curling connection

The
CURLING CONNECTION
March 2014
@ Fortius Sport & Health
www.curlbc.ca
BC curlers help Canada win third
curling gold at Sochi Games
Wheelchair curlers Sonja Gaudet and Ina Forrest on podium once again
BC curlers helped Canada to an unprecedented third consecutive gold medal in
wheelchair curling at the Sochi 2014 Paralympic Games, beating Russia 8-3 in the
final after beating China 5-4 in the semifinals the same morning.
The win in front of an enthusiastic and
raucous crowd adds to Canada’s string of
success in international curling competition as gold medallists in both men’s and
women’s Olympic curling and champions of the 2014 Sochi Paralympic Winter
Games in wheelchair curling.
Canada also won gold in wheelchair
curling at the 2006 and 2010 Paralympic
Winter Games.
The team is comprised of BC curlers
Ina Forrest (second, Armstrong) and Sonja
Gaudet (lead, Vernon). It is skipped by Jim
Armstrong, formerly of Richmond, BC, and
coached by Joe Rea from Prince George.
The team is rounded out by third Dennis
Thiessen and alternate Mark Ideson.
Gaudet, who is now the most decorated wheelchair curler in the world with
three Paralympic gold medals, was also
honoured by being named the flag bearer
for Team Canada at the opening ceremonies at the Paralympic Games.
Speaking after the event, Gaudet said
she had been surprised and thrilled with
the honour. She said: “It was a big surprise. It was such an emotional experience
for me and I was honoured to have that
role.”
Gaudet paid tribute to her teammates
for the success that she has had. “I have
had the privilege of being part of three
great teams for three Paralympic Games.
Being a part of these three amazing teams
has been a great experience.”
For Gaudet, she hopes her success will
inspire other athletes to get involved with
curling.
“I would encourage other wheelchair
athletes to try the sport. It’s such an incluContinued on page 2
1
IN THIS ISSUE
Craig gets second BC
title with Mixed win
3
Teams win berth to
Canada Winter Games
4
Royal City teams get
ready for U18 Int’l
6
Sign up for coaching
workshop at NSWC
8
Masters teams head
to AB for nationals
12
Curler Shannon
Aleksic joins Curl BC
16
Remembering
champion curlers
17
March 2014
BC takes silver as Alberta shines at 2014 Brier
IT SHOULD have been a fairy-tale ending for Jim Cotter, who
grew up in Kamloops.
The 39-year-old computer programmer was named to the
all-star team at a Brier in his hometown and had helped his BC
team blaze through the page 1-2 playoffs to make the final.
But it was not to be at the 2014 Tim Hortons Brier, Presented By SecurTek.
The BC team of John Morris, who called the shots but threw
third rocks, Cotter, Tyrel Griffith and Rick Sawatsky just were
not able to control the game.
Things were looking up for Team BC in the first end, when
they scored an easy deuce against Alberta’s Kevin Koe.
But the second end saw Alberta second Carter Rycroft making a triple takeout to sit two buried and saw Morris missing a
shot to set Alberta up for three.
BC blanked the third end and managed just a single in the
fourth.
Another three-ender in the fifth gave Alberta, with skip
Koe, lead Nolan Thiessen, second Rycroft and third Pat Simmons, a comfortable 6-3 lead which BC was unable to answer
– scoring just a single in the sixth. A third 3-ender in the 7th
sealed Alberta’s control of the game, allowing them to post a
lead of 9-4.
The eighth end saw BC score another single – giving Alberta
a 9-5 lead with hammer heading into the 9th.
The teams shook hands after the 9th end when Alberta
scored one to bring their lead to 10-5.
Speaking after the game, Morris said he felt like they had
been fooled by the ice.
He said: “It’s painful losing this final and the Olympic tri-
John Morris, Jim Cotter, Tyrel Griffith and Rick Sawatsky were all named
to the All-Star teams at the 2014 Tim Hortons Brier.
als final, it stinks. And I can’t pinpoint exactly where they [the
finals] went wrong.
“I just want to emphasize how proud I am of our team and
how well they played all year.”
Team BC’s Sawatsky and Morris were also all-star players
at the Brier. Sawatsky was in top form in the final, with 99%,
but Morris (75%) and Cotter (82%) were not shooting with the
same accuracy as they had earlier in the week. Griffith was
named to the second all-star team.
It was Alberta’s 26th Canadian men’s championship title,
their eighth title since 2000.
Team BC were presented with their silver medals at the end
of the game, which finished on Sunday, March 9, at the Interior Savings Centre in Kamloops.
Mixed Doubles trials results
HUSBAND and wife team, Wayne
and Kim Tuck of Ontario are the
2014 Canadian Mixed Doubles
champions after defeating KaLynn Park and Charley Thomas in
the final.
The event at the Ottawa
Hunt and Golf Club featured two
teams with BC curlers - Team
BC (Bryan Kedziora and Colleen
Hannah) and Team Sinclair/de
Jong, with Victoria’s Cameron
de Jong and and Yukon’s Andrea
Sinclair.
Kedziora/Hannah and Sinclair/de Jong both finished out
BC curlers win Sochi gold
of playoff contention with a 3-4
win-loss record for the former,
and a 2-5 win-loss record for the
latter.
The Tucks were ecstatic about
their win.
“It’s not sinking in, it just
seems surreal,” said Kim after
the medal presentation.
“My husband and I have
played mixed with another couple, very good friends of ours.
“We’ve won a bronze medal,
and lost a final, and so it’s nice to
be the person being presented
and not just watching.”
2
Continued from page 1
sive game. You’re not sitting around waiting for other
wheelchair users to come out. You can get out into
the able-bodied leagues and play and that’s where
you’ll learn the most.”
Team Canada’s wheelchair athletes were in Sochi
from March 3 to 18, 2014.
They finished round robin play with a 7-2 record,
with losses to Norway and Finland.
They played their best game of the tournament in
the final when it was really needed against the Russians, posting some of the highest percentages of the
week.
Forrest described what it was like to be in the
groove for the final game. “It feels fantastic,” she said.
“The game felt so smooth and comfortable.”
March 2014
University curling
Wes Craig, with Sarah Wark, Miles Craig and Michelle Allen with their gold medals from the
2014 AMJ Campbell BC Mixed Curling Championship.
Craig wins second BC title
WES Craig is wearing his second gold
medal of the season after skipping his
team to first place in the 2014 AMJ
Campbell BC Mixed Curling Championship at Duncan Curling Club.
The skip from Kerry Park Curling
Club will now be heading to two national curling championships for the
2013-14 season.
Fresh from victory at the 2014 AMJ
Campbell BC Mixed Curling Championship, which wrapped up on Sunday,
March 16, with his team of third Sarah
Wark, second Miles Craig, lead Michelle Allen and coach Roselyn Craig,
Craig will be heading to Yellowknife,
Northwest Territories, for the national
seniors.
His senior team from Victoria Curling Centre, with third Blair Cusack, second Tony Anslow and lead Kevin Britt
will be in Yellowknife from March 2230.
Craig’s Mixed team, meanwhile,
have a longer wait before Mixed nationals. They will represent BC at the
Canadian Mixed Championship from
November 8-15, 2014, in North Bay,
Ontario.
Team Craig managed to defeat the
dominant team at the event in Duncan.
Team Kopf, from the Royal City Curling
Club, won the A event, and went unde-
feated into the final. But the team of
Steve Kopf, Brandi Tinkler, Chase Martyn and Heather Beatty, gave up a fiveender in the eighth end, sealing their
fate.
The third-placed team was Team
Buchy, from Kimberley Curling Club,
who lost to Team Craig 9-1 in the semis.
Teams are made up of two men and
two women playing a 10-end game
of curling. To see the results of all the
draws, visit http://playdowns.com/
curlbc/event.php?id_cmp=574.
MEDALS
GOLD: Team Craig –
Kerry Park Curling Club
Skip: Wes Craig – Shawnigan Lake
Third: Sarah Wark – Duncan
Second: Miles Craig – Shawnigan Lake
Lead: Michelle Allen – Victoria
Coach: Roselyn Craig – Shawnigan Lake
SILVER: Team Kopf –
Royal City Curling Club
Skip: Steve Kopf – Coquitlam
Third: Brandi Tinkler – Victoria
Second: Chase Martyn – Coquitlam
Lead: Heather Beatty – Vancouver
BRONZE: Team Buchy –
Kimberley Curling Club
Skip: Tom Buchy – Kimberley
Third: Lori Buchy – Kimberley
Second: Dave Toffolo – Kimberley
Lead: Robyn Toffolo – Kimberley
3
THE Thompson Rivers Wolfpack, with skip
Corryn Brown, third Erin Pincott, second
Sam Fisher, lead Ashley Nordin and coach
Ken Brown, finished in fourth place at the
2014 CIS/CCA Curling Championships in
Regina.
The Wolfpack ended the championship on a high, winning 12-2 over the New
Brunswick Varsity Reds.
After stealing in three ends, Thompson had a strong 6-0 lead after the fourth.
New Brunswick was only able to come
back with one point in the fifth and one in
the seventh. With a five-point gain in the
eighth end by the Wolfpack, the Varsity
Reds shook hands and gave Thompson
Rivers a 12-2 victory. The win gave TRU a
4-3 record.
The winning team in the women’s
competition was the Carleton University
Ravens, with skip Jamie Sinclair, third Lauren Horton, second Lynn Kreviazuk, lead
Jessica Armstrong and coach Graham Sinclair.
BC had no men’s team in the competition.
North Shore will
have spring ice
THE North Shore Winter Club will keep
its ice for an extended period of time this
season.
The ice will remain in at the club until
at least the end of May, with the possibility that it might stay in even longer.
The club is offering curling on Tuesday
nights at 7 pm for Team Doubles (same
rules as Mixed Doubles, but gender
neutral); Thursday mornings at 10 am
for rink of choice or individual sign on;
and Saturdays at 7 pm for Saturday Party
League for new curlers.
The Learn to Curl will continue
through to May 31 at 5:30 pm and newbies can sign up during the week on the
online registration.
For more information about spring
ice, visit http://www.nswc.ca/page/
show/796403-curling-at-the-northshore-winter-club.
March 2014
Team Daniels (Seaquam) and Team Habkirk (Centennial) won
the BC High School Curling Championships two years in a row.
‘We’re with Team BC!’
The curling teams that will represent BC at the 2015 Canada
Winter Games have been decided.
Team Daniels and Team Tardi
qualified through a playdown
event held at Vernon Curling
Club from March 21-23.
Team Daniels, made up of
2014 BC junior champion Sarah
Daniels, skip, 2014 BC Winter Games champion Dezaray
Hawes, third, and the Thompson/Okanagan duo of second
Cierra Fisher and lead Sydney
Hofer, went undefeated through
round robin play to clinch the
spot on Team BC.
The winning boys’ team was
Team Tardi, with skip Tyler Tardi
(2014 W.R. Bennett Award for
Athletic Excellence winner, 2013
BC Mixed Doubles champion),
third Sterling Middleton, sec-
ond Nicholas Umbach (2014 BC
High School Curling champion),
and lead Timothy Henderson.
The team hails from all over the
province, with the skip a regular
at Langley Curling Club.
With these wins, the two
teams will now join with individuals and teams from other
winter sports from around the
province to form Team BC. They
will all travel to Prince George
February 13 to March 1, 2015,
for the Canada Winter Games.
On the boys’ side, Team Tardi
finished 4-1 in their pool to advance to page playoffs. They
beat Team Bartlett 7-3 to advance to the final against Team
Silversides.
Visit http://www.curlbc.ca/
curling-teams-named-to-teambc-for-canada-winter-games/
for the full story.
4
Teams dominate for
second year in a row
TEAMS from Centennial Secondary in Coquitlam and
Seaquam Secondary in North Delta dominated for a second year at the BC High School Curling Championships.
The teams were the same teams that were crowned
champions at last year’s high school championships
held in Kamloops.
The 2014 event, held in Parksville from March
6-8, saw the boys’ team, skipped by Kyle Habkirk and
rounded out by Ryan Harbrink, Nicholas Umbach, Kento
Sato and newcomer for 2014 Scott Wilson, post a 5-1
win-loss record before going on to win the final.
On the girls’ side, sisters Sarah and Megan Daniels –
who had been part of the junior team that travelled to
Canadian Junior Nationals earlier in the year – hooked
up with their teammates from last year Megan Bourassa, Heather Sinclair and newcomer Katrina Bauer to
take the crown again.
High School Girls medals:
1st place – Seaquam – Sarah Daniels, Megan Daniels,
Megan Bourassa, Heather Sinclair, Katrina Bauer, Coach
Ernie Daniels.
2nd place – Chilliwack – Kirsten Zucchet, Cailin
Cooke, Everly Royea, Jasmin Jani, Coach Doreen Jones
3rd place – Mount Elizabeth – Taylor Reese-Hansen,
Micaela Stevenson, Leah Anthony, Emma Baker, Jordyn
Zanelle, Coach Laurel DeGoeij.
High School Boys medals:
1st place – Centennial – Kyle Habkirk, Ryan Harbrink,
Nicholas Umbach, Kento Sato, Scott Wilson, Coaches
Debbie Carroll, Lisa Mulzet.
2nd place – Lord Tweedsmuir – Tyler Tardi, Jordan
Tardi, Rhett Hildenbrandt, Liam Purgavie, Brad Hildenbrandt, Coach Paul Tardi.
3rd place – Smithers – Glyn Doyle, Adam Hartnett,
Malcolm Turney, Sean Turney, Matthew Stevenson,
Coach Laurence Turney.
March 2014
International tankard rocks Cowichan
BY KATHERINE JOHNSON
Mini curling rink
available for hire
A MINI rink is available for hire from the
Curl BC office.
The rink, which is constructed out of
wood and can be set up either indoors
or outdoors, can help your centre promote the sport in your community.
It can be transported to community
fairs, recreation open days or other fun
community events.
Floor curling rocks are used on the
mini rink to give people a flavour of
what it’s like to curl.
Affiliated curling facilities can use the
rink for free. However, pick up and drop
off of the mini rink must be arranged by
the centre borrowing the equipment.
(Note: The four pieces of mini rink are
heavy and it is recommended that two
people come to the office to collect and
drop off equipment).
A rental equipment request form
can be requested from Penny Bartel at
pbartel@curlbc.ca.
It is recommended that you book
well in advance to reserve your date.
THE Cowichan Rocks
Curling Centre under
the chairmanship of
Linda Blatchford hosted
the 52nd annual International Tankard March
7-9 2014. It is 11 years
since the island has
hosted this Volunteer
Recognition Event.
Team USA and Team Canada met for the 52nd Annual
Each year Region 11 International Tankard at the Cowichan Rocks Curling Club.
and the Washington
State Curling Associaada, while Bev Oldham, Team Canada,
tion alternate hosting a
friendly competition involving six teams held the broom.
Saturday’s draws played throughout
from each association. The purpose of
the
day as competing for the Tankard
the International Tankard is to maintain
goodwill and feeling of community be- was afoot. The dinner banquet & socializing continued on through the evetween the two associations.
Washington State Curling Associa- ning as rock n roll was provided. Sunday
tion sent volunteers from as far as San was competitive with the final standings
Diego, Hollywood, San Francisco and Team USA 5, Team Canada 13.
Presentation of the Tankard was
Oregon. They joined with Seattle Granite Curling Club, with a total of 24 mem- made to Ray Field, a long standing member of the Governor General’s Curling
bers attending.
British Columbia responded with vol- Club and the International Tankard Banunteers from Regions 8,9,10 comprising ner presented for in club display to April
of Comox, Esquimalt, Juan de Fuca & Gale-Sexiero, representative of WashRegion 11 hailing from Marpole, Lang- ington State Curling Association, as the
ley, Richmond, Golden Ears, and North Tankard returns to the USA in 2015. In
conclusion to the event, the traditional
Shore Winter Club.
The event began with a social gath- joining of hands, forming a circle and
ering Friday evening. Information bags singing Auld Lang Syne as we bid our
were handed out and participants were farewells to our newly acquired friends.
On behalf of all the participants
encouraged to find their team mates.
and
committees from the Washington
Volunteers were provided a variety of
State
Curling Association, MOPAC &
appetizers by the Host Food & Beverage
Crew under the watchful eye of Arlene. Region 8,9,10, & 11, we wish to thank
The Opening Ceremonies were held Linda Blatchford and her crew of the Coat 11:00 am with the curling participants wichan Rocks Recreation Curling Centre
led by a Red Serge Mountie and piped for a job well done.
Watch for the 2015 Poster of the Inonto the ice with the Royal Canadian Leternational
Tankard returning to USA,
gion Colour Guard along with dignitaries
host Washington State Curling Associaand the Ladies of the Lake.
The ceremonial First Rock was tion.
Nominations from Regions 8-11 are
thrown by Jaxon Zalinko, 5 years of age,
to
be submitted to the International
the youngest curler in the junior curling
Tankard Committee, Katherine Johnson,
program at Cowichan Rocks.
The rock was swept by Liza Berres, traveller39@telus.net or Ross Johnson,
Team USA, and Jack Holden, Team Can- pifflewest@paralynx.com.
5
March 2014
Come Out & Support Our Future Olympians
April 3 - 6 2014
rd
Cloverdale Curling Rink
6150 176 St. Surrey
th
2014
& Langley Curling Centre
20699 42 Ave. Langley
•••
Opening CeRemOnieS
Cloverdale Curling Rink
Thursday, April 3, 6:00 pm
•••
CLOSing CeRemOnieS
Langley Curling Centre
Sunday April 6, 5:00 pm
Curling
CHAMPIONSHIPS
Surrey & Langley, BC
Curling is Fun.
Competition is Fun.
Improvement is Fun.
FULL EVENT PASS - $20.00
DRAW PASS - $5.00
Sponsored and organized by the Optimist Junior International Curling Club, a registered society incorporated to the provisions of the
society Act of the Province of British Columbia, operating under the name and style of the 2014 Optimist U18 International Curling Championships
Optimist Junior Interclub Curling League Administrator Al Kersey 778-988-4337 akersey@telus.net
6
Cloverdale Business
Improvement Association
Proud Supporter
Games
winners face
international
opposition
TWO teams from the Royal City Curling Club will be
facing teams from Western Canada and around
the world at an international competition being
staged in the Lower Mainland.
Cloverdale
Curling
Rink and the Langley Curling Centre are hosting the
Optimist
International
U18 Curling Championships, which go ahead
April 3-6.
Team Hawes, with
skip Dezaray Hawes, third
Cailin Cooke, second Jaymee Lynn, lead Everly Royea and coach Ken Mcardle will represent BC on
the girls’ side.
Team Carpenter, with
skip Brayden Carpenter,
third Tyler Proctor, second Breyden Chong, lead
Horace Mak, fifth Matthew Chan and coaches
Len Chong and Roger
Chan, will represent BC
on the boys’ side.
The teams won the
curling competition at the
BC Winter Games to earn
the berth.
The U18 curling event
began in 2001 with teams
from Western Canada. In
2003, with the support
of Canadian Optimist International club sponsorships, the competition
took a giant step by inviting international teams to
the championships.
March 2014
Scotties women go separate ways
THE women’s team that represented BC at the 2014 Scotties Tournament of Hearts in Montreal will not
be playing together next season.
Team Van Osch, with Kesa Van
Osch, Stephanie Baier, Jessie Sanderson and Carley Sandwith, are parting company.
Kesa has joined up with her sister Kalia, who skipped her BC junior
women’s team to a silver medal at
the 2014 M&M Meat Shops Canadian Junior Curling Championships.
The two of them will be able to
play on a women’s team together
now that Kalia has aged out of juniors.
Meanwhile, the other three –
Baier, Sanderson and Sandwith
– have joined up with Scotties stalwart Dailene Sivertson. The team,
skipped by Sivertson, will be curling
out of the Victoria Curling Centre.
Stephanie Baier said: “When we
arrived back from Montreal, we took
a break from curling, and then we
met up again to discuss the team.
“Kesa had decided that she wanted to curl with Kalia, and that meant
something had to change. We all
decided the five-player team wasn’t
what any of us wanted, especially
with the success that we had last
year. We all wanted to curl full-time.
“So the three of us decided to go
into a different direction.
“At the same time Dailene was
looking to move back to B.C. and
looking to skip again. Two of us have
curled with her before, so it was a
natural move for her and for us.”
Sivertson, a three-time BC junior
champion and a BC Scotties champion, has most recently been playing
with Amber Holland out of Regina,
Saskatchewan, but is returning to
Victoria.
Kesa Van Osch said everyone was
happy with the way things turned
out. She said: “We are doing what is
right for each of us and we parted
on good terms.”
Volunteer certificates
CLUBS can request volunteer recognition certificates for two “Club Volunteers of the Year” by
submitting their details to Curl BC.
Visit http://www.curlbc.ca/recognition/
club-volunteer-recognition-certificates/ to find
out more about how to get these certificates
for your volunteers.
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7
March 2014
Help your community recognize your curling heroes
IS THERE someone at your curling centre
who has been a superstar this year? If
so, you have just a month left to nominate them for a provincial award.
Curl BC is keen to help curling centres
recognize great athletes, sportsmanship,
and the contribution of volunteers.
If you know of someone who has had
an extraordinary year, or who has been
a tireless supporter of the sport in your
community, make sure you tell Curl BC
about it.
Our Annual Curl BC Awards are a
great way to give these heroes special
recognition and to say a big “thank you”.
The deadline to nominate people is April
30, 2014. Simply visit the Curl BC Annual
Awards Page at http://www.curlbc.ca/
recognition/curl-bc-annual-awards/ to
view the categories and fill out the online nomination forms. You can nominated in one or more categories.
The winners will be selected by the
Curl BC awards committee and a presentation will be made at a banquet in their
honour following the Curl BC AGM on
Saturday, June 14, 2014.
Coach training session at North Shore Winter Club
THERE’S only a few days left to register
for a Competition Coach Workshop being held at the North Shore Winter Club
on April 12 and 13.
This two-day workshop prepares
coaches to work with intermediate and
competitive level athletes.
This is a streamlined workshop with
the technical and theory being offered in
one weekend by a Curl BC Learning Facilitator. No prerequisite is required but
it is recommended that you have previous coaching experience or are a former
athlete in the sport of curling.
Visit http://www.curlbc.ca/development/coaching/competition-coachworkshops/competition-introductioncoach-workshop/ by April 4 to register.
Some of the topics covered in this
workshop include:
• teaching and learning strategies, tactics, delivery & brushing skills
8
• making ethical decisions
• emergency action plans
• skill analysis & drills to correct faults
• practice planning
• competition planning
Once fully certified, this coach will
be eligible to coach at playdowns, provincials, nationals & at the BC Winter
Games.
For more information contact Will
Sutton at wsutton@curlbc.ca.
March 2014
Rockslide Summer Curling Camp filling up fast
REGISTRATION for Rockslide
Summer Curling Camp is
open and registrations are
coming in fast!
This is a great opportunity
for junior curlers of all skill
levels to work with BC’s top
coaches in beautiful Kelowna.
The deadline to register is
May 4 and spaces are limited
so don’t miss out!
A junior bonspiel will be
taking place at the Kelowna
Curling Club after the camp.
The bonspiel is open to Individuals and teams.
Visit http://www.curlbc.
ca/development/rockslidesummer-curling-camp/
to
register today for either
event.
Rockslide Registration
Deadline is Sunday, May 4,
2014.
• Where: The Kelowna
Curling Club
• When: Wednesday, July 2
to Saturday, July 5, 2014
• Fee: $373.00 plus taxes
(3.5 days of on-ice, inclass, extracurricular activities, a shirt, camp resources, snacks, lunches
and dinners are included
in the camp fee)
9
• Cancellation Policy: A
cancellation fee of $40
will be incurred for withdrawals before and including May 4, 2014. After May 4, 2014 there will
be no refunds unless the
spot can be filled through
the waiting list.
Post Camp Bonspiel Registration Deadline is Sunday,
June 1, 2014
• Where: The Kelowna
Curling Club
• When: Saturday, July 5 –
Monday, July 7, 2014
• Team Registration fee:
Early Bird Registration fee
until May 4: $130/team.
May 5 onwards: $260/
team
• Individual Registration:
Early Bird Registration fee
until May 4: $32.50/player. May 5 onwards: $65/
individual
• Cancellation Policy: If you
withdraw prior to the
registration deadline, you
will receive a refund but
are subject to a processing fee. If you withdraw
after the registration
deadline no refunds will
be issued.
March 2014
National
Curling
Summit
The must-attend event of the year
for managers, coaches / instructors,
board members and anyone
in the business of curling.
Topics Will Include:
Attracting New Customers
Member Retention
Marketing Trends
Curling Teaching Professionals
Risk Management
Grant Writing
Coaching & Volunteers
LTAD
Sponsorship
And Much More!
Network with curling people from around the world!
Niagara Falls, Ontario August 25-27, 2014
10
March 2014
Register now to be part of first ever curling summit
THE Canadian Curling Association is
excited about its first ever National Curling Summit to be held in Niagara Falls,
Ontario, from August 25 to August 27,
2014.
The Summit guarantees to bring
together people from all over the world
with a passion for our sport and the
desire to continue to grow the sport of
curling in all our communities.
Whether you are a club manager, an
administrator, a coach or just a fan, they
have built an agenda that will not only
intrigue you but will deliver many best
practices to help build your business.
We encourage you to join us this
August for an information-filled networking opportunity while listening to
leaders in our sport discuss issues that
impact us all.
Please go to www.curling.ca/summit2014 for more information and to
take advantage of early bird registration!
National Curling Summit
Summit Tradeshow
Curling fans
entertained by
Team BC coach
CURLING fans at the 2014 Tim
Hortons Brier were entertained
not just by some great curling,
but also by Team BC’s coach, Pat
Ryan.
The Brier and world champion curler, who lives in Kelowna,
was one of the acts that entertained crowds in The Patch in
Kamloops.
Ryan has played guitar and
sung for many years, but it
wasn’t until more recently that
he took up songwriting.
He has now released three
CDs, Old Dog - New Tricks, Little
Bit of Trouble, and The Dream,
with his daughter Lynsay also
contributing to the latter.
All his CDs, a mix of country, roots, pop and rock,
are now available through
www.patryan.net.
Suppliers Related To The Curling World Will
Be Showcasing Their Products And New
Technologies While Providing Special
Offers To Attendees & Their Operations!
Ice & Stones
The Latest Techniques
& Technology For Quality
Ice Conditions Day After Day
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Discounted Summit Rates
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11
March 2014
Team Jeffries, with Lorraine Jeffries at skip, Zorka Smith at third, Eilene
Mitton at second and Trudy Beskau at lead.
Team Will, with skip Ralph Will (who throws lead rocks), fourth Gerald
Kent, third Peter Sweetman and second Fraser (Fizz) McKie.
Masters teams head to nationals in Coaldale
TWO masters teams will head to Alberta
for nationals next week after winning the
BC crown at the Creston Curling Club.
The Kootenay team of Ralph Will and
the Vancouver Island team of Lorraine
Jeffries were the top teams at the 2014
BC Masters Curling Championship. The
teams will head to Coaldale, Alberta,
from March 31 to April 6 for the 2014 Canadian Masters Curling Championships.
This is the second BC masters title in a
row for Jeffries, who played third for the
2013 BC champions, Team Lepine.
The men’s and women’s championships were both close at the top.
After round robin play, four men’s
teams were tied in first, with five wins
apiece: Team Will, of Sparwood and
Cranbrook curling clubs, Team Gelowitz,
of Kelowna Curling Club, Team Moore, of
Golden Ears Winter Club in Maple Ridge,
and Team Watson, of Vancouver Curling
Club.
The teams were then seeded based
on their results against each other and
a page playoff round was held. Secondplaced Team Gelowitz, with a win over
first-placed Team Will, got the bye to the
final. Meanwhile, the two teams tied
for third place, Team Watson and Team
Moore, played in a page 3-4 playoff, with
Team Moore advancing. Team Will then
faced Team Moore in the semi-finals on
Sunday morning, winning 4-3.
The Sparwood/Cranbrook team of
skip Ralph Will (who throws lead rocks),
fourth Gerald Kent, third Peter Sweetman and second Fraser (Fizz) McKie,
then faced Team Gelowitz again in the final, and were able to reverse the result,
winning 7-2.
On the women’s side, Team McFadden, from the Royal City Curling Club,
went through round robin play undefeated, winning a bye to Sunday’s final.
Team Jeffries, from the Alberni Valley
Curling Club, finished with a 5-2 record,
and Team Gallaway and Team Lepine
were tied for third place with 4-3 records.
A tiebreaker win for Team Lepine,
skipped by 2013 seniors and masters
champion Karen Lepine, moved them on
to the semi-finals.
But Team Lepine were unable to get
past Team Jeffries, with Lorraine Jeffries
at skip, Zorka Smith at third, Eilene Mitton at second and Trudy Beskau at lead
in the semi-final. The Port Alberni team
scored a deuce in the eighth end to wrap
up the game 8-7.
Team Jeffries then went on to play
Team McFadden in the final. They scored
a deuce in the second and a three-ender
in the sixth on their way to a 7-3 victory.
MEN
GOLD: Team Will – Sparwood/Cranbrook
12
Skip/Lead: Ralph Will – Fernie
Fourth: Gerald Kent – Cranbrook
Third: Peter Sweetman – Cranbrook
Second: Fraser (Fizz) McKie – Sparwood
SILVER: Team Gelowitz – Kelowna
Skip: Garry Gelowitz – Kelowna
Third: Wayne Saboe – Kamloops
Second: Grant Snow – Kelowna
Lead: Dennis Case – Kelowna
BRONZE: Team Moore – Golden Ears,
Maple Ridge
Skip: Garth Moore – Coquitlam
Third: Pierre Gallant – Coquitlam
Second: Murray Day – Maple Ridge
Lead: Gary Smith – Langley
WOMEN
GOLD: Team Jeffries – Alberni Valley
Skip: Lorraine Jeffries – Port Alberni
Third: Zorka Smith – Nanaimo
Second: Eilene Mitton – Nanaimo
Lead: Trudy Beskau – Port Alberni
SILVER: Team McFadden – Royal City
Skip: Carol McFadden – Coquitlam
Third: Mona Bassett – Burnaby
Second: Monica Hunter – North Vancouver
Lead: Ann MacLeod – Burnaby
BRONZE: Team Lepine – Langley
Skip: Karen Lepine – Surrey
Third: Susan Beuk – Surrey
Second: Diane Jarvos – Surrey
Lead: Claire Morrison – Aldergrove
Fifth: Linda Palm
March 2014
Curl BC Tip Sheet #03
CURL BC will be publishing a series of tip sheets over the next year to give curling centres tips on
running programs and events. This week, we focus on masters curling.
Masters curling is growing in popularity
Masters Curling – what
exactly is that anyway?
Curling is considered one of the few
“life sports”, which can be played
for recreation or competitively from
grade school right up to your later
years. In fact, many clubs have active curlers who are over 90 years of
age, and there are a few whose goal
is to curl until they are 100 years old.
The majority of Master Curlers
curl for the recreation, exercise, and
social aspects of the sport. Others
also enjoy the competitive opportunities available to them in this age
category. There are approximately
25,000 curlers in the province of
BC, of which approximately 40% are
over the age of 60 years. And this
number is growing.
Who qualifies as a “Masters”
curler in BC?
Age 60+ on December 31st =
Masters
Age 70+ on December 31st =
Grand Masters
Where can you curl?
Many 60+ age curlers take part in
“drop-in” leagues, daytime leagues,
senior and master competitive
leagues, club bonspiels, provincial
and national competitions.
Most curling centres provide the
complete range of recreation and
competitive curling opportunities
for the master curler. Curling fees
for daytime leagues are often offered at a reduced rate, leagues
are often flexible to accommodate
½ season curlers, and flexibility for
some to pay a game rate or a “punch
card” system.
What if you want to try competitions?
Curl BC offers Provincial Masters Playdowns in both Women (since 2000) and
Men (since 1987). The Provincial winner advances to represent BC at the National Masters Curling Championship (March 31-April 6, 2014 in Coaldale, AB).
This National Masters Curling Championship is run by an independent committee of representatives from the provincial member associations. Terry Vandale is BC’s representative on this committee.
The Pacific Coast Masters Curling Association (PCMCA) and the BC Interior
Masters Curling Association (BCIMCA) together offer a Combined Provincial
Championship for both the 60+ Grand Master Men and 70+ Grand Master Men.
The winners of these events do not advance to national championships.
The BCIMCA commenced a Mixed Masters Championship in 2009 and introduced a Women’s Masters Championship in 2014. It is envisioned that the two
Associations will host their first Combined Mixed and Women’s Master Provincial Combined Championships in 2015.
To learn more about Master Curling opportunities in BC and how to get involved contact one or more of the following: Visit the Curl BC website at www.
curlbc.ca; the BCIMCA website at www.bcimca.ca; the PCMCA website at www.
curlbc.ca/about/affiliated-associations/pacific-coast-masters-curling-association/; any of the many curling clubs/centres websites; or just drop in to your
local curling centre.
FACT FILE
Three separate groups provide curling opportunities for Masters level
curlers in BC: Curl BC, Pacific Coast Masters Curling Association (PCMCA),
and BC Interior Masters Curling Association (BCIMCA).
Curl BC: Provincial Championship in Men’s and Women’s, winners
advance to National Championship, financial support to attend these
championships
PCMCA: For curlers age 60+ living in Metro Vancouver and Vancouver
Island, regional playdowns to determine zone winners who advance to
combined provincial championship with BCIMCA.
BCIMCA: For curlers age 60+ who curl in daytime / retirees’ curling
leagues in the BC interior, regional playdowns to determine zone winners
who advance to combined provincial championship with PCMCA
March 2014
PIC celebrates 15th anniversary
THE Pacific International Cup will
be celebrating its 15th year at the
Richmond Curling Centre April 16 to
April 20.
The “PIC” is a unique and popular curling event which has as its
mission to promote club curling
within and outside of British Columbia. It is the only event which
provides club curlers with international competition, while exchanging ideas, ideals and promoting the
sport of curling.
Since it began in 2000, club curlers from 21 different countries, territories, provinces and states have
participated in the Pacific International Cup.
In B.C. and most other jurisdictions facilities identify their best
men and women’s club teams, who
then play in qualifying events such
Call for proposals
as the BC Club Challenge to play in
the PIC. This year’s competition will
include men’s and women’s teams
from Alaska, Arizona, Australia,
California, Minnesota, Michigan,
Oregon, Washington, Wisconsin,
Yukon and B.C.
Visit
http://www.picup.ca/
home.php for more information
about the PIC.
THE Canadian Curling Association (CCA) is requesting proposals for the hosting of the 2017
Canadian Junior Men’s and Women’s Curing
Championships (Canadian Juniors).
The last time the event was held in BC was
in 2009 in Salmon Arm.
Over the past couple of years, the Canadian
Juniors has had 14 teams in each gender (representing each of the 10 provinces, in addition
to Northern Ontario, the Northwest Territories,
Yukon and Nunavut).
Visit http://www.curlbc.ca/wp-content/
uploads/2014/03/CCA-RFP-2017-CanadianJuniors.pdf.
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March 2014
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ASSOCIATION
March 2014
Shannon Aleksic joins Curl BC in competitions role
SHANNON Aleksic has joined Curl BC as
the new High Performance and Competitions Manager, replacing Heather Beatty.
Shannon is a high performance athlete who has competed in provincial
Scotties championships in BC, Alberta
and Saskatchewan and at the national
women’s curling event.
Shannon said: “I am extremely excited for this wonderful opportunity of
working for Curl BC. I am looking forward
to sinking my teeth into this role and being a valuable asset to the organization.
I know with my experiences as a high
performance athlete I bring a wealth of
knowledge to the table and look forward
to sharing that and helping grow and
promote our sport in BC.”
Originally from Saskatchewan, Shan-
Shannon Aleksic
non has travelled to the national Scotties
three times as part of Team BC – once
with Kelley Law in 2007 and twice with
Kelly Scott as the team’s alternate.
Over the past eight years, Shannon
has worked for two accounting firms in
office administration roles.
Curl BC CEO Scott Braley said: “We
are delighted to welcome Shannon to
the team. With her vast amount of competitive experience, coupled with her
administrative skills, we know she will be
a valuable addition to the team.”
Shannon lives in Abbotsford with her
fiancé Dean Joanisse, also a competitive
curler, and their two daughters, Brooklyn and Abbey.
She started at Curl BC on Monday,
March 17. Her responsibilities include
Curl BC championships, playdown administration, the Athlete Assistance Program, multi-sport games and High Performance programming.
Shannon can be contacted at 604333-3619 or saleksic@curlbc.ca.
Heather Beatty leaves Curl BC after five years
HEATHER Beatty has left her position with Curl BC after more than five
years with the association.
Heather, who was the High Performance & Competitions Manager at
Curl BC, has taken a new position at
ViaSport, where she will be Coaching
and Sport Coordinator for the province.
Throughout her time at Curl BC,
Heather was a diligent worker and
a great ambassador for the sport of
curling.
Scott Braley, Curl BC CEO, said
Heather had done a tremendous job
at Curl BC.
“During her time at Curl BC, Heather has done fantastic work on behalf
of curlers, coaches, officials, ice tech-
Heather Beatty
nicians and the BC curling community
at large. She is a great team member
and will be hugely missed by her colleagues in the Curl BC office and by
the board of governors.”
Heather started with Curl BC not
long after graduation from the sport
management program at Brock University. Starting out as Technical and
Education Coordinator, she quickly
moved up to the event management
position.
During her time with Curl BC,
Heather became a key member of
staff, as well as a coach and mentor to
junior curlers.
In addition to being a hard worker,
Heather was also a great curler. Although she was not curling competitively in the BC women’s championships during the last few years, she
was often in the spare pool, and – at
the 2014 Scotties BC Women’s Curling Championship, Presented by Best
Western – she curled with four different teams.
NOTICE: Kerry Park Summer Bonspiel date change
Kerry Park Curling Club has had to change the date of the
Kerry Park Summer Bonspiel due to renovations at the
recreation centre this summer.
The spiel will now take place September 12, 13 and 14,
2014. Please visit www.kerryparkcurlingclub.ca for more
information.
16
March 2014
In Memoriam
Kevin Smale
TRIBUTES have been paid to a former BC champion and a
stalwart of the Prince George Golf and Curling Club who
died at the age of 72 on Dec. 28.
Kevin Smale – nicknamed The Duke – went to the Brier
in 1969, finishing in second place with a 9-1 record to Ron
Northcott from Alberta.
His son Darren Smale, who played with him in his later
competitive years, said: “The big thing about their Brier
team was they were one of the first sports teams from
Prince George to do anything big – to go to a national
event. Being from a small forestry town, it was a big deal.”
In addition to being BC Men’s champion in 1969 and
1971, Smale and his team were Interior Champions in
1968, 1969, 1971 and 1972.
Smale who represented BC as a High School Curler,
Men’s and even added a Senior Men’s title to his name,
continued to curl competitively well into his senior years
despite his issues with arthritis. When he was 59, he
played in the 1999 BC Men’s provincials with Darren.
Darren, who started curling competitive at 18, said:
“My dad had quite the touch. I had to work for what I did,
but my dad was just a natural.
“I have always been quite proud to say my Dad finished Second in Canada, he represented himself, his province and his city very well and I feel that while winning is
pretty great, finishing pretty damn good is nothing to be
ashamed of.”
A celebration of life was held for Kevin Smale in Prince
George on Jan. 3 with over 200 people in attendance.
Maggie Valentine
A FORMER BC champion skip and a member of the Canadian Curling Hall of Fame is being remembered.
Maggie Valentine (May 17, 1923 to January 24, 2014)
was the skip of the BC women’s champion team in 1966.
She was not only a top competitive player in British Columbia, she was also President of the Canadian Ladies
Curling Association from 1965-66.
Curling was Maggie’s life and she continued to curl well
into her 80s. At dinner time, Maggie would replay every
curling shot on the dinner table with the salt and pepper
shakers for her family to see. A true lover of the sport,
she was inducted into the Canadian Curling Hall of Fame
in 1986.
Maggie (born Margaret Eileen Wallace) passed away
on January 24, 2014, with her daughter Penny Dalton by
her side. She was predeceased by her first husband Jack
Cooke and her second husband Victor Valentine. She will
be sadly missed by her daughter Penny and son Randy
Cooke and extended family.
17
Team Shantz
Seniors rock the North
BC’s two senior teams are
both out of playoff contention
at the 2014 Canadian Senior
Curling Championships in Yellowknife.
Team Wes Craig, from Victoria Curling Centre, and Team
Penny Shantz, from Parksville
Curling Club, were steadily
adding wins throughout the
week, but also had some
tough games where they lost
by a small margin.
On Thursday morning
(March 27), Craig’s team,
rounded out by third Blair Cu-
Team Craig
sack, second Tony Anslow and
lead Kevin Britt, and coached
by Roselyn Craig, were sitting
at 5 wins and 5 losses with one
game left, just out of playoff
contention.
In women’s play, Penny
Shantz had secured 4 wins and
6 losses, after a narrow defeat
to Manitoba where the opposition stole one in the 10th to
win 7-6. Her team, rounded
out by third Sandra Jenkins,
second Debbie Pulak, lead Kate
Horne and coach Darryl Horne,
will play one more game.
March 2014
Curl BC Office
2001A - 3713 Kensington Ave, Burnaby, BC V5B 0A7, Phone: 604-333-3616, Fax: 604-333-3615
Scott Braley
Penny Bartel
Rebecca
Connop Price
Shannon Aleksic
Will Sutton
Mel Murray
CEO &
Executive Director
Participation
Manager
Communications &
Marketing Manager
High Performance &
Competitions Manager
Educational Programs
Coordinator
Campaign
Director
Curl BC Coaches
Melissa Soligo
Karen Watson,
Brenda Nordin
Darryl Horne, Gerry Richard,
Cindy Tucker, Katie Witt, Brent
Giles, Ken MacDonald
Provincial Coach
Regional Coaches
Consultant Coaches
Curl BC Officers
Terry Vandale
Mike West
Marnie Jepsen
Chair
Vice-Chair
Vice-Chair
Curl BC Governors
Terry Vandale
Brian Schreiner
Ron Phillips
Gord Judzentis
Mike West
Region 1&2
Region 4
Region 5&6
Region 6
Region 8
Ken Albrecht
Mare Michell
Deb Pound
Marnie Jepsen
Paul Addison
Region 8, 9 & 10
Region 10
Region 11
Region 11
Governor at Large
Contact information can be found at www.curlbc.ca/about/staff or www.curlbc.ca/about/board
18