TSN Skins Game

The TSN Skins Game was an annual curling bonspiel hosted by The Sports Network. "Skins" curling had been developed as a way to make curling more interesting on TV during the time before the free guard zone rule was implemented.

In skins curling, teams compete for "skins" rather than points. A team can win a skin by stealing an end or scoring two or more points in an end while with the hammer.

The first Skins Game was held in 1986 in Newmarket, Ontario.

In 1989, McCain Foods Limited teamed up with TSN, and the tournament became known as the "McCain TSN Skins Game." The Tournament was held every year until 2004. TSN plans on having the event once again beginning in December 2007, with Casino Rama as the main sponsor. It will be held at the Casino Rama Entertainment Centre and will have a total cash purse of $100,000.

A women's skins game was also held from 1996 to 2003 and was sponsored by JVC.

The TSN skins game format actually consisted of three games: 2 semi-finals and a main final.

Casino Rama TSN Skins Game

The 2007 event was held on December 8th and 9th and featured the teams of 2006 Olympic Champion Brad Gushue, 1987, 1993 & 2007 World Champion Glenn Howard, 2002 Olympic silver medalist Kevin Martin and 1993 & 1998 World Champion Wayne Middaugh. The second edition will be held January 10th and 11th, 2009 and will feature defending champion (and 2008 World Champion) Kevin Martin, Howard, 1989, 2002, 2003 & 2005 World Champion Randy Ferbey, and for the first time, a woman's team, skipped by 2008 World Women's Champion, Jennifer Jones.

Champions

ources

* "Canada Curls" by Doug Maxwell
* [http://soudogcurling.tripod.com/main.html Soudog's Curling History Site]
* [http://www.tsn.ca/curling/news_story/?ID=211262&hubname=curling tsn.ca: "Field set for Casino Rama Skins game"]