Defending Champion Kevin Martin Aims to Win a Record Sixth TYLENOL® Players’ Championship Crown in St. John’s

ST. JOHN’S, March 18, 2008 – After capturing the Brier championship last weekend in Winnipeg, defending champion Kevin Martin (Edmonton, Alta.) will look to extend his record of TYLENOL® Players’ Championship titles to six next month when he faces-off against 15 of the top teams from across Canada at the Mile One Centre in St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador from April 16 to 20.

Among the 16 men’s teams that qualified to compete at the season-ending TYLENOL® Players’ Championship include reigning World Champion and 2007-08 Capital One Grand Slam of Curling event champion Glenn Howard (Coldwater, Ont.), reigning Olympic gold medallist Brad Gushue (St. John’s, Nfld.), 2008 Canada Cup winner and two-time 2007-08 Capital One Grand Slam of Curling event finalist Kevin Koe (Edmonton, Alta.), and Wayne Middaugh (Midland, Ont.) a four-time TYLENOL® Players’ Champion (2002, 2001, 1999 and 1996) and the only skip to reach the semi-finals of the first three men’s 2007-08 Capital One Grand Slam of Curling events.

The eighth and final leg of the 2007-08 Capital One Grand Slam of Curling series, the TYLENOL® Players’ Championship features both a men’s and a women’s draw. The top 16 Canadian men’s teams on the Canadian Team Ranking System as of March 17, 2008 automatically qualify to compete at the event.

The team list for the women’s TYLENOL® Players’ Championship tournament was previously announced on March 6.

Joel Jordison (Moose Jaw, Sask.) qualified for the TYLENOL® Players’ Championship as the 14th ranked squad on the CTRS standings but was forced to withdraw from the event due to work commitments involving their team members.

With Team Jordison’s withdrawal, Martin Ferland’s (Cap-de-la-Madeleine, Que.) squad has been added to the 16-team field.

The Capital One Grand Slam of Curling series guidelines state that in the event of a withdrawal, an invitation must be extended to the highest remaining rink in the CTRS standings. The first invitation was extended to Jean-Michel Ménard (Gatineau, Que.), who could not accept due to work commitments. The second invitation was extended to Ferland, whose squad is ranked 18th in the CTRS standings, one spot below Ménard.

After winning the first two events of this season’s Capital One Grand Slam of Curling series, Martin’s team will look to capture three of the series’ four major titles for the second consecutive season.

During the 2007-08 season, Martin successful defended his first two Capital One Grand Slam of Curling event titles, winning the BDO Classic Canadian Open in Quebec City, Que. and The National in Port Hawkesbury, N.S., while Howard earned the series’ third championship by successfully defending his Masters of Curling title in Saskatoon, Sask.

During the course of his career, Martin has won a record of five TYLENOL® Players’ Championships after capturing the title in 2007, 2005, 2000, 1998 and 1994.

The men’s TYLENOL® Players’ Championship has been held annually since 1993. In 2005, the TYLENOL® Players’ Championship expanded to include both a men’s and women’s draw.

The men’s 2007-08 Capital One Grand Slam of Curling series includes the BDO Classic Canadian Open, The National, the Masters of Curling and the TYLENOL® Players’ Championship.

The women’s Capital One Grand Slam of Curling series features a total of five events including the Trail Appliances Autumn Gold Curling Classic, the Casinos of Winnipeg, the Wayden Transportation Ladies Classic, the Sobeys Slam and the season-ending TYLENOL® Players’ Championship.

During the 2007-08 season, Jennifer Jones (Winnipeg, Man.) captured the Trail Appliances Autumn Gold Curling Classic in Calgary, Alta., while Shannon Kleibrink (Calgary, Alta.) finished first at the Casinos of Winnipeg tournament. Kelly Scott (Kelowna, B.C.) bested the field at the Wayden Transportation in Abbotsford, B.C., while Sherry Middaugh (Coldwater, Ont.) earned a victory at the inaugural Sobeys Slam in New Glasgow, N.S.

Held annually since 2001-02, the Capital One Grand Slam of Curling is a series of eight high-profile men’s and women’s events that feature Canada’s deepest and strongest curling fields.

The eight Capital One Grand Slam of Curling events are closely tied to the Canadian Curling Association's qualifying process for the 2010 Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver. Through their performance in the Capital One Grand Slam events, rinks can earn a significant amount of points towards securing a berth at the 2009 Canadian Trials.

Tickets for the 2008 TYLENOL® Players’ Championship are currently on sale and can be purchased online at www.admission.com or in person at the Mile One Centre box office.

-Courtesy of Insight Sports