One men's team and one women's team will qualify for the GSOC National this weekend at the St. Paul Cashspiel.
The Satellite event, running until Sunday at the St. Paul Curling Club, will also act as a final test for a couple of teams before they compete in next week's GSOC Co-op Invitational.
Here's everything you need to know.
What's at stake?
The St. Paul Cashspiel winners will qualify for the GSOC National, Nov. 17-22 in Sydney, Nova Scotia. 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, Oct. 20, the Grand Slam of Curling will reallocate the St. Paul Cashspiel qualifier berth to the highest-finishing eligible team from the event that is not in the top 12.
The Stu Sells 1824 Halifax Classic, Nov. 11-15, is the other Satellite qualifier for the GSOC National.
Teams that advance to the St. Paul Cashspiel 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 division and 20-team women's division are split into pools for preliminary play.
The top eight teams qualify for the playoffs.
How can I watch?
Livestreaming will be available on CurlingZone's YouTube page.
Which teams are playing in the event?
Men's Division: Asselin, Brandt, Carlson, Casper, Chandler, Dunnam, Enberg, Freeman, Hebert, Hellman, Hodek, Kadlec, Leclair, Lott, Mansell, McMullin, Mihm, Randall, Rose, Shuster, Stewart, Strack, Traaseth, Tuma
Women's Division: Berg, Cameron, Cousins, Farrell, Fujisawa, Gray-Withers, Hagenbuch, Hayward, Johnson, MacKay, McLeod, McMakin, O'Hara, Pekowitz, Persinger, Politano, Rhyme, Segovia, Treynor, Varnes
Five teams to watch
World No. 6 Team Danny Casper should be the favourite on the men's side as the highest-ranked team. Casper already has a title this season, capturing the Stu Sells Oakville Tankard in Ontario.
Reigning world junior champion Caden Hebert and his team have been buzzing on tour. Hebert is the event's defending champion and won the Asham Icebreaker in late August in Morris, Manitoba. He faced Casper twice in Oakville and split the games.
John Shuster was a quarterfinalist in Oakville with his new-look team, falling to Casper in the opening round of the playoffs. His son Luke is also playing in the event with Team Tucker Hellman.
Team Satsuki Fujisawa is the highest-ranked club on the women's side at No. 11 in the world. A good weekend here could boost the team heading into the GSOC Co-op Invitational.
Team Serena Gray-Withers will look to bounce back after missing the playoffs last weekend in Vernon, B.C., at the Prestige Hotels and Resorts Curling Classic. Gray-Withers has appeared in two finals this season, winning the Saville Shootout and finishing runner-up at the Asham Icebreaker.
