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Pomeroy Inn & Suites signs on as title sponsor of The National, the third Capital One Grand Slam of Curling event of the season

This year’s star-studded field includes nine of the top 10-ranked men’s teams in the world

Fans in attendance at the EnCana Events Centre can enter for their chance at $1 million by filling out ballots for the Capital One Million Dollar Button contest

DAWSON CREEK, BC, January 13, 2012 – The world’s best curlers are heading to Dawson Creek, BC, later this month for the Pomeroy Inn & Suites National, the third leg of this season’s Capital One Grand Slam of Curling. Eighteen teams, including 16 from Canada and two European teams, will descend upon the EnCana Events Centre to compete for the $100,000 purse as well as coveted Canadian Team Ranking System (CTRS) points, from January 25-29.

Pomeroy Inn & Suites has signed on as the title sponsor to this year’s edition of The National. The exclusive accommodation provider for the event, Pomeroy Inn & Suites is a well-known and well-respected brand in the Dawson Creek area. As title sponsor, Pomeroy Inn & Suites will have prime logo placement throughout the event including inside the button on each sheet.

“We are very pleased and excited to be the title sponsor for The Pomeroy Inn & Suites National,” said Ryan Pomeroy, President of Pomeroy Inn & Suites Inc. “As a family company with deep roots in the Peace Region, we are extremely proud to align our name with an event of this calibre. This is a natural fit for our brand and builds on our continued commitment to support the great communities and hard-working residents of the Peace Country.”

“We’re very happy to announce our partnership with Pomeroy Inn & Suites and to welcome them as our title sponsor for The National,” said Kevin Albrecht, CEO, iSport Media and Management. “With its strong connection to the communities in and around Dawson Creek, Pomeroy Inn & Suites is a brand that our fans will not only recognize, but one they respect and appreciate. We’re thrilled to have them on board for what will surely be another exciting Capital One Grand Slam of Curling event.”

This year’s field features 18 of the world’s best teams, including nine of the top 10-ranked teams on the World Curling Tour. World #1-ranked Mike McEwen of Winnipeg, MB, headlines the star-studded field and will be looking for second consecutive Grand Slam win, while current world #2 and reigning Olympic Champion, Kevin Martin of Edmonton, AB, returns to defend his title. Reigning World Champion and current world #4, Jeff Stoughton of Winnipeg, is joined at the event by two former World Champions in current world #3, Coldwater, ON’s Glenn Howard (2007) and world #6, Kevin Koe of Edmonton (2010). Brandon, MB’s Rob Fowler and Saskatoon, SK’s Steve Laycock, currently ranked #9 and #10 in the world, respectively, will both be in Dawson Creek looking for their first Grand Slam win of the season.

Other notable names competing at The Pomeroy Inn & Suites National include 2006 Olympic gold medalist Brad Gushue of St. John’s, NL, British Columbia’s own Jim Cotter (Vernon) and Brent Pierce (New Westminster) as well as two of Europe’s top teams in Sweden’s Niklas Edin, currently ranked #5 in the world, and Thomas Ulsrud’s world #7-ranked team from Norway.

“We’ve assembled an all-star roster of teams featuring the world’s best players for The Pomeroy Inn & Suites National” said Pierre Charette, President, World Curling Players Association. “Grand Slam events bring out the best in these athletes because the stakes are high and the competition level is even higher. Fans in Dawson Creek will be treated to what is truly the best curling in the world.”

All 18 teams will be competing for their share of the $100,000 purse. The champion will earn $20,000 and the runner-up takes home $11,000. The third and fourth-place finishers each win $6,000 and teams five through eight will receive $3,000. In addition, each team competing in The Pomeroy Inn and Suites National will win $1,000 per round-robin victory.

Also taking place during The Pomeroy Inn & Suites National will be the third quarter-final event in the Capital One Million Dollar Button contest. Six tournament attendees will be given one chance to draw to the button, with the rock landing closest to the button declared the winner. The winner of this quarter-final will win a trip for two to the semifinal event in Summerside, PEI, during the GP Car and Home Players’ Championship in April where they will compete with six other semifinalists for the opportunity to draw to the button for a chance at $1 million. Fans in attendance can enter the contest throughout the event by filling out a ballot at the Capital One Million Dollar Button booth located inside the EnCana Events Centre.

Two semifinalists have already qualified at the previous Capital One Grand Slam of Curling events earlier this season. In addition, three more semifinalists will be chosen randomly from entries submitted between now and March 25, 2012, on the contest website at milliondollarbutton.ca.