OCT Championships Open in Oakville
Source: Simon Barrick -- OCT
The OCT Championships open up the 2011-2012 Ontario Curling Tour season at the Oakville Curling Club in Oakville, Ontario this weekend. The top men's and women's teams from around Ontario are competing for this prestigious title. Top teams on the men's side include defending provincial runner-up Greg Balsdon, former Canadian mixed Champion John Epping, perennial Ontario powerhouses Peter Corner and Mike Harris.

Top Northern Ontario contender Brad Jacobs is also in attendance. The women's side is packed full of talent. The top teams competing include former provincial champions and teammates, Sherry Middaugh, Kirsten Wall, and provincial contenders such as Julie Reddick and Julie Hastings. The OCT Championship also has attracted top out-of-province teams with former American champion Erika Brown entering on the women's side and former Olympic Trials finalist Jason Gunnlaugson on the men's side. With this being the first year of the Olympic cycle towards the Sochi Games in 2014, every teams will be looking to get off to a good start and push up the rankings. This promises to be an exciting kick-off to a very interesting season on the Ontario Curling Tour!