By Scott Roblin

Medicine Hat Curling Club ready to welcome Alberta’s best

Jan 9, 2018 | 3:46 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB – Final preparations are underway at the Medicine Hat Curling Club before the province’s top female curlers take to the ice for the 2018 Alberta Scotties Championship.

Alberta’s top 12 rinks will be competing over a five-day stretch for a berth at the Scotties Tournament of Hearts in Penticton, B.C.

Co-Chair Debbie Lutz said they’ve expanded their seating to accommodate up to 400 people.

“We’ve got 140 seats that will be on ice,” said Lutz. “We’ve actually got 100 that will be able to seat on the main floor, we’ve brought in some bleachers. And then upstairs, we’ve got a little configuration going of three rows, so we can hopefully hold about another 100 up there.”

Young minds, big ideas: Elementary students learn about urban planning with 'Box City'

14h ago

HERE'S WHAT TO KNOW

Summer pool hours extended and discounts applied as Big Marble Go Centre upgrades start

Apr 18, 2024

Medicine Hat company drawing in clients with witty signage

Apr 16, 2024

Four of the club’s eight sheets were taken out over the weekend to make room for seating and live entertainment.

The setup is modelled after last year’s Scotties hosts in the St. Albert Curling Club, and was built to accommodate a national broadcast by Sportsnet for the semi-finals and finals on Sunday.

Curling Club Manager Vicki Sjolie said it’s easily one of the biggest events they’ve ever hosted.

“It kind of puts you out there throughout the country,” said Sjolie. “A lot of the teams that are on the World Curling Tour, they play all over and our curling club has always had a really good reputation. So, I think it’s going to put Medicine Hat on the map.”

Close to 20 volunteers per day have been hard at work installing seats, setting up the VIP area, and getting the ice ready for Wednesday’s opening draws.

That’s something that Facilities Director Mario Biemens said is no easy task.

“It is a challenge, but with the local community we’ve come together, found the right stuff we needed, and it’s working well.”

It’s expected to be one of the most competitive fields in years, featuring the rinks of Shannon Kleibrink, Val Sweeting, and Chelsea Carey to name a few.

That field is also making a difference with early ticket sales, which Lutz said is holding steady.

“We’ve had a lot of buzz from not only Medicine Hat, but from surrounding areas phoning about tickets.”

Lutz added after months of planning, it’s remarkable that the Scotties are just around the corner.

“We’ve been getting together since June, the last few months we’ve been getting together almost on a weekly basis,” she said. “And, now to see that it’s all coming to fruition and that the plan is starting to come together, it’s very exciting.”

Opening draw action gets underway at the Medicine Hat Curling Club at 9:30 on Wednesday morning, with the opening ceremonies set for 5:30 pm.