PBR | What to Watch For: 2023 PBR Canada National Finals set to invade Rogers Place Nov. 17-18

PUEBLO, Colo. – Some of the best bull riders in the world are officially set to compete inside Rogers Place Nov. 17-18, home to the NHL’s Edmonton Oilers, as the 2023 PBR Canada National Finals, presented by Command Tubular Products, prepares to put the finishing touches on what’s been another explosive season north of the border.

With $250,000 on the line, including a recently introduced $100,000 grand prize for this year’s PBR Canada Champion, the vibes are about as close as they can get to World Finals.

And, well, for the riders who may never make their way south to compete in the industry’s most competitive and respected event, THIS IS their World Finals.

However, as PBR continues to lean into the importance of showing love to its international tours while continuing to pave a way for the true elite talents to secure their Unleash The Beast and Pendleton Whisky Velocity Tour qualification status, there’s much more than cash up for grabs.

Glory, for one, as the event will conclude by crowning the 2023 PBR Canada Champion.

A whole bunch of high-fives, embraces and likely a celebratory champagne spray or two.

But, perhaps, it’s the opportunities that come alongside winning the tour’s top honors which represent the true prize, including punching a ticket to the Pendleton Whisky Velocity Tour Finals as an international qualifier.

Set to join 2023 campaign-winners from the PBR Brazil, PBR Australia in The Lone Star State this upcoming May, this weekend’s eventual PBR Canada Champion will unlock a world of endless possibilities.

Just ask 2022 PBR Canada Champion Nick Tetz what he’s been up to since winning it all last year.

Competing in nine premier series events in the United States before making both his World Finals debut in Fort Worth, Texas, last May, the Canadian Kid eventually finished the industry’s biggest event in 16th place.

Not bad for the new guy.

Kicking it up a notch throughout the summer after being drafted by the Arizona Ridge Riders of the PBR Camping World Team Series, the talented 23-year-old completed his breakout season competing within the thrilling 5-on-5 slate.

Ending his rookie campaign with an encouraging 10-for-25 record (representing the third-best effort on his squad, albeit just one less qualified ride than both Eduardo Aparecido and Vitor Losnake), despite continuing to compete within PBR Canada events, he saw the tail end of his international season come to an end while dealing with an injury, also causing the skilled cowboy from missing the 2023 PBR Camping World Teams Championship in Las Vegas, Nevada Oct. 20-22.

Bumps and bruises in the rearview, the nation’s defending champion is primed to start this weekend’s four-round event during a Round 1 showdown with Haunted Creek. With the highest-marked score of the season to his credit, a 92-point conversion aboard Time Marches On in his hometown of Calgary, Alberta, Tetz is primed to make PBR Canada history if he can punch the clock with his typical passion this weekend in Edmonton.

This weekend’s event will also welcome a duo of PBR Australia competitors, part of PBR’s transcontinental partnership forged in 2022, with reigning PBR Australia Champion Macaulie Leather and seven-time PBR World Finals qualifier Lachlan Richardson.

A few PBR Canada riders would have normally competed in the 2023 PBR Australia Grand Finals a few weeks back as part of the rider exchange, but the PBR Canada tour was executing its regular season finale in Yorktown, Saskatchewan: a vital event as the tour’s standings boiled down into this weekend’s established roster following its conclusion.

2023 PBR Canada National Finals Qualifiers:

Cody Coverchuk (Meadow Lake, Saskatchewan) Nick Tetz (Calgary, Alberta) Dakota Buttar (Eatonia, Saskatchewan) Aaron Roy (Yellow Grass, Saskatchewan) Coy Robbins (Camrose, Alberta) Wyatt Gleeson (Sundre, Alberta) Garrett Green (Meeting Creek, Alberta) Jordan Hansen (Amisk, Alberta) Chad Hartman (Lancer, Saskatchewan) Tyler Craig (Crossfield, Alberta) Jared Parsonage (Maple Creek, Saskatchewan) Jake Gardner (Fort St. John, British Columbia) Ashton Sahli (Red Deer, Alberta) Stefan Tonita (Saskatoon, Saskatchewan) Cody Fraser (Wilmington, South Australia, Australia) Blake Smith (Abbey, Saskatchewan) Conner Halverson (Gordon, Nebraska) Macaulie Leather (Calliope, Queensland, Australia) Lachlan Richardson (Gresford, New South Wales, Australia) Silvano Alves (Pilar do Sul, Brazil) Daylon Swearingen (Piffard, New York)

With each of the Top 4-ranked riders entering this year’s championship-crowning event as established PBR Canada Champions, No. 2 Tetz (-68.5 points) joins No. 1 Cody Coverchuk, No. 3 Dakota Buttar (-95.66 points) and No. 4 Aaron Roy (-146.16 points) will each look to add to their historic resumes, while Tetz will look to become the first back-to-back PBR Canada Champion. Coverchuk recently captured the title in 2021, while Buttar was victorious in 2020, but it’s the three-time PBR Canada Champion Aaron Roy (2008, 2010, 2012) who could solidify a place in history as the first rider to win four national titles.

Daylon Swearingen, who exited both the 2019 and 2021 iterations as the event winner, captured a PBR Canada title of his own in 2019 and is set to compete in the two-day showcase after participating in eight PBR Canada events throughout the 2023 slate. As far as UTB regulars go, three-time World Champion Silvano Alves will also be in action beginning Friday night

Friday night’s opening night showcase is set to feature both Round 1 and Round 2, with each rider tasked with a matchup in each round. When Saturday rolls around, the collective pack will again battle one bull each in Round 3, with the 12 riders with the highest aggregate score set to battle in the 12-man short round.

Set to award up to 396 national points to any one rider (with 360 points available courtesy of round and aggregate score standings and additional 36 points available to be earned via individual ride score, with scores logged between 70-79.75 points awarding seven additional points, scores logged between 80-89.75 points awarding eight additional points and scores logged between 90-99.75 points awarding an additional nine points), at least 12 of the 21 competing riders remain within striking distance of securing the crown.

Without a doubt, this is the biggest event of the PBR Canada season.

Fans can stay tuned to PBRCanada.com and PBR Canada social media channels for the latest event updates, wrecks and beyond as the tour prepares to crown the 2023 PBR Canada Champion!

Photo courtesy of Covy Moore/CovyMoore.com