High-calibre curling is on the ice at the Mac this weekend.
The McIntyre Curling Club is hosting the Eastern Men's Qualifier, and the Masters Provincial Championship Jan. 9 to 12.
Event co-chair Tony Chilton said seven teams are taking part in the qualifier. The top four move on to provincials in New Liskeard later this month to play to represent Northern Ontario at the 2020 Brier.
Four teams — including two from the Mac — are playing in the Masters, which is for players 60 years and up. The winner will move on to the Canadian Masters. That division includes two-time Canadian champion and World champion curler Al Hackner.
"Having a man of that calibre here within our club will certainly be a draw for people to come and watch the curling here this weekend,” said Chilton.
Games are being played today (Thursday) at 2:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.
Friday and Saturday's draws are at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. The tie breakers and Masters final will be played Sunday.
The events are free for the public to watch.
With the local teams in the mix, Chilton said they're hoping to get club members out to watch.
“The mix and the flavour of the curling is very, very good and it should be at a very high-calibre this weekend,” he said.
By hosting the events, the club is aiming to attract bigger events in the future.
"We’re hoping to lock into a national event of some sort — whether it be a national junior event, whether it be a national mixed or a national seniors — that’s something we really want to focus on in the next two to three years to get here in our club. Not only that, it gets people in our club, it gets people here watching and learning the sport of curling, it gets our younger people out to watch,” he said.
The club is located at 85 McIntyre Rd., Schumacher.
