2003 National Explained

2003 The National
Host City:Humboldt, Saskatchewan
Arena:Humboldt Uniplex[1]
Dates:January 30–February 2, 2003
Winner: Team Charette
Skip:Pierre Charette
Fourth:Martin Ferland
Lead:Marco Berthelot
Finalist: Glenn Howard
Prev:2002
Next:2004 (Jan.)

The 2003 National, the second annual edition of The National Grand Slam curling event was held January 30 to February 2, 2003 at the Humboldt Uniplex in Humboldt, Saskatchewan. The total purse of the event was $100,000. It was the third of four (men's) Pharmassist Grand Slam events of the 2002-03 curling season.

The final featured Quebec's Pierre Charette rink against Team Glenn Howard from Ontario. The main turning point in the game came in the second end, when Howard jammed his last rock, giving up a steal of one to go down 3–0. After Howard was forced to a single in the fourth, Charette's fourth stone thrower Martin Ferland drew for three in the fourth to take a massive 6–1 lead. Team Howard didn't give up though, and chipped away at Charette's lead, and trailed 8–6 after nine ends. In the last end, Charette won the game after Ferland drew to the four foot, to cut Howard down to a single point. Team Charette took home $25,000 with the win, while Howard's rink took home $15,000.[2] The final was aired on television on Rogers Sportsnet.[3] As of 2023, it is the only time a team from Quebec has won a men's Grand Slam event.

Teams

The teams were as follows:[4]

SkipThirdSecondLeadLocale[5]
Petersfield, Manitoba
Martin Ferland (fourth) Pierre Charette (skip)
Winnipeg
Coldwater, Ontario
Brandon, Manitoba
Brandon, Manitoba
Midland, Ontario
Winnipeg
Toronto
Gerald Shymko (skip)

Draw

The event was held as a triple knockout tournament.

Playoffs

The playoff scores were as follows:[6]

Final

Notes and References

  1. News: National Grand Slam was right on target. 2023-11-19. Regina Leader-Post. February 8, 2003.
  2. News: Charette outduels Howard in Grand Slam event. 2023-11-19. Saskatoon Star-Phoenix. February 3, 2003.
  3. News: Peters, Gretzinger lead Humboldt 'spiel. 2023-11-19. Saskatoon Star-Phoenix. February 1, 2003.
  4. Web site: The National -- Teams . CurlingZone.
  5. News: Curling draw correction. 2023-11-19. Saskatoon Star-Phoenix. January 29, 2003.
  6. News: The National -- Playoffs. 2023-11-19. CurlingZone.