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NEWS RELEASE: WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2023
2024 Men of Curling Calendar
now on sale
Like a blast of summer heat, the Men of Curling have returned.
Eighteen top male curling athletes appear in the 2024 Men of Curling Calendar, which is now on sale at the website curlingcares.com. The high-quality printed wall calendar sells for CDN $34.95 which includes applicable taxes, shipping and handling and proceeds will be directed to no less than 12 different charitable causes selected by the athletes themselves.
The athletes span a wide range of career status, as Olympians, world champions and legends share pages with youthful players eager to make their mark on the Roaring Game.
Four countries are represented – Canada, Japan, Scotland and the United States – and each competitor created his own photo theme and found a volunteer photographer to capture the final image.
Kelly Knapp was surprised to get the call to suit up – rather, down – for his first calendar appearance.
“My first thought was ‘Absolutely! What a cool opportunity’ followed quickly by my second thought… which was ‘Oh boy, I’m going to have to start working out harder like I did in my front end days.”
Knapp, a long-time front end player, competed at his first Brier last season as a skip.
“I’m very proud of the season our team had to bring this opportunity along.”
The physiotherapist from Regina, Sask. is donating his share of proceeds to Hope’s Home, the first medically inclusive child care centre in Canada.
“It’s extremely rewarding to give back to a wonderful charity like Hope’s Home,” said Knapp.
Kelly Knapp • Michael Burns/Curling Canada
Each athlete or team is featured in a main photo plus an action image. In addition, landmark career accomplishments are listed on the dates they took place, making the product a true curling calendar.
Scotland’s youthful Ross Whyte foursome is tearing up the World Curling Tour with three final appearances so far this season. Their tournament championship in Brockville, Ont. came with playoff victories over the high-powered Brad Gushue and Niklas Edin squads. The 2024 Men of Curling Fundraising Calendar sees Whyte paddling on Loch Venacher.
“My photo shoot was certainly… interesting,” said Whyte.
“Thankfully no one came down to the water when we were there, but people driving by could have got a glance at more than they bargained for.
“It felt like everyone suddenly slowed down when driving by, but I’m hoping that was just me feeling awkward.”
The 25-year-old is donating his share of calendar proceeds to Scotland’s Down Syndrome Association.
Ross Whyte • Sandrine Wyrich/Scottish Curling
In addition to the curlingcares.com sales portal, many athletes will be selling copies of the calendar in their home communities.
Fans of particular calendar athletes are encouraged to follow their favourites on social media, and look for specific promotional codes that can be applied to their online purchase.
Two four-player teams appear in this edition, representing international squads from Japan – Team Riku Yanagisawa – and the United States (Team Korey Dropkin).
Team Yanigasawa is the first Japanese four-player team to appear on the front cover of a Curling Cares calendar. Their photo shoot took place at the magnificent Ueda castle in their hometown Nagano prefecture.
“We are absolutely honoured,” said third Tsuyoshi Yamaguchi, who also appeared in the 2020 edition of the calendar.
“With so many incredible players to choose from, we were so happy to get the front cover. We hope to raise lots of funds for our local hospital.”
Team Yanagisawa is currently on another lengthy tour of Canada, competing in events and training for three months.
The full 2024 Curling Cares Fundraising Calendar lineup of 18 curling competitors is:
• B.J. Neufeld (Winnipeg, Man. CAN)
• Tim March (Toronto, Ont. CAN)
• Ross Whyte (Stirling, SCO)
• Thomas Scoffin (Whitehorse, Yukon Territory, CAN)
• Jamie Korab (St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador, CAN)
• Team Riku Yanagisawa (Karuizawa, JPN)
• Kelly Knapp (Regina, Sask. CAN)
• Tyrel Griffith (Kelowna, B.C., CAN)
• Johnson Tao (Edmonton, Alta. CAN)
• Al Hackner (Thunder Bay, Ont. CAN)
• Team Korey Dropkin (Duluth, Minn. USA)
• Jacques Gauthier (Winnipeg, Man. CAN)
Since 2014 the Curling Cares fundraising project has raised over CDN $800,000 for multiple charities in 10 different countries.
Selected previous editions of the Curling Cares Fundraising Calendar are available in the curlingcares.com e-shop.
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