ste Marie. The Thunder Bay stop is now the second qualifier for one spot to the 12-rink Northern Ontario Men’s playdown to be held in Sault Ste Marie.  The first chance with be at the Soo Curlers club on October 28-31st with the KIA Superspiel.

The Craig Brown rink of Madison, Wisconsin won the 28-rink event last year, and were of six American entries at the Thunder Bay cashspiel. There were also five out-of-town Northern Ontario rinks competing from Sudbury, Sault Ste. Marie and Red Lake.

 

Organizers can now confirm a 24 team field with a prize purse of $16,000. A triple knockout format will be used to qualify eight (8) teams for cash and the playoffs. The Ladies 12 team pool format will qualify 4 teams for the prizes with a prize purse of $7,000. The Joe Scharf team and The Mike Assad rink with Al Hackner playing third have confirmed participation, with Marlo Dahl and Krista McCarville entering the ladies division.

TBayTel Men’s Major League of Curling
The 2011/2012 TBaytel Major League of Curling will provide support to both the Great Lakes Tour and The Courtesy Freight Superspiel. The league will include a 14 men's teams and 2 ladies exemptions this year with Marlo Dahl and Krista McCarville rounding out the 16 team league. The first game is set for Wednesday September 28th at the PACC club.

The Committee has planned an entire weekend of hospitality with a band on Saturday night with The Underground Gym brought on board this year for our Charity to support.

Come out to see the best on the Great Lakes Curling Tour for a $5 admission per day.

Thank you for your support, Please call for any additional information.

Pat Berezowski – Co-Chair, cpgapro@hotmail.com

John Cameron – Co-Chair, jocamero@tbaytel.net

 

Schedule of Events

Fort Wayne Cashspiel – Fort Wayne Curling Club – Fort Wayne, Indiana, USA
August 19 – 21
Open Event: 20 Teams
Contact: Greg Eigner - gregory.eigner@gmail.com
Club Website: http://www.fortwaynecurling.com/

Green Bay Cashspiel – Green Bay Curling Club – Green Bay, Wisconsin, USA
September 23 – 25
Men’s Event: 16 Teams
Contact: Derek Casper - derrickcasper@hotmail.com
Club Website: http://www.curlgb.com/

St. Paul Cashspiel – St. Paul Curling Club – St. Paul, Minnesota, USA
October 14 – 16
Men’s Event: 24 Teams
Women’s Event:  Event: 12 Teams
Contacts: John Benton – jbcurler@gmail.com, Rich Ruohonen – ruohofam@comcast.net
Club Website: http://www.stpaulcurlingclub.org/

NOCT/NOCA Superspiel “East” – Soo Curlers Curling Club – Sault Ste Marie, Ontario, CAN
October 28 – 31
Men’s Event: 24 Teams
Contact: Steve Chenier - jcdhh@ntl.sympatico.ca
Club Website: http://www.soocurlers.com/

NOCT/NOCA Superspiel “West” – Port Arthur Curling Club – Thunder Bay, Ontario, CAN
November 11 – 14
Men’s Event: 24 Teams
Women’s Event:  Event: 12 Teams
Contacts: Pat Berezowski - cpgapro@hotmail.com, John Cameron - jcamero@shaw.ca
Club Website: http://www.majorleaguecurling.com/

Duluth Cashspiel – Duluth Curling Club – Duluth, Minnesota, USA
November 25 – 27
Men’s Event: 24 Teams
Women’s Event:  Event: 12 Teams
Contact:  John Shuster – shoostie@hotmail.com
Club Website: http://www.duluthcurlingclub.org/

Laphroaig Curling Championship – Madison Curling Club – Madison, Wisconsin, USA
December 2 – 4
Men’s Event: 16 Teams
Women’s Event:  Event: 12 Teams
Contacts: Jeremy Roe - jeremy.roe@amfam.com, Mark Hartman - mark.hartman@amfam.com
Club Website: http://www.madisoncurlingclub.com/

Curl Mesabi Cashspiel – Curl Mesabi Curling Club – Eveleth, Minnesota, USA
December 16 – 18
Men’s Event: 24 Teams
Women’s Event:  Event: 12 Teams
Contact: Phill Drobnick – curlmesabi@hotmail.com
Club Website: http://www.curlmesabi.co/