Rogers Communications : Team Homan and Team Bottcher Claim Meridian Canadian Open Crowns in North Battleford

- Live coverage of the Players' Championship begins April 11 on Sportsnet and Sportsnet NOW -

NORTH BATTLEFORD, SK (January 13, 2019) Closing out world-class curling action in the heartland of the Prairies, Team Bottcher (Edmonton) and Team Homan (Ottawa) captured the first title of the New Year - the Meridian Canadian Open - at North Battleford's Civic Centre.

On the women's side, Team Homan made history Sunday afternoon after clinching its record-breaking 10^th Grand Slam women's title and third consecutive title this season following a 4-3 win over Team Tirinzoni (Aarau, SUI). In addition to the Meridian Canadian Open crown, Team Homan collects $30,000 of the $125,000 women's purse.

'It feels amazing,' said skip Rachel Homan after the team's record-breaking victory. 'It was really important for us to do well here and we were able to accomplish our goals. The team played so strong the whole way through and found a way to win.'

In the men's final, Team Bottcher claimed its first career Grand Slam title following a 6-3 victory over Canadian Beef Masters champions Team Epping (Toronto). Along with the title, Team Bottcher takes home $30,000 of the $125,000 men's purse and qualifies for the Humpty's Champions Cup in April.

'It's awesome. We played great all week, and this is what we needed to set us up for the rest of the year,' said skip Brendan Bottcher. 'We're curling consistently well, and I think that's the big difference this year. I've always known our peak game could compete, but it feels like this year we're just competing on the average day, and that's a good feeling.'

The 2018-19 Pinty's Grand Slam of Curling season continues in April as the Players' Championship rolls in to Toronto from April 9-14. Returning to Ryerson's Mattamy Athletic Centre, the Players' Championship will feature 24 elite men's and women's teams as they compete for the sixth Grand Slam title of the season. Live television coverage of the Players' Championship begins Thursday, April 11 on Sportsnet and Sportsnet NOW.

Pinty's Grand Slam of Curling

Owned and operated by Sportsnet since 2012, the Pinty'sGrand Slam of Curling is an elite series of men's and women's curling events which are part of the World Curling Tour and feature the best teams from across Canada and around the world. In the 2016-17 season, the total prize money for the Pinty's Grand Slam of Curling events increased to $2.1 million. For more details on future events, please visit thegrandslamofcurling.com.

Additional events in the 2018-19 Pinty's Grand Slam of Curling series include:

• Players' Championship - Toronto (April 9-14, 2019 at Ryerson's Mattamy Athletic Centre)
• Humpty's Champions Cup - Saskatoon, SK (April 23-28, 2019 at Merlis Belsher Place)

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