A preview to the Olympics is what the will bring to Penticton for the Ashley Home Store Curling Classic Nov. 3 to 6.

乌鸦传媒淭hese are all teams we could be watching in the Olympics next year,乌鸦传媒� said Cathy Jones, manager of the .

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Teams that highlight the 24-team mens乌鸦传媒� field are Sweden乌鸦传媒檚 Niklas Edin, ranked No. 2 in the WCT, Alberta乌鸦传媒檚 Kevin Koe (No. 5), Manitoba乌鸦传媒檚 Reid Carruthers (No. 4), Manitoba乌鸦传媒檚 Mike McEwen (No.7), Saskatchewan乌鸦传媒檚 Steve Laycock (No.11), Norway乌鸦传媒檚 Thomas Ulsrud (No. 8), Scotland乌鸦传媒檚 Tom Brewster (No.48), Netherlands Jaap van Dorp (No.40).

There is a purse of $66,000 available, and of the 24 teams, eight will advance to the qualifying round.

乌鸦传媒淚t乌鸦传媒檚 pretty incredible that the curling club versus the arena, can attract the quality of the top teams in the world to our city 乌鸦传媒� not for a national championship, or a Continental Cup, just for a good quality cash spiel,乌鸦传媒� said Matt Tolley, who is part of the organizing committee. 乌鸦传媒淚t乌鸦传媒檚 pretty awesome. I think everyone is pretty excited, especially teams in B.C.乌鸦传媒�

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Tolley said most teams in B.C. are at a different level then the top teams, but the only way the game will progress B.C. as a curling hub is to play these better teams.

With the event two weeks away, Jones said things look amazing as they are close to selling out. Seating capacity is a little more than 350. A large amount of those tickets were purchased by club members. There are 23 weekend passes remaining, which can be purchased by calling the Penticton Curling Club or dropping by.

During any given draw, Jones said it is likely that the top eight teams will always be on the ice.

乌鸦传媒淭here is going to be great curling to watch consistently all the time,乌鸦传媒� said Jones.

The club has attracted spectator interest from throughout the Okanagan, B.C. as well as Alberta. Jones said that is good for the city as people will be staying at hotels boosting tourism numbers.

The first rock hasn乌鸦传媒檛 even been delivered for the inaugural cash-spiel and the organizers have a wait list for teams.

乌鸦传媒淚f anybody drops out, they want in right away,乌鸦传媒� she said. 乌鸦传媒淚 suspect we will see that again. Filling up a 24-team roster, we乌鸦传媒檙e just waiting for a confirmation of date, because we like to work around making sure nothing is on those weekends.乌鸦传媒�

Having the WCT at the Penticton Curling Club keeps it very intimate, which Jones said is really great for the fans that come to watch. Parking is expected to be an issue, but Jones said there will be some areas barricaded, which will go to the curlers first. Jones encourages people to come early.

乌鸦传媒淐ome early, it乌鸦传媒檚 not reserved seating, it乌鸦传媒檚 first come, first serve,乌鸦传媒� said Jones.

The draw on Friday and Saturday starts at 8:15 a.m., 11:45 a.m., 3:15 p.m. and 7:15 p.m. Sunday will be 8:15 a.m., 11:45 a.m. and a potential tie-breaker at 3:15 p.m. Quarter-finals start at 7:15 p.m. Monday is the semifinals at 8:15 a.m. and final at 11:45 a.m., both of which will be televised on Shaw.

For tickets, call the club at 250-492-5647.

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