MSCA Release: The Manitoba Stick Curling Association’s 2023 Open Championship will be played in Morris in February under a new title sponsorship.

The announcement was made by MSCA President Britta Spiring at the organization’s annual general meeting, September 27.

“We are excited to welcome the expanded support of Jim Anton and Sun Life Financial,” President Spiring told the meeting as she announced the 2023 event will be known as the Sun Life Financial Manitoba Stick Curling Open Championship presented by Jim Anton.”

Her explanation that “Mr. Anton has been a valued long-time supporter of Manitoba stick curling and of our association” and that “the expanded sponsorship will provide support for both the Open Championship and next year’s start-of-season Ernie Oliver Bonspiel” was welcomed by enthusiastic applause of club delegates and curlers in attendance.

“I am proud to support this organization,” Anton had said in meetings to discuss the sponsorship. “The MSCA’s policy of being gender, age and ability inclusive is an excellent example for other organizations. It is great to see this mostly senior aged group of people staying active and involved in their local curling clubs across the province as well as in healthy competition in the MSCA’s events.”

The Sun Life Financial Manitoba Stick Curling Open Championship presented by Jim Anton will be hosted by Curl Morris, February 17-19, 2023. Entries, utilizing the CurlManitoba online entry system, will open in the very near future.

The Open Championship welcomes teams comprising two men, two women or one man-one woman. As Curl Morris is a fully accessible facility, wheelchair entries are anticipated as in past championships. A separate Women’s Championship division will take place at the same time if there is a minimum of six entries.

The MSCA’s 2023 Ernie Oliver Bonspiel, hosted by Jim Anton-Sun Life Financial, is tentatively scheduled for late September 2023 at the traditional host Assiniboine Memorial Curling Club.