They're called "Shufflers" - and the top players in Canada are in Moose Jaw this week. 

The Canadian National (Floor) Shuffleboard Inter-Provincial Championships are being staged in the Friendly City this week on playing surfaces at the Cosmo Centre and Timothy Eaton Gardens.

Moose Jaw is the first Saskatchewan centre to host the event, which this week features 72 senior-aged players spanning five provinces (Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario and Nova Scotia have all fielded teams). 

"I think it's super that Moose Jaw is putting this on," said Jim Corbiel, President of the Canadian National Shuffleboard Association (CNSA) and member of the Ontario men's team, which has won the previous two Inter-Provincial titles.  

Competition continues at Timothy Eaton Centre

"This is fantastic," said Moose Jaw's Bob Cobbe, a member of Team Saskatchewan. "For anybody that shuffles, normally you'd have to go down east (for tournaments), but now we're starting to get them in the west too and it's great to hold the first (CNSA) championship in Saskatchewan right here in Moose Jaw."

Cobbe says many of the competitors are retirees who hone their skills in places like Arizona and Texas over the winter months.  He added it has become a popular game, not just for what it offers recreationally, but also socially. 

"A lot of the problems with seniors is that they don't get out," suggested Cobbe. "(Shuffleboard) gives you a chance to get out, be active and make new friends. The 'Shufflers' are a very friendly crowd," he chuckled. 

There is more at stake within the sport, however.  Corbeil is part of a 16-person Canadian team set to head for the World Shuffleboard Championships in Brazil next week, which is the pinnacle for those involved.  

"There was talk of making shuffleboard an Olympic sport," he laughed, "but..we're seniors.  None of us could pass a drug test."

The competition will run through Thursday.