Canadian curlers face their European peers at Continental Cup in Calgary

A practice stone makes its way along an ice sheet at the Markin MacPhail Centre prior to the start of the 2015 Continental Cup

Winsport’s Canada Olympic Park will host some of the best curlers in the world during the 2015 World Financial Group Continental Cup and the Canadian contingent aims to prove the nation's supremacy in the sport remains alive and well.

From Thursday January 8 through Sunday January 11, the 24 men and women of Team Canada will face off against the Team Europe side in Singles, Mixed Doubles, Team and Skin events at the Markin MacPhail Centre at Canada Olympic Park. The Continental Cup format is reminiscent of golf’s Ryder Cup.

2006 Olympic bronze medalist Shannon Kleibrink, the co-chair of the 2015 WFG Continental Cup and the Tim Hortons Brier, says local curling fans will be treated to some of the game’s best and brightest.

“It’s an amazing opportunity for Calgarians,” said Kleibrink. “We have 12 of, arguably, the top teams in the world here over the next four days competing. It’s a great opportunity to come out and watch some live curling and see the best in the world.”

The coach of Team Europe Peja Lindholm says the honour of representing the continent means a lot for his players.

“I’ve played it myself three times and I just love it,” said Lindholm. “It’s a great format and you’re not just playing for your own team, there’s five other teams on the players bench cheering for you. It’s really, really great.”

Lindholm, a native of Sweden, says curling’s popularity continues to grow throughout Europe.

“It’s getting more and more (popular) and that’s because of the Olympics. When we got in the program in ’98, curling started to be bigger in Europe, but there’s no way we’re close to Canada, that’s for sure, and I believe 90 per cent of all curlers live in Canada.”

While Kleibrink will not be competing in the event, she predicts the curlers representing Canada will overcome any pre-tournament jitters.

“They’ll have the maple leaf on their back and they’ll be a little nervous to start but they’ll really want to get out there on the ice.”

Single day, multi-day, and joint Brier/Continental Cup tickets are available at WFG Continental Cup or at the Marking MacPhail Centre box office at Canada Olympic Park.

TSN will broadcast many of the Continental Cup events. Scheduled broadcast times are available at TSN Curling.