Some of the top wheelchair curling teams in the country will be coming to the Moose Jaw Curling Centre on March 20 to 24 for the National Wheelchair Curling Championship. 

About 14 teams from across Canada will be competing including the defending champion Jack Smart rink out of Alberta. This is the first time the wheelchair championship has taken place since 2019 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

“We're really excited about the makeup of the teams this year. Curl Moose Jaw is fully behind the event. The Moose Jaw Event Centre has promised that it will be a great event,” said event chair Moose Gibson. 

Other provinces represented include B.C., New Brunswick, Quebec, Northern Ontario, Newfoundland/Labrador, Ontario and Nova Scotia. 

Gibson said the other curlers are looking forward to coming to Moose Jaw for the competition. 

“I have spoken to teams from Newfoundland and New Brunswick and they're excited to come to Moose Jaw and see our great facility,” he said. 

Saskatchewan will have two teams representing the province. The first team is made up of skip Gil Dash, third Marie Wright, second Darwin Bender, lead Moose Gibson and coach Lorraine Arguin. The second Saskatchewan team consists of skip Rod Pederson, third Stewart McKeown, second Sheryl Pederson, lead Russell Whitsitt and coach Lloyd Thiele. 

Draws take place Monday through Thursday at 2 to 7 p.m. The semifinals go to 9 a.m. on Friday and the championship final begins at 1:30 p.m.  

Tickets for the event are on sale now for $20 for a day pass and $75 for the entire championship. You can purchase your tickets at sasktix.ca. Information on volunteering for the event will be posted closer to the date on the Curl Moose Jaw Facebook page.