Curling Canada is helping youngsters get in the game

When the Scotties Tournament of Hearts, the Canadian women’s curling championship, gets underway at the Sandman Centre in Kamloops later this month, organizers hope to see plenty of young faces in the crowd.

And, thanks to its new, enhanced youth, family and school initiative, which will introduce more youngsters and their families in the Kamloops area to curling prior to the tournament, that is expected to be the case.

“We’re still feeling the impacts of a two year gap in engaging youth in our sport,” said Brodie Bazinet, foundation and philanthropic program manager with Curling Canada. “We have exceptional role models in curling and we want to get out in the community to share our sport with kids.”

Building on its already successful Egg Farmers Rocks & Rings program, that brings floor curling directly to students to experience curling in school gymnasiums, Bazinet said as part of the lead-up to the Scotties in Kamloops all Rocks & Rings participants are being invited to try the sport on ice with their families during special one-hour sessions at their local curling clubs. The families, as well as students who participate in the Rocks & Rings program, are then able to sign up to receive complimentary tickets to watch one of the opening draws at the Scotties, which go from Feb. 17 to 26 at the Sandman Centre.

“We will reach thousands of school-aged youth with this enhanced program,” said Bazinet.

She noted curling offers more than just physical and mental development, it is also a very social sport, one that welcomes participants and provides a supportive environment.

“Curling is known for its sense of community,” said Bazinet. “We are confident that we can get young people hooked once they set foot on the ice and engage with the local curling community.”

She added not only are the top players in the sport elite athletes, they are also very accessible to the fans. That, in turn, also helps attract families and young people to the sport.

“Getting youth back on the curling ice and growing youth participation levels are critical to the future of our sport and sporting community,” said Curling Canada in a release. “Using the 2023 Scotties Tournament of Hearts as the engagement catalyst, Curling Canada will support efforts to engage local youth and their families, through an enhanced school program, junior curler participation initiatives, Try Curling 101 on-ice experiences, complimentary ticket opportunities for youth and their families, and in-venue family engagement initiatives on the opening weekend.”

To register for the Try Curling session on Feb. 11 at the Kamloops Curling Centre go to https://www.curling.ca/2023scotties/trycurling/

The 2023 Scotties will get underway with Kerri Einarson’s defending champion Team Canada rink taking on Quebec’s Team Laurie St-Georges on Friday, Feb. 17 at 6 p.m., and will continue with Team Canada playing the newly crowned B.C. champs, skipped by Clancy Grandy on the opening Saturday at 6 p.m. It is expected to be an electric atmosphere at the Sandman Centre and organizers expect the game to be the hottest ticket in town and a sell-out.

Round-robin single-draw ticket prices range from $20 to $35 with playoff and semifinal game tickets $35 and up to $40 for Sunday’s gold-medal final. Youth under the age of 18 can attend Draws 1 through 18 for free with a paying adult. These tickets can only be purchased at the Sandman Centre box office. Youth tickets for all playoff games are $10.

Various other ticket packages are still available. Starting at $99, opening-weekend packages are a great value and include a ticket to each of the first six draws (Feb. 17-19). Weekday packages, which include three draws in one day (Feb. 20-23), are also still available from $50.

Other options include:

• Standard Championship Weekend Package ($199) — A single ticket to every draw from Friday, Feb. 24 to Sunday, Feb. 26.

• Premium End Zone Championship Weekend Package ($229) — Limited availability, end zone sections.

• Standard Full Event Package ($395) — A single ticket to every draw of the 2023 Scotties Tournament of Hearts.

• Premium Full Event Package ($419) — Limited availability, end zone sections.

Ticket sales have picked up recently, so fans need to act quickly to nail down their seats for what promises to be an exciting 2023 Scotties Tournament of Hearts.

All ticket packages are subject to standard facility and ticket service fees.

Ticket packages are available online at the event website https://www.curling.ca/2023scotties/trycurling/, in person at the Sandman Centre box office and by phone at 250-828-3339.

The action won’t just be great on the ice; you can expect a lively atmosphere and plenty of fun at the Patch, which will be located at the Kamloops Curling Centre.

This article is written by or on behalf of the sponsoring client and does not necessarily reflect the views of Castanet.