The Yukon Curling Association is pleased to be hosting the territorial men's curling championships this week at the Whitehorse Curling Club.

The action begins at 3 p.m. this afternoon, at the Mount McIntyre Recreation Centre. Two Yukon teams will be up against two teams from the N.W.T. in a double round-robin format, for the right to represent the territories at the Tim Horton's Brier in Regina, Sask., March 11-19.

The Yukon will be represented by two Whitehorse-based teams. Yukon team number one is the Chad Cowan rink, consisting of Ross Milward as lead, James Buyck as second, Wade Scoffin as third and Cowan as skip. The Cowan rink has represented the Yukon numerous times, winning the right to go to the Brier twice in the past.

As well, the Pat Paslawski rink will be known as Yukon team number two, joining the Cowan rink in competition against two teams from the N.W.T. The Paslawski rink consists of Kelly Eby as lead, Rick Laberge as second, George Hilderman as third and Paslawski as skip.

N.W.T. team number one is led by the defending champion from last year's playdowns, Jamie Koe. Koe is joined by Kevin Whitehead, Mark Whitehead and Brad Choroskowski.

Stephen Moss leads N.W.T. team number two, with Scott Alexander, Rod Pielak and Jim Sosiak. Both teams come with many years of curling experience and some Brier experience as well.

The winning team from this weekend will be up against the following rinks at the Brier in Regina: Kevin Martin from Alberta; Jeff Stoughton from Manitoba; Ontario's Glenn Howard; Robbie Gordon from Northern Ontario; Quebec's Jean-Michel Menard; James Gratton from New Brunswick; Ken Peddigrew from Newfoundland and Labrador; P.E.I.'s Rod MacDonald; and Saskatchewan's Pat Simmons.

B.C. and Nova Scotia will also be holding playoffs for their spot this weekend.

Draw Times for the competition between the Yukon and N.W.T. are today at 3 p.m., Friday at 10 a.m. and 3 p.m., Saturday at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m., and Sunday at 9 a.m.

The opening ceremonies will take place at 6 p.m. today at the curling club.

Meanwhile, the Whitehorse Curling Club held it's annual Sportsman's Bonspiel this past weekend. The bonspiel, sponsored by Canadian Tire, saw 22 men's teams compete in the event over a three-day period.

The results are as follows:

A Event

1st Place Bernie Adilman

2nd Place Craig Tuton

3rd Place Paul Hunter

4th Place Bruce Hunt

B Event

1st Place Wade Scoffin

2nd Place Rick Rondeau

3rd Place John Mahoney

4th Place Doug Hamilton

C Event

1st Place Steve Fraser

2nd Place EBA (C. Cowan)

3rd Place Bill Whitty

4th Place Herb Balsam

The Whitehorse Curling Club would like to thank Canadian Tire for their sponsorship, the numerous volunteers,and the participants who made this event a success.