The GSOC Satellite Events series continues with the Henderson Metal Fall Classic presented by KIOTI Tractors of Ontario, now underway at the KC Security Curling Centre in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario.
Here is our primer on what you need to know about the event.
What's at stake?
The Henderson Metal Fall Classic winner will qualify their men's team for the GSOC Open, Dec. 1-6, at Fort William Gardens in Thunder Bay, Ontario.
The Grand Slam of Curling event features 16 teams in the men’s and women’s divisions: the top 12 teams from the world rankings, two sponsors' exemptions and two Satellite qualifiers.
If the winning team is in the top 12 of the world rankings by the qualification cutoff date, Nov. 3, the Grand Slam of Curling will reallocate the Henderson Metal Fall Classic qualifier berth to the highest-finishing eligible team from the event that is not in the top 12.
Danny Casper and Alina Pätz secured spots for their teams by winning the Stu Sells Oakville Tankard last month.
The final women's qualifier event is the Swiss Chalet Women's Curling Stadium Spiel, Nov. 6-8, in North Bay, Ontario.
Teams that advance to the playoffs will also earn points toward qualification for the GSOC Players' Cup, Dec. 15-20, at Slush Puppie Place in Kingston, Ontario.
What's the format?
The 24-team men's tournament features a triple knockout preliminary round. Teams that lose three games are eliminated from playoff contention.
Two A-qualifiers, two B-qualifiers and four C-qualifiers will advance to the quarterfinals.
How can I watch?
Livestreaming will be available via CurlingZone's YouTube page.
Which teams are playing?
• Abe (Sapporo, JPN)
• Adams (Thunder Bay, ON)
• Asselin (Montreal, QC)
• Beecroft (Sault Ste. Marie, ON)
• Champ (Toronto, ON)
• Chandler (Little Current, ON)
• Dunstone (Winnipeg, MB)
• Epping (Winnipeg, MB)
• Fournier (Toronto, ON)
• Howard (Midland, ON)
• Hunt (Sault Ste. Marie, ON)
• Jacobs (Calgary, AB)
• Jeong (Uiseong, KOR)
• King (Tillsonburg, ON)
• MacEwan (Sudbury, ON)
• MacKay (Sault Ste. Marie, ON)
• McDonald (Winnipeg, MB)
• Mooibroek (Whitby, ON)
• Retornaz (Brunico, ITA)
• Robert (Sault Ste. Marie, ON)
• Shuster (Duluth, MN)
• Tardi (Saskatoon, SK)
• Yamaguchi (Karuizawa, JPN)
• Young (Oakville, ON)
Six teams to watch
Matt Dunstone is a two-time winner, and his Winnipeg team is the event's highest-ranked team at No. 3 in the world. Dunstone has one Satellite win this season, capturing last month's Okotoks Classic. His team reached the quarterfinals this past weekend at the GSOC Co-op Invitational in Victoria, falling to eventual champ Yannick Schwaller. Plus, you know lead Ryan Harnden will want to do well in his home event.
Speaking of the locals, Brad Jacobs brings his Calgary-based club to his hometown. The reigning Olympic champs, ranked No. 4 in the world, also had a strong run in Victoria to the semis before losing to Schwaller. It was Jacobs's lone loss of the week in his team's season-opening event.
John Epping has cracked the top 10 in the world rankings thanks to a strong start to the season. His new-look Winnipeg team finished runner-up at the Stu Sells Toronto Tankard, then headed straight to Victoria for the Co-op Invitational, where they made the quarterfinals.
Jordon McDonald has jumped to world No. 13, with his Winnipeg club finishing runner-up at the Stu Sells Oakville Tankard and reaching the semifinals of the Okotoks Classic. The latter ensured him a spot in next month's GSOC Masters as his team looks for another berth.
Italy's Jöel Retornaz and his revamped roster have come close to qualifying for GSOC events through the Satellite series. Retornaz made the quarterfinals at the Euro Super Series (in Stirling, Scotland), Stu Sells Oakville Tankard and AMJ Shorty Jenkins Classic.
John Shuster's overhauled American team won the St. Paul Cashspiel to earn a berth for the GSOC National. Can the 2018 Olympic gold medallist capture another Satellite title?
