Team Bottcher compete in September 2022. File Photo
The Astec Safety Challenge is underway today at the Lloydminster Golf and Curling Centre with a long-range plan in the works to host some grand slam curling events when the Cenovus Energy Hub opens.
That’s the word from bonspiel co-chair Jeff Mulligan and his daughter Caitlin, the event chair, as 21 elite teams, including world and Olympic champions, vie for a chunk of the $100,000 purse.
“We’re working with the city on that now. We anticipate we’ll be in the Cenovus Hub shortly after it opens, and we anticipate we will be accorded a grand slam event there as well,” said Mulligan.
He is a co-owner of Astec Safety and a long-time curling supporter, while Caitlin is the manager of administration and training coordinator.
“I’d like to work out a deal with the grand slam guys to look at a 10-year agreement and we do four or five in the 10-year span. Grand slams are a much bigger event, a much bigger sponsorship requirement,” said Mulligan.
He says if you have a 2,500-seat arena and you sell it out, it would generate enough money to pull it off.
“We’re so fortunate in Lloydminster to have people that identify with how important it is to bring these kinds of events to our city,” said Mulligan.
He estimates the local economic spinoff of the four-day bonspiel from the opening ceremonies on Wednesday to the champion finals this Sunday is $750,000.
“Many sponsors saw right away this is the chance to bring an event that could be an annual event to the city to continue to show we can host major events that are world-class in nature,” he said.
He notes bigger events like grand slams are no-brainers for sponsors like Wild Rows Pumps and Compression, which is presenting the Astec Challenge and has long-term ties to curling.
The idea behind the Astec Challenge began with the company’s initial sponsorship of Alberta’s Team Bottcher in 2021.
“Through that discussion, we thought we would sponsor them to 2026 to help them make a run for the Olympics,” explained Mulligan.
Two members of Team Bottcher had fond memories of playing in the Wayside Inn Curling Classic years ago in Lloydminster and pitched the idea to Astec about bringing world-class curling to the city.
Mulligan says that’s what the Astec Safety Challenge is all about for players and the sell-out crowd of 400 spectators this week.
“It’s not often you see the world’s best in any sport converging in Lloydminster,” he said, listing the Joel Retornaz (Italy) Brendan Bottcher (Alberta) and Yannick Schwaller (Switzerland) rinks as the top three ranked teams in the world.
“Canada’s guy is Brad Gushue.”
The favourite might be Retornaz, whose rink won the last three grand slams.
“He is very focused on the Olympics as they are going to be in Italy,” said Mulligan.
He says the Musgrave Agencies Junior Curling Clinic and the Astec Safety Future Stars of the Game that went ahead Wednesday as part of the opening ceremonies, exposed local kids to world champions, Olympic champions and Canadian champions.
“They’re going to get an opportunity to work alongside them. It’s pretty cool,” he said.
The Astec Safety Challenge is also a great opportunity for Lloydminster curlers Ryan Deis and Mike Robson with the Carl deConinck Smith rink and the Tyson Armstrong rink with Ryan Armstrong, Monte Armstrong and Al Dmytryshyn to shine.
The first draw today (Jan. 11) pits the deConinck Smith crew against reigning Olympic champion skip Niklas Edin from Sweden while Team Armstrong is in deep against world champion skip Bruce Mouat from Scotland.
“So if you can imagine both teams are going to be starting shaking hands to get ready for a game against a world champion and an Olympic champion,” said Mulligan.
On the organization front, Mulligan notes Caitlin is responsible for the entire operation from creating the draws to the execution of every activity taking us out to the championship final on Sunday.
“I’ve been co-chairing the board of the organizing committee,” he added.
Ryan Armstrong is quick to give Astec the thumbs up.
“It’s pretty nice to see Astec sponsor and bring this event back to Lloydminster. They of course sponsor Team Bottcher,” said Armstrong who is a senior manager at MNP.
“Jeff and Caitlin have done a really good job putting this event together.”
