I am only one voice but I wholeheartedly support the move by the WCF to remove Russian teams from World Championship competitions and I am proud of the response of Curling Canada in the strong statement of support which it has issued.
As a rules- based organization, the WCF’s constitution (organizational rules) has been followed in the statement which follows – verbatim! (The Curling Canada Statement also follows verbatim!
For clarification – the WCF includes 65-70 members. The Constitution dictates that 10% of members must vote against – within three days – to defeat the rule proposed change. I would be disappointed if more than one votes against!!
WORLD CURLING FEDERATION STATEMENT: The World Curling Federation Board today adopted an emergency ruling following a legal consultation regarding the situation surrounding Russian athletes competing at World Championship events.
Using the powers available to the Board under the World Curling Constitution Article 16.13.5 (in full below), the World Curling Federation Board has inserted the following new rule into the Rules of Curling and Rules of Competition:
Rule C1(b) The Board of the WCF may remove a team or Member Association from any WCF event if in the sole opinion of the Board their presence at the event would damage the event or put the safety of the participants or the good order of the event at risk.
The remaining clauses within Rule C1 shall be renumbered to incorporate this rule addition.
This new regulation has been passed to the Member Associations of the World Curling Federation, who now have three days to voice their objections to its adoption.
Should there be no objections, then at the conclusion of the three day evaluation window, the World Curling Federation will then begin the process of removing the Russian Curling Federation entries from the upcoming World Championships.
The World Curling Federation strongly condemns the military action undertaken by the Russian Government in their invasion of Ukraine and continues to hope for a swift and peaceful resolution to the situation.
CURLING CANADA STATEMENT: Curling Canada strongly endorses today’s announcement from the World Curling Federationof an initiative to remove Russian teams from upcoming world championship events, and we urge fellow Member Nations to join us in supporting this WCF announcement, as well as the recent announcement that the 2022 European Curling Championships will be moved from Perm, Russia.
The invasion of Ukraine, a democracy, and an important member of our World Curling Membership, must be met with swift and assertive sanctions that makes a strong statement of our collective values, our ethical stance, and, first and foremost, demonstrates concern for the safety and the freedoms of the people of Ukraine.
We also urge the WCF to continue working toward addressing longstanding, serious concerns that we and other Member Nations have raised about the culture of sport in Russia. These concerns must be dealt with in order to ensure a level playing field for all athletes, and to remain true to the Spirit of Curling.
WCF Constitution Article 16.13.5…….. “when urgent, take decisions normally assumed by the General Assembly (as per Art.15) except election of Board Members, expulsion of a Member Association, changes to the Constitution and dissolution of the WCF. In addition in emergency situations between General Assemblies, the Board may propose changes to the Rules of Curling and the Rules of Competition. Any changes proposed by the Board in an emergency situation will be circulated to the Member Associations and if more than 10% of the Member Associations, holding full membership and being in good standing object in writing to the Board within 3 working days of notice being given, the rule change will not be implemented and the matter will be referred to the next General Assembly of the WCF. Otherwise the Board’s decision to revise the rule(s) for the emergency situation will stand until the next General Assembly”
(Sunday, February 27: 5:00PM) Tansy Tober and her Fort Garry team passed their big test of the day on the morning draw when they won the semi-final of the Telus Junior Women’s championship in Brandon (6-4 over Grace Beaudry-St Vital).
The win meant that Tober, Caitlin Kostna, Lex Sigurdson, Stephanie Feeleus, and Coach Deb Popovic had already won an invitation to the national championship when the final started.
(l-r) Tansy Tober, Caitlin Kostna, Lex Sigurdson, Stephanie Feeleus, and Coach Deb Popovic
With the pressure off for that final game against previously undefeated Morgan Maguet-East St. Paul, the Tober team played a relaxed, controlling game in an 11-4 victory. They earned their spot as provincial champions in the provincial record books and will wear the Manitoba colours at the nationals.
Maguet, Kylie Lippens, Lauren Evason, Danica Metcalfe, and Assistant Coach Chris Lippens will be the Manitoba wild card team at the nationals in Stratford, Ontario in late March.
(Sunday, February 27: 12:30PM) Jordon McDonald (Reece Hamm, Elias Huminicki, Alexandre Fontaine, Coach Blaine Malo) have won Manitoba Telus Junior Men’s Championship.
Team McDonald will wear Manitoba’s colours at the Canadian Juniors in late March in Stratford, Ontario after controlling play all game against Aaron Van Ryssel- Springfield.
McDonald built a 4 point lead by the fifth end, on three single steals. Van Ryssel’s team played well but simply could never build an end in the 6-3 victory.
Solace for Van Ryssel and his team (Peter Albig, Jonah Peterson, Colin Desaulniers, Coach Faith Van Ryssel) – they will also be going on to the national championship as the Manitoba wild card team.
(Saturday, February 26: 11:30PM) MAGUET INTO JUNIOR WOMEN FINAL, BEAUDRY-TOBER SEMI-FINAL: Morgan Maguet and her East St. Paul team won the Telus Junior Women’s Page 1-1 game Saturday, a 7-4 victory over Grace Beaudry – St. Vital. The win earned the Maguet foursome a berth in the provincial final game at 2PM Sunday. It also earned them the first Manitoba invitation to the Canadian championship in late March.
Beaudry dropped to the Sunday 9:30AM semi-final where her team will play Tansy Tober’s Fort Garry foursome. Tober had to win two games Saturday. After losing the final round robin game on the morning draw (7-6 to Emily Ogg), Team Tober had to win a tiebreaker (7-3 over Emma Jensen) and then the Page 2-2 game (6-2 over Zoey Terrick).
Terrick’s team had also won a tiebreaker (10-8 over Ogg), setting up the 3-game Saturday for both Terrick and Tober.
With Reece Hamm directing, Jordon McDonald’s front end Elias Huminicki and Alexandre Fontaine sweep the final rock to curl inside the guard to the four foot for two.
(Saturday, February 26: 11PM)JUNIOR MEN FINAL: MCDONALD VS VAN RYSSEL: Top seeded Jordon McDonald’s Deer Lodge team, undefeated in six games including the Saturday afternoon Page 1-1 game, will play Aaron Van Ryssel and his Springfield team in Manitoba’s Telus Junior Men’s Championship Sunday at 9:30AM.
Both advanced with wins over Jordan Johnson (Heather).
In the Page 1-1 game, with both teams undefeated, McDonald controlled play and marked up a 6-1 eight-end victory. Johnson dropped to the semi-final to play Van Ryssel, who had won the Page 2-2 game over Thomas McGillivray.
Aaron Van Ryssel and third Peter Albig try to figure out how to score two red stones with last rock on the sixth end. Yellow stole one this time.
The close semi-final was tied after four, six and nine ends with Johnson holding the hammer coming home. With that last rock, Johnson faced a tough choice: either draw the button to win or play a short runback double kill with a nose hit for the win. He chose to hit but was a bit high-side and missed removing the second rock. The steal gave Van Ryssel an 8-7 win.
The game Sunday morning will be for the provincial championship honours but both teams have already earned the privilege of an invitation to the Canadian New Holland Juniors as Manitoba has both a Team Manitoba and a Manitoba Wild Card entry.
(Saturday, February 26: 12:00PM) JUNIOR WOMEN TIEBREAKER GAMES NEEDED: In a story here at the curler.com, back in early December, William Lyburn stated there were “5 OR 6” teams who he thought could win the provincial Telus Junior Women’s.
As of 12:15PM Saturday, six teams are still in the running.
Pool winners Morgan Maguet and Grace Beaudry and their teams are through to the Page 1-1 Playoff game with 5W-0L and 4W-1L records respectively.
Four teams with 3W-2L records still have a chance – but they have to win tiebreaker draws to reach the Page 3-4 game. On the ice are Zoey Terrick playing Emily Ogg and Emma Jensen playing Tansy Tober.
The Ogg and Jensen teams created the logjam. Both had 2W-2L records going into the morning draw. Both were victorious – Jensen over Terrick and Ogg with a steal on the tenth end to beat Tober.
FINAL STANDINGS: ASHAM BLACK POOL- JR WOMEN 5-0 Morgan Maguet – East St. Paul 3-2 Zoey Terrick – Neepawa 3-2 Emma Jensen – Heather 2-3 Samantha Gevers – St. Vital 2-3 Dayna Wahl – Altona 0-5 Shaela Hayward – Carman
FINAL STANDINGS: ASHAM EXPRESS RED POOL– JR WOMEN 4-1 Grace Beaudry – St. Vital 3-2 Tansy Tober – Fort Garry 3-2 Emily Ogg – Assiniboine Memorial 3-2 Cheyenne Ehnes – Assiniboine Memorial 2-3 Bethany Allan – St. Vital 0-5 Cloe Haluschak – Swan River
CurlManitoba Photo: Aaron Van Ryssel and his third Peter Albig
(Friday, February 25: 11PM)JUNIOR MEN PLAYOFF SETS, FINAL JUNIOR WOMEN DRAW SATURDAY: Jordon McDonald (Deer Lodge) and Jordan Johnson (Heather) kept their perfect records intact with wins on the final round robin draw of the Telus Junior Men`s Championship in Brandon.
The two will meet in the Saturday 4PM Page 1-1 Playoff game. THe winner will play inthe Sunday morning final while the loser goes to the late Saturday semi-final.
Thomas McGillivray (Fort Garry) and Aaron Van Ryssel (Springfield) both had to win their final games to improve to 4W-1L and avoid the potential of playing a tiebreaker game. Both were victorious and they will meet in the Page 2-2 Playoff. The winner will advance to the semi-final.
FINAL STANDINGS:ASHAM BLACK POOL – JR MEN 5-0 Jordon McDonald – Deer Lodge 4-1 Thomas McGillivray – Fort Garry 3-2 Lucas Pedersen – Rivers 2-3 Luke Steski – West St. Paul 1-4 Cam Olafson – East St. Paul 0-5 Tanner Graham – Petersfield
STANDINGS:ASHAM EXPRESS RED POOL – JR MEN 5-0 Jordan Johnson – Heather 4-1 Aaron Van Ryssel – Springfield 3-2 Jace Freeman – Virden 1-4 Jack Lyburn – Brandon 1-4 Ronan Peterson – Fort Rouge 1-4 Matthew Bijl – Assiniboine Memorial
Playoffs in the Telus Junior Women’s event will also be sorted out on the final draw, Saturday at 8:30AM.
Morgan Maguet has the only only perfect 4W-0L record and Zoey Terrick has a 3W-1L record after four games. The two can advance with wins Saturday morning. Terrick plays Emma Jensen while Maguet plays Samantha Gevers. Both Gevers and Jensen have 2W-2L records so a Jensen win over Terrick creates the possibility of three teams finishing with 3W-2L records.
In the other pool, Tansy Tober, Cheyenne Ehnes, and Grace Beaudry share the lead at 3W-1L. Emily Ogg’s record of 2W-2L has her team still in the playoff chase as well.
Saturday morning, Beaudry plays Ehnes so the winner, at 4W-1L, will advance to the playoffs. Tober plays Ogg, so a Tober win would mean a 4W-1L record and the second playoff spot but a Tober loss means a 3-way tie at 3W-2L.
One tiebreaker draw, if needed, takes place Saturday early afternoon.
STANDINGS:ASHAM BLACK POOL 4-0 Morgan Maguet – East St. Paul 3-1 Zoey Terrick – Neepawa 2-2 Samantha Gevers – St. Vital 2-2 Emma Jensen – Heather 1-3 Dayna Wahl – Altona 0-4 Shaela Hayward – Carman
STANDINGS:ASHAM EXPRESS RED POOL 3-1 Cheyenne Ehnes – Assiniboine Memorial 3-1 Grace Beaudry – St. Vital 3-1 Tansy Tober – Fort Garry 2-2 Emily Ogg – Assiniboine Memorial 1-3 Bethany Allan – St. Vital 0-4 Cloe Haluschak – Swan River
(Thursday, February 24: 11PM) JUNIOR MEN LEADERS AT 3W-0L, JUNIOR WOMEN LEAD AT 2W-0L: Four teams have separated themselves from the pack in the Telus Junior Men’s Championship underway in Brandon. All four posted a pair of wins Thursday after winning their openers to end the day with perfect 3W-0L records.
Thomas McGillivray-Fort Garry and Jordon McDonald-Deer Lodge in one pool and Jordan Johnson-Heather and Aaron Van Ryssel-Springfield are all still perfect. Close behind, both at 2W-1L, are Jace Freeman-Virden (in the Johnson-Van Ryssel group) and Luke Steski-West St. Paul (in the McGillivray-McDonald group).
The noon draw Friday in Brandon will be key in determining the first two playoff teams. McGillivray faces McDonald and Johnson faces Van Ryssel. The winners will improve their perfect records to 4W-0L.
STANDINGS:ASHAM BLACK POOL 3-0 Thomas McGillivray – Fort Garry 3-0 Jordon McDonald – Deer Lodge 2-1 Luke Steski – West St. Paul 1-2 Lucas Pedersen – Rivers 0-3 Cam Olafson – East St. Paul 0-3 Tanner Graham – Petersfield
STANDINGS:ASHAM EXPRESS RED POOL 3-0 Jordan Johnson – Heather 3-0 Aaron Van Ryssel – Springfield 2-1 Jace Freeman – Virden 1-2 Jack Lyburn – Brandon 0-3 Ronan Peterson – Fort Rouge 0-3 Matthew Bijl – Assiniboine Memorial
In the Telus Juniors Women’s Championship, three teams completed the first day of play with perfect 2W-0L records. Cheyenne Ehnes-AMCC stands alone at the top of one pool while Morgan Maguet-East St. Paul and Zoey Terrick-Neepawa lead the other pool – all with two victories Thursday.
The wins by Team Terrick (over Samantha Gevers-St. Vital) and Team Ehnes (over Bethany Allan-St. Vital) leaves the losers at 1W-1L along with four other teams.
They include Emma Jensen-Heather, Grace Beaudry-St. Vital, and Emily Ogg-AMCC who were winners on the 4PM draw after losing their openers and Tansy Tober-Fort Garry who lost their second game after winning their opener.
STANDINGS:ASHAM BLACK POOL 2-0 Morgan Maguet – East St. Paul 2-0 Zoey Terrick – Neepawa 1-1 Samantha Gevers – St. Vital 1-1 Emma Jensen – Heather 0-2 Dayna Wahl – Altona 0-2 Shaela Hayward – Carman
STANDINGS:ASHAM EXPRESS RED POOL 0-2 Cheyenne Ehnes – Assiniboine Memorial 1-1 Bethany Allan – St. Vital 1-1 Grace Beaudry – St. Vital 1-1 Emily Ogg – Assiniboine Memorial 1-1 Tansy Tober – Fort Garry 0-2 Cloe Haluschak – Swan River
(Wednesday, February 24: 10PM)FAVOURED TEAMS WIN OPENERS IN TELUS JUNIORS: With two full years having passed since the last provincial junior championships, there has been a major turnover in the junior ranks. The names have changed but the excitement to compete, the eagerness to win, and the excellence of the top teams all remain.
Team McGillvray, MJCT Champions – winners on the Telus Juniors opening draw
The junior men’s competition opened this evening in Brandon. They play a pair of games tomorrow and two more on Friday for their five round-robin games.
In a what have you won recently assessment, among the favourites are Thomas McGillivray and his Fort Garry team, ranked #4 on the Manitoba Junior Curling Tour ranking, based mainly on an extra end win in the MJCT Tour Championship after modest success over the Tour season. Team McGillivray opened with a 6-end victory over Tanner Graham (Petersfield).
Jordon McDonald – an opening round Telus victor
Jordon McDonald (Deer Lodge), whose most recent bonspiel was the Viterra Championship where his team posted a 2W-2L record – losing two qualifying games, is ranked #2 on the MJCT. They lost that Tour Championship final to McGillivray and won a pair of events during the season. Their opener in Brandon went the distance with McDonald one up with hammer coming home as he posted a 7-5 victory.
MJCT #1 Jordan Johnson and his Heather team, winners of three season events, were 8-end winners over Matthew Bijl (Assiniboine Memorial).\
MJCT #3 Jace Freeman (Virden), winners of one season event, trailed Ronan Peterson (Fort Rouge) early but came back to lead 7-5 with a three on the ninth end. They scored a point on an extra end for a first game 8-7win.
In the other two games, Lucas Pederson (Rivers) defeated Cam Olafson (East St. Paul) and Aaron Van Ryssel (Springfield) defeated Jack Lyburn (Brandon).
The U-21 Manitoba Junior Women’s Championship first draw is Thursday morning.
(Wednesday, February 23 8PM)TELUS JUNIORS UNDERWAY IN BRANDON: Manitoba’s Telus Junior Championships are underway at the Brandon Curling Club. Twelve team fields in each of the Junior men’s and Junior Women’s events will play a round-robin in pools of six. A Page Playoff will follow after their five games.
Two berths to compete in both the U-21 Men and U-21 Women New Holland Canadian Junior Championships will be available through the Manitoba Telus Juniors. The Manitoba champions will wear Manitoba’s official colours at the Canadians while the finalist in each case will be the wild card team, identified as Manitoba #2.
Why? As with other championships in these covid seasons, the Juniors will each feature a field of 18 teams. The extra teams include one for the province or territory of each of the three podium teams from the 2020 championships (the last ones staged!).
So Manitoba’s juniors have two reasons to be thankful in regard to 2020 World Champions Jacques Gauthier and Mackenzie Zacharias. First, winning the Canadians in 2020 earned a spot this year for two Manitoba teams instead of one. Second, they can be thankful those teams aged out – making the competitions wide open this year.
The Canadian Juniors will be played March 25-April 1 in Stratford, Ontario.
Mike McEwen’s Manitoba champions have added Colton Lott to their roster for the upcoming Tim Hortons Brier in Lethbridge. The young interlake region skip was impressive in leading his team on an undefeated run to the final at the recent Manitoba Viterra Championship and last fall was equally impressive as a fill-in on Matt Dunstone’s Saskatchewan team at the Canadian Curling Trials.
As anticipated based on the CTRS rankings, 2020 Manitoba champion Jason Gunnlaugson and his team have been added to the Brier team list as the third Wild Card team.
Team McEwen – Manitoba Champions, CurlManitoba Photo
A pair of former Manitoba champion skips have also qualified for the Brier. Former Manitoba Junior champion skip Matt Dunstone and his Saskatchewan team were also named a Wild Card team. Former Manitoba Mixed champion skip Jared Kolomaya will represent British Columbia, throwing second stones for Brent Pierce.
Manitoba (McEwen), Wild Card 3 (Gunnlaugson), and BC are all in the same pool. Wild Card 2 (Dunstone) is in the other group.
Team Gunnlaugson at the Canadian Curling Trials, Curling Canada/ Michael Burns Photo
The Team Manitoba start is against BC & Kolomaya in their first game, their opening draw at 1:30PM (CST) Saturday, March 5, and they play Team Gunnlaugson in their next game, 8:30AM (CST) Sunday, March 6. Gunnlaugson plays Kolomaya and his BC teammates at 8:30AM (CST), Tuesday, March 8.
(Tuesday, February 16: Curling Canada Release)18-team field confirmed for 2022 Tim Hortons Brier in Lethbridge: Defending champion Team Canada, 14 provincial and territorial champions and three Wild Card teams will open play on March 4 in the 2022 Tim Hortons Brier, presented by AGI, at the ENMAX Centre in Lethbridge.
The field was finalized Tuesday night as Curling Quebec named Team Michael Fournier as its representative after provincial regulations forced the cancellation of the provincial men’s championship. Reigning champs Team Canada, skipped by Brendan Bottcher of Edmonton, will wear the Maple Leaf in Lethbridge, but will be pushed hard by the likes Team Alberta of Calgary, as skip Kevin Koe chases his record-breaking fifth Tim Hortons Brier championship as a skip. Canada’s Olympic men’s team, Team Gushue, will go for a fourth Tim Hortons Brier title in the past six years, and will be one of the three Wild Card teams.
The Wild Card berths were awarded to the top three teams on the Canadian Team Ranking System that didn’t qualify through their respective provincial or territorial championships. Team Gushue didn’t play in the rescheduled Newfoundland and Labrador championship, but had entered in the original scheduled event in January. That event was delayed until this past weekend because of COVID-related restrictions, and because Team Gushue had entered the provincial championship, it was deemed eligible for the Wild Card berth.
The other Wild Card berths went to Team Matt Dunstone of Regina and Team Jason Gunnlaugson of Morris, Man.
The first draw of the 2022 Tim Hortons Brier is scheduled for March 4 at 6:30 p.m. (all times MT).Nathan Young’s Newfoundland/Labrador team will be the youngest team in the field; all four players are still eligible to compete in Under-21 juniors competition, and are coached by the legendary Toby McDonald, who guided Team Gushue to the Olympic gold medal in 2006.
The 18 teams have been split into two pools of nine, seeded based on the standing in the Canadian Team Ranking System as of Feb. 14, 2022. As was the case the last time a Canadian men’s championship was hosted in front of fans, the seeding is modified to ensure the host Member Association (Alberta) is in the same pool as Team Canada. They will play an eight-game round robin within their respective pools; from there, the top three teams in each pool advance to an expanded playoff field. The second- and third-ranked teams in each pool cross over to play in Page playoff qualifier games on Friday, March 11, at 12:30 p.m. The winners advance to play the winners of Pool A and Pool B on Friday at 6:30 p.m. The winners of those games go to the Page 1v2 game, while the losers will compete in the Page 3v4 game.
The standard Page playoffs commence with the winner of the Page 1v2 game on Saturday, March 12, at 6:30 p.m., advancing directly to the final, and the loser plays the winner of the Page 3v4 game (scheduled for 1:30 p.m. on Saturday) in the semifinal. The semifinal (Sunday, March 13, at 11 a.m.) winner takes on the winner of the Page 1v2 game in the final at 6 p.m. on March 13. The winner will represent Canada at the 2022 LGT World Men’s Curling Championship, April 2-10 in Las Vegas.
If necessary, only one tiebreaker game will be scheduled for Friday at 9 a.m. for third-place only. If there is a tie between more than two teams for the spot, teams will be eliminated by head-to-head record first and then by accumulated last stone draw to determine the two teams that will play in the tiebreaker game. Tiebreaker games will only be played if teams have a better than .500 record (5-3 or better).
Here’s a look at how the two pools are set up:(teams listed according to seeding, and listed in order of skip, vice-skip, second, lead, alternate, coach/High Performance Consultant)
Pool A: Alberta, Kevin Koe (John Morris [throws second], B.J. Neufeld [throws third], Ben Hebert, Carter Rycroft, John Dunn; Calgary) Ontario, Glenn Howard (Scott Howard, David Mathers, Tim March, Adam Spencer; Penetanguishene) Wild Card 2, Matt Dunstone (Braeden Moskowy, Kirk Muyres, Dustin Kidby, Adam Kingsbury; Regina)Saskatchewan, Colton Flasch (Catlin Schneider, Kevin Marsh, Daniel Marsh, Pat Simmons Jamie Schneider; Saskatoon) Team Canada, Brendan Bottcher (Patrick Janssen, Brad Thiessen, Karrick Martin, Aaron Sluchinski, Don Bartlett; Edmonton) Newfoundland/Labrador, Nathan Young (Sam Follett, Nathan Locke, Ben Stringer, Nicholas Codner, Toby McDonald; St. John’s) New Brunswick, James Grattan (Darren Moulding, Pat Dobson, Andy McCann, Jamie Brannen; Oromocto) Prince Edward Island, Tyler Smith (Adam Cocks, Ed White, Ryan Lowery, Christopher Gallant; Crapaud) Yukon, Thomas Scoffin (Trygg Jensen, Joe Wallingham, Evan Latos, Wade Scoffin; Whitehorse)
Pool B: Wild Card 1, Brad Gushue (Mark Nichols, Brett Gallant, Geoff Walker, Jeff Thomas, Jules Owchar; St. John’s) Northern Ontario, Brad Jacobs (Marc Kennedy, E.J. Harnden, Ryan Harnden, Caleb Flaxey; Sault Ste. Marie) Manitoba, Mike McEwen (Reid Carruthers, Derek Samagalski, Colin Hodgson, Rob Meakin; West St. Paul) Wild Card 3, Jason Gunnlaugson (Adam Casey, Matt Wozniak Connor Njegovan, Garry Van Den Berghe; Morris) Quebec, Michael Fournier [throws second] (Martin Crête, Félix Asselin [throws fourth], Jean-François Trépanier, Benoit Forget; Dollard-des-Ormeaux) Nova Scotia, Paul Flemming (Scott Saccary, Ryan Abraham, Phil Crowell, Kevin Ouellette; Halifax) British Columbia, Brent Pierce (Jeff Richard, Jared Kolomaya, Nick Meister; New Westminster) Northwest Territories, Jamie Koe (Glen Kennedy, Cole Parsons, Shadrach McLeod; Yellowknife) Nunavut, Peter Mackey (Mark Pillsworth, Jeff Nadeau, Greg Howard, Peter Van Strien; Iqaluit)
For the full 2022 Tim Hortons Brier schedule, CLICK HERE.
TSN/RDS2 , the official broadcast partner of Curling Canada’s Season of Champions, will televise all of the action from Lethbridge. While currently Alberta permits a 50 per cent capacity limit for live events, the Province of Alberta recently announced that March 1 is the projected date for a return to full capacity. Curling Canada has opened all capacity limits and ticket packages for fans to fill the ENMAX Centre. If the capacity limit isn’t lifted on March 1 as outlined, and sales exceed 50 per cent of the available seats, customer ticket purchases would be honoured in chronological order of purchase date. Curling Canada and the ENMAX Centre will send communication via email and/or phone with any updates about the event to ticket purchasers as needed.
Mike McEwen and his West St. Paul team have won the 2022 Viterra Manitoba Men’s Curling Championship. McEwen, with third Reid Carruthers, second Derek Samagalski, lead Colin Hodgson and Coach Rob Meakin won a pair of games Sunday in Selkirk to earn their second title as a team. Team McEwen had previously won the championship together in 2019.
(l-r) Colin Hodgson, Derek Samagalski, Coach Rob Meakin, Reid Carruthers, Mike McEwen CurlManitoba Photo
Entering the championship as the #1 seed and favourite to win, Team McEwen had lost the Page 1-1 Playoff game Saturday evening to Colton Lott and his Winnipeg Beach team. Lott was supported by his brother Tanner at third, with second Kyle Doering and lead Emerson Klimpke.
The loss put them in the Sunday morning semi-final game which they won, with a last shot draw, 10-9 over Ryan Wiebe – Fort Rouge, with Ty Dillello, Sean Flatt and Adam Flatt.
Colton Lott`s finalist team impressed those watching at the Selkirk CC as a young team with a great future.
The afternoon final against Team Lott opened in the Winnipeg Beach team’s favour with a two on the first end. McEwen came back to score two on the second end and began to take control when the veteran team forced their younger opponents to a single on the third.
After blanks on the fourth and fifth ends, Team McEwen scored a three on the sixth end to lead 6-3 enroute to an 8-3, eight end victory.
This year’s victory is the fourth Manitoba men’s title for Mike McEwen, who won as skip in 2016, 2017 and 2019, and Hodgson, who was at lead for Carruthers in 2015 and 2018 as well as for McEwen in 2019. For Samagalski, it is a fifth Manitoba men’s title after he won as lead for Rob Fowler in 2012 and as second for Carruthers in 2015 and 2018 as well as for McEwen in 2019.
It is a seventh Manitoba men’s title for Carruthers who won three times at second for Jeff Stoughton, including a Brier and World title in 2011 followed by Manitoba wins in 2013 and 2014. He also won as skip in 2015 and 2018 and as McEwen’s third in 2019.
In addition, McEwen owns a pair of Manitoba Junior Men’s titles and a Manitoba Mixed title; Carruthers has a Junior Men’s and a Mixed championship and Samagalski has won a Mixed and a Mixed Doubles final game.
Team McEwen earns the opportunity to represent Manitoba at the Tim Hortons Brier in Lethbridge in March.
(Submitted by Eric McGillivray for MJCT) Another junior curling season wrapped up this weekend at The Heather Curling Club. An invitation was sent to the top 8 men’s and women’s teams on the MJCT circuit. The prizes involve a CurlManitoba Provincial Berth, Asham gear, cash, and bragging rights.
MJCT PHOTO – Team Ogg with Albert Bazinet – MJCT President, (l-r: Emily Ogg, Mikaylah Lyburn, Katie Zacharias, Mackenzie Arbuckle)
The Semi-finalist round featured Team Jensen (2-1) against Team Ogg (2-1) with Emily Ogg pulling out a 5-4 win in 8 ends as Emma Jensen’s last draw to the 4-foot glided too far through the house. In the other women’s semi-finalist round Team Beaudry (2-1) against Team Ehnes (2-1), had Grace Beaudry sailing to a 9-5 win in 7 ends. The women’s final took only 4 ends as Emily Ogg’s team cruised to an 8-1 win over Grace Beaudry’s team.
MJCT PHOTO – Team McGillivray with Albert Bazinet -MJCT President, (l-r: Thomas McGillivray, Aaron MacDonell, Johnny Trinke, Brennan Kezema)
In the men’s semi-finalist event Team Johnson (3-0) took on Team McDonald (2-1). It was a back an forth affair with Team McDonald leading by 3 in the 8th end. Victory wasn’t that easy as Team Johnson managed to score 3 and force an extra end. Jordon McDonald with hammer managed to score in the extra, with the final being 8-7. In the other men’s semi-final Team McGillivray (3-0) took on Team Steski (2-1). Thomas McGillivray’s team took the early lead and landed a 6-2 win in 7 ends.
The final between McGillivray and McDonald was a very exciting edge of your seat match. Jordon McDonald’s team was the favourite to win, but they ran into a red hot McGillivray Team. McGillivray jumped out to an early 2-0 lead and the teams traded points with McGillivray being up by one in the 8th without hammer. Jordon McDonald had a rock that was so well guarded that Thomas McGillivray had only a draw facing 3 to force McDonald to take one and go into an extra. In the extra end McGillivray played an open game and was sitting 2 in the house. McDonald’s last rock draw went just an inch too far and in the 8 foot and McGillivray ended up winning 6-5.
(CurlManitoba Release – Saturday Evening) Colton Lott and his Winnipeg Beach team-mates) Kyle Doering, Tanner Lott, and Emerson Klimpke are a win away from representing Manitoba at the 2022 Tim Hortons Brier as Manitoba champions.
Team Lott posted a pair of wins Saturday at the Viterra Championship in Selkirk; a 9-3 victory over William Lyburn (Granite) on the morning draw to advance to the Page 1-1 Playoff game and then a late 8-7 victory in that game over 2019 champion Mike McEwen (West St. Paul).
The Winnipeg Beach foursome was tied 4-4 with McEwen after five ends and led 6-5 after seven ends but trailed 7-6 coming home. They blanked the ninth to hold last rock coming home but didn’t need to throw it. They will play in the Manitoba Men’s Curling Championship final game, Sunday at 2:00PM.
Ryan Wiebe
In the 9AM semi-final, McEwen will take on Ryan Wiebe and his Fort Rouge team who won three games Saturday in Selkirk. Qualifying through the “B” side of the Playoff Round, Team Wiebe defeated 2020 champion Jason Gunnlaugson and 2015 World Junior champion skip Braden Calvert. They defeated Corey Chambers (Fort Garry) 7-4 in the Page 2-2 Playoff game.
THE CHAMPIONSHIP PAGE PLAYOFF PAGE 1-1 GAME (Winner to the final, Loser to the semi-final) Colton Lott (Winnipeg Beach) 8-7 over Mike McEwen (West St. Paul)
PAGE 2-2 GAME (Winner to the semi-final, Loser eliminated) Ryan Wiebe (Ft. Rouge) 7-4 over Corey Chambers (Ft. Garry)
PLAYOFF ROUND – 2PM SATURDAY “B” Side (Winners advance to Page Playoff Championship Round – Losers eliminated)) Ryan Wiebe (Ft. Rouge) 6-5 over Braden Calvert (Assiniboine Memorial) Corey Chambers (Ft. Garry) 7-2 over William Lyburn (Granite)
PLAYOFF ROUND – 9AM SATURDAY“A” Side (Winners advance to Page Playoff Championship Round – Losers to “B” Side) Mike McEwen (West St. Paul) 7-6 over Braden Calvert (Assiniboine Memorial) Colton Lott (Winnipeg Beach) 9-3 over William Lyburn (Granite)
“B” Side ( Winners move on – Losers eliminated) Corey Chambers (Ft. Garry) 5-4 over Jacques Gauthier (Assiniboine Memorial) Ryan Wiebe (Ft. Rouge) 7-4 over Jason Gunnlaugson (Morris)
Braden Calvert
(CurlManitoba Release – Friday Evening) PLAYOFF ROUND UNDERWAY IN VITERRA CHAMPIONSHIP: A pair of World Junior champion skips faced off Friday night in Selkirk in the opening game of the 2022 Viterra Championship Playoff Round. The game between Braden Calvert (Assiniboine Memorial), the 2015 world champion, and clubmate Jacques Gauthier, the 2020 world champion, saw Calvert score deuces each of the first four times he had last rock. The third of them, on the fifth end, gave Team Calvert a 6-5 lead as they went on to a 9-5 victory.
Mike McEwen
For Mike McEwen and his top seeded West St. Paul team, the score sheet shows all singles. It was the fourth one, a steal on the extra end, which gave the 2019 champions a 4-3 win over Corey Chambers (Fort Garry).
Jason Gunnlaugson’s Morris foursome gave up a pair of deuces to start their game against Colton Lott (Winnipeg Beach). Team Lott never trailed in their 8-3 win over the 2020 champions.
William Lyburn won three Friday
In the fourth game, William Lyburn (Granite) never led in his game with Ryan Wiebe (Fort Rouge) until Team Lyburn stole a pair coming home to win 7-6.
At 9:00AM Saturday in Selkirk, on the “A” side of the Playoff Round, Lyburn will play Lott and Calvert will play McEwen. Winners of these two games will move on to the Page Playoff format Championship. In the last chance “B” side games, Gunnlaugson will play Wiebe and Gauthier will play Chambers.
Following are the Friday results in the 2022 Viterra Championship.
PLAYOFF ROUND – First Games (New Double Knockout)
7:45PM: William Lyburn (Granite) 7-6 over Ryan Wiebe (Fort Rouge) 7:45PM: Colton Lott (Winnipeg Beach) 8-3 over Jason Gunnlaugson (Morris) 7:45PM: Braden Calvert (Assiniboine Memorial) 9-5 over Jacques Gauthier (Assiniboine Memorial) 7:45PM: Mike McEwen (West St. Paul) vs Corey Chambers (Fort Garry)
“B” Side Qualifying Games (Winners advancing to the Friday evening playoff round – losers eliminated) 4:00PM: Jacques Gauthier (Assiniboine Memorial) 7-2 over Justin Richter (Beausejour) 4:00PM: William Lyburn (Granite) 7-6 over Riley Smith (Assiniboine Memorial)
4:00PM: Jason Gunnlaugson (Morris) 8-4 over JT Ryan (Assiniboine Memorial) 4:00PM: Corey Chambers (Fort Garry) 6-3 over Jordon McDonald (Deer Lodge)
“B” Side (Winners play on – Losers eliminated) 12:15PM: Justin Richter (Beausejour) 10-4 over Sean Grassie (Deer Lodge) 12:15PM: Corey Chambers (Fort Garry) 7-6 over Brett Walter (Assiniboine Memorial) 12:15PM: William Lyburn (Granite) 8-5 over Daniel Birchard (Pembina) 12:15PM: JT Ryan (Assiniboine Memorial) 9-4 over Jack Hykaway (Pembina)
“A” Side Qualifying Games (Winners advancing to the Friday evening playoff round – losers to “B” Qualifying Games) 8:30AM: Colton Lott (Winnipeg Beach) 7-5 over Riley Smith (Assiniboine Memorial) 8:30AM: Ryan Wiebe (Fort Rouge) 5-4 over Jason Gunnlaugson (Morris) 8:30AM: Mike McEwen (West St. Paul) 4-2 over Jacques Gauthier (Assiniboine Memorial) 8:30AM: Braden Calvert (Assiniboine Memorial) 7-1 over Jordon McDonald (Deer Lodge)
(CurlManitoba Release) VITERRA CHAMPIONSHIP NOW A FIELD OF SIXTEEN: An even dozen teams have been eliminated from the 2022 Viterra Championship in Selkirk, leaving 16 teams still in the chase for the Manitoba Men’s Curling Championship.
The first four qualifiers for the Playoff Round will be identified on the early morning draw Friday. The other 12 teams will play the 12:15PM and 4PM draws with four of them advancing as well.
There are still eight unbeaten teams, including all four of the top four seeds. They’ll meet in the Friday 8:30AM draw. The match-ups are:
#1 seed Mike McEwen (West St. Paul) vs Jacques Gauthier (Assiniboine Memorial) #2 seed Jason Gunnlaugson (Morris) vs Ryan Wiebe (Fort Rouge) #3 seed Colton Lott (Winnipeg Beach) vs Riley Smith (Assiniboine Memorial) #4 Braden Calvert (Assiniboine Memorial) vs Jordon McDonald (Deer Lodge
Two of the most dramatic games of the day involved William Lyburn and his Granite team. On the 12:15 draw, Riley Smith needed to win measures on the tenth end, for two to tie, and again on the eleventh, for a steal of one and a 7-6 victory over Lyburn. On the late draw, trailing 6-0 after three ends, Lyburn bounced back to tie Dean North (Carman) 7-7 coming home and stayed alive with a steal of two for a 9-7 win.
Following are the Thursday results in the 2022 Viterra Championship.
“A” Side (Winners advancing to the Friday morning qualifying game) 12:15PM: Jacques Gauthier (Assiniboine Memorial) 7-3 over Sean Grassie (Deer Lodge) 12:15PM: Jordon McDonald (Deer Lodge) 11-6 over Corey Chambers (Fort Garry) 12:15PM: Riley Smith (Assiniboine Memorial) 7-6 over William Lyburn (Granite) 12:15PM: Ryan Wiebe (Fort Rouge) 5-4 over JT Ryan (Assiniboine Memorial)
8:30AM: Mike McEwen (West St. Paul) 7-2 over Richard Muntain (Granite)
“B” Side (Winners play on – Losers eliminated) 8:15PM: Sean Grassie (Deer Lodge) 8-2 over Sam Antila (Burntwood 8:15PM: Corey Chambers (Fort Garry) 9-3 over Jeff Stewart (Gladstone) 8:15PM: William Lyburn (Granite) 9-7 over Dean North (Carman) 8:15PM: JT Ryan (Assiniboine Memorial) 8-1 over Randy Neufeld (LaSalle)
4:00PM: Jack Hykaway (Pembina) 7-4 over Grant Shewfelt (Baldur) 4:00PM: Daniel Birchard (Pembina) 10-9 over Ryan Thomson (Morden) 4:00PM: Brett Walter (Assiniboine Memorial) 8-1 over Graham Freeman (Virden) 4:00PM: Justin Richter (Beausejour) 11-2 over Richard Muntain (Granite)
8:30AM: Ryan Thomson (Morden) 9-2 over Kelly Marnoch (Carberry) 8:30AM: Graham Freeman (Virden) 11-4 over Graham Freeman (Virden) 8:30AM: Justin Richter (Beausejour) 9-6 over Kyle McCannell (Pilot Mound)
(Thursday, February 10: 3:30PM)DRAMATIC WINS FOR WIEBE & SMITH ON DRAW #6 IN SELKIRK: The noon draw at the 2022 Viterra Championship in Selkirk had four “A” side games so no eliminations but among the four a last shot victory and a dramatic extra end victory.
JT Ryan (Assiniboine Memorial) and Ryan Wiebe (Ft Rouge) were tied coming home in their match. Former Junior Champ JT Ryan made a fine last rock hit and roll to the button, buried. Ryan Wiebe won the game 5-4 with his last shot past the centre guard, a tap-back for victory.
Second victory for Ryan Wiebe (foreground)
On the sheet beside, Riley Smith (Assiniboine Memorial) stole an extra end on a measure to beat William Lyburn (Granite). Smith blanked the ninth with a big weight double kill then needed a measure for the tie 6-6 on end ten when his last draw slid deep into the 12 foot circle. On the extra end, Smith drew the back half of the four foot behind Lyburn’s stone. A rock in front of it meant Lyburn needed to gently move two stones but his draw-tap was light and Smith won his second measure and the game.
Jacques Gauthier (Assiniboine Memorial) was a 7-3 winner over Sean Grassie (Deer Lodge) and Jordon McDonald (Deer Lodge) beat former Grassie teammate Corey Chambers (Fort Garry) 11-6.
Top seed Mike McEwen and third Reid Carruthers look on as Richard Muntain calls line. Team McEwen won their opener Thursday morning
On the early draw Thursday, top seeded Mike McEwen and his West St. Paul team won their opening game of the 2022 Viterra Championship in Selkirk. With the first day bye thanks to their top seed position, Team McEwen played Richard Muntain (Granite) who had won their opener yesterday but didn’t mount a significant challenge. McEwen blanked the first two ends and took control of the game with two on the third enroute to a 7-2 win.
Three early “B” side games saw three teams eliminated. Kelly Marnoch (Carberry) bowed out in 9-2 loss to Ryan Thomson (Morden), Kyle McCannell (Pilot Mound) lost to 9-6 to Justin Richter (Beausejour), and Mark Lukowich (Ft Rouge) lost 11-4 to Graham Freeman (Virden).
(CurlManitoba Release) PAST CHAMPIONS LEAD THE WAY ON DAY ONE OF THE VITERRA CHAMPIONSHIP: Among the 28 teams who began play Wednesday in the Viterra Championship in Selkirk, there are no fewer than 13 skips who have won at least one previous Manitoba championship. Eleven skipped those earlier championship teams. Two won Manitoba championships at the third position.
Twelve of those former champions played on Day #1 of the Manitoba Men’s Championship and collectively posted a record of 9 wins and 5 losses.
On the late draw Wednesday, three of the top four seeds played their first games after the seeding by the competing teams gave them a first round bye.
Defending Manitoba champion and #2 seed Jason Gunnlaugson (Morris) opened his defense of the title with a 9-1, 6-end victory over Grant Shewfelt (Baldur)
Former Manitoba Mixed Doubles champion and #3 seed Colton Lott (Winnipeg Beach) jumped out to a 4-1 lead over Daniel Birchard (Pembina) at the 5th end break and went on to a 7-3 victory.
A first game win for Braden Calvert (foreground) while Brett Walter had a win and a loss on Day #1
Tied 3-3 after eight ends with clubmate Brett Walter, former World Junior champion and #4 seed Braden Calvert (Assiniboine Memorial) scored a deuce on the ninth end but Walter forced an extra end with two of his own coming home. With last rock, Calvert won the game 6-5. Walter, who is the reigning Manitoba Junior champion, had a win and a loss in his two games on opening day.
Top seeded Mike McEwen and his 2019 Manitoba Viterra Championship winning team will play their first game Thursday morning on the 8:30AM draw against Richard Muntain (Granite).
In the fourth late draw game, the first “B” side game; Jack Hykaway (Pembina) bested Evan Martin (Fort Rouge) by a 7-4 score. The second loss of the day for the Martin team, skipped by Travis Bale, means they are eliminated.
Throughout the first three draws of the day, reigning World Junior Champion Jacques Gauthier (who was a Manitoba Junior champion third but won the World Juniors after winning Canada as a Wild Card entry); Manitoba Junior Champions Brett Walter, JT Ryan and Riley Smith (also a Manitoba Junior champion third); U-18 Champion Jordon McDonald; and former Canadian Mixed champion (and World Mixed Doubles Bronze Medallist) Sean Grassie; all won their first games of the competition.
Former World Senior silver medallist Randy Neufeld and former Manitoba Men’s champion Mark Lukowich lost their first games. Former Manitoba Junior champion Travis Bale, skipping the Evan Martin entry, lost a pair of games.
Following are the results of the first three draws on the first day of play in the 2022 Viterra Championship.
4PM DRAW: Richard Muntain (Granite) 10-4 over Sam Antila (Burntwood) Sean Grassie (Deer Lodge) 7-4 over Justin Richter (Beausejour) Jordon McDonald (Deer Lodge) 7-5 over Graham Freeman (Virden) Jacques Gauthier (Assiniboine Memorial) 8-3 over Kyle McCannell (Pilot Mound)
12:15PM DRAW: Corey Chambers (Fort Garry) 8-3 over Mark Lukowich (Fort Rouge) Brett Walter (AMCC) 7-6 over Jeff Stewart (Gladstone). Riley Smith (AMCC) 8-3 over Ryan Thomson (Morden) William Lyburn (Granite) 6-5 over Kelly Marnoch (Carberry)
8:30AM DRAW Ryan Wiebe (Fort Rouge) 9-3 over Jack Hykaway (Pembina) JT Ryan (Assiniboine Memorial) 6-2 over Evan Martin (Fort Rouge) Daniel Birchard (Pembina) 8-3 over Dean North (Carman) William Lyburn (Granite) 6-5 over Kelly Marnoch (Carberry)
(February 9, 8PM)FIRST ROUND WIN EARNS MUNTAIN A DATE WITH MCEWEN: Richard Muntain and his Granite team opened play today in the 2022 Viterra Championship in Selkirk with a victory over Sam Antila and his Thompson team. The first round victory advances Muntain and his team to a Thursday morning game against top seed Mike McEwen (West St. Paul).
Richard Muntain (foreground) will play top seed Mike McEwen Thursday morning
Muntain will be hoping there is an advantage for him in the fact his team has now played a game on the Selkirk Curling Club ice while McEwen’s top seed position got his team bye and they’ll therefore be playing their first game.
Muntain will also be hoping the McEwen foursome’s practice schedules has been disrupted by last week’s coaching assignments at the national Scotties for both Reid Carruthers and Colin Hodgson.
He’ll know by 11AM Thursday!
A first round win for Jacques Gauthier (foreground)
In other games on Draw #3 at 4PM in Selkirk, a pair of Deer Lodge teams posted victories. Sean Grassie (Deer Lodge), a former Manitoba finalist, won 7-4 over Justin Richter (Beausejour) and Jordon McDonald (Der Lodge) beat Graham Freeman (Virden) 7-5.
In the fourth 4PM game, Jacques Gauthier (Assiniboine Memorial) defeated Kyle McCannell (Pilot Mound) 8-3. Due to pandemic cancellation, Gauthier is still the reigning world junior champion. It has rarely occurred that a world junior champion has held that title and next-level provincial title at the same time.
Mackenzie Zacharias accomplished the feat with her Manitoba Scotties win in Carberry in December. Gauthier has taken the first step along the difficult road to matching the accomplishment.
A first round win for Daniel Birchard (foreground)
(February 9, 5PM) VITERRA CHAMPIONSHIP UNDERWAY: FIRST GAME WINNERS ADVANCE TO PLAY TOP SEEDS: For the first time in almost a quarter of a century, the Manitoba Men’s Curling Championship is underway on curling club ice. The Viterra Championship, usually played in an arena and scheduled this year for the Selkirk Recreation Centre, was moved to the Selkirk Curling Club in a covid-related decision.
The last time curling rink ice was used was 1998 in Virden when teams played their first day games split between the curling rink and arena. In 1999, in Portage, all games in the event were played in that community’s arena.
After the first two draws of preliminary round play in the 2022 Viterra Championship, general assessment is that CurlManitoba Ice Technician Greg Ewasko and his crew of Matt Rankine, Dale Lott and club volunteers have been able to approximate arena conditions. The ice is keen with a predictable curl – all you need to determine a champion.
The first two draws went pretty much according to the form chart with only one game of eight which might be considered an upset. On the opening draw, former World Senior silver medallist Randy Neufeld and his LaSalle team were defeated 7-6 by Grant Shewfelt and his Baldur team. Tied coming home, Shewfelt had an open centre line hit for the victory.
Ryan Wiebe (Ft Rouge) jumped out to a 7-0 three end lead over Jack Hykaway (Pembina) and cruised to a 9-3 win. The Hykaway foursome, with Richard Hawkins throwing first and calling the game, will be back on the ice on the late draw Wednesday in their “B” side elimination game as they got the cruel spot in the draw which will eliminate one team on day one fo the competition.
Former provincial champion JT Ryan (Assiniboine Memorial) beat Evan Martin (Ft Rouge) 6-2 and Daniel Birchard beat Dean North (Carman) 8-3. The Martin drops in that evening draw elimination game against Hykaway.
A first round win for Corey Chambers (foreground)
On the noon draw, Corey Chambers (Ft Garry) Brett Walter (AMCC), Riley Smith (AMCC), and William Lyburn (Granite) were first game winners.
Chambers posted an 8-3 win over former Manitoba Men’s champion Mark Lukowich (Ft Rouge). Walter was a 7-6 victor over Jeff Stewart (Gladstone). Smith beat Ryan Thomson (Morden) 8-3.
In their first game playing together Lyburn and his new third Scott McDonald were tied 5-5 coming home and didn’t need their last rock in beating Kelly Marnoch (Carberry) 6-5. The game was the kind of close affair which Lyburn would have wanted for the first playing with McDonald. They scored a deuce on the third end and played with a one or two point lead for the entire game, until Marnoch’s deuce on the ninth tied the game and gave Lyburn last rock coming home.
The early results set up 8:15PM Wednesday “A” side games against the top seeds. Grant Shewfelt (Baldur) will play #2 seed Jason Gunnlaugson (Morris), Daniel Birchard (Pembina) will play Colton Lott (Winnipeg Beach), and Brett Walter (Assiniboine Memorial) will play #4 Braden Calvert (Assiniboine Memorial). Top seeded Mike McEwen (West St. Paul) will play his first game at 8:30AM Thursday against the winner of the 4PM game between Sam Antila (Burntwood) and Richard Muntain (Granite).
(Tuesday, February 8)DRAW SET FOR VITERRA CHAMPIONSHIP, MCEWEN TOP SEED: The draw has been published for the Viterra Championship, the Manitoba Men’s Curling Championship which gets underway Wednesday (Feb 9) in the Selkirk Curling Club. (Check the complete draw at curlmanitoba.org)
The draw format is identical to recent past years – double knockout preliminary round; 8-team double knockout playoff round; 4-team Page Playoff championship round. Because the event is being played with 28 teams rather than the usual 32, the top four seeds will all get a first round bye and will play their opening games at 8:15PM Wednesday against teams who win their openers earlier in the day.
The top four seeds are skipped by Mike McEwen (West St. Paul), Jason Gunnlaugson (Morris), Tanner Lott (Winnipeg Beach), and Braden Calvert (Assiniboine Memorial).
The match-ups on the first three draws Wednesday follow.
8:30AM: Randy Neufeld (LaSalle) vs Grant Shewfelt (Baldur) 8:30AM: Jack Hykaway (Pembina) vs Ryan Wiebe (Fort Rouge) 8:30AM: JT Ryan (Assiniboine Memorial) vs Evan Martin (Fort Rouge) 8:30AM: Dean North (Carman) vs Daniel Birchard (Pembina)
12:15PM: Riley Smith (Assiniboine Memorial) vs Ryan Thomson (Morden) 12:15PM: Jeff Stewart (Gladstone) vs Brett Walter (Assiniboine Memorial) 12:15PM: William Lyburn (Granite) vs Kelly Marnoch (Carberry) 12:15PM: Mark Lukowich (Fort Rouge) vs Corey Chambers (Fort Garry)
4:00PM: Jordon McDonald (Deer Lodge) vs Graham Freeman (Virden) 4:00PM: Sam Antila (Burntwood) vs Richard Muntain (Granite) 4:00PM: Kyle McCannell (Pilot Mound) vs Jacques Gauthier (Assiniboine Memorial) 4:00PM: Sean Grassie (Deer Lodge) vs Justin Richter (Beausejour)
8:15PM: #2 Jason Gunnlaugson (Morris) vs Winner (Shewfelt-Neufeld) 8:15PM: #3 Tanner Lott (Winnipeg Beach) vs Winner (North-Birchard) 8:15PM: #4 Braden Calvert (Assiniboine Memorial) vs Winner (Stewart-Walter)
THURSDAY: 8:30AM: #1 Mike McEwen (West St. Paul) vs Winner (Antila-Muntain)
A limited number of spectators will be allowed in the upstairs clubrooms of the Selkirk Curling Club. Tickets can be purchased via the CurlManitoba website at https://curlmanitoba.org/viterra-championship/ . Spectators will be required to leave the building between draws. All spectators are expected to be fully vaccinated and to follow all health protocols requested by the Selkirk Curling Club, including the wearing of masks.
(Sunday, 10PM, February 6) Kerri Einarson, Val Sweeting, Shannon Birchard and Brianne Meilleur won a pair of playoff games Sunday in Thunder Bay to win the Scotties Tournament of Heart. It is the third consecutive national championship for the Einarson team from Gimli – a record held by Jennifer Jones and Vera Pezer and surpassed only by Colleen Jones and her four consecutive.
Three-time Scotties champions (l-r) Kerri Einarson, Val Sweeting, Shannon Birchard, Briane Meilleur – Photo: Curling Canada/Andrew Kalver
Team Canada enjoyed mid-game break leads in both games; 4-2 over Andrea Crawford (New Brunswick) in the semi-final and 6-2 over Krista McCarville (Northern Ontario) in the final.
They controlled the semi-final through the second half in an 8-4 victory. The final was different, however. The hometown team fought back to trail 7-6 playing the 8th end and forced Einarson to a single on the ninth. Trailing 8-6, McCarville missed her ‘slim chance’ runback attempt with her last rock to give Team Canada another steal and the 9-6 ‘three-peat’ win.
The entire Team Canada line-up earned first all-start team honours at the championship. Selena Njegovan, who came into the event as a third but skipped the first seven Team Fleury games, was the second all-star team skip!
(Saturday, 10PM, February 5) MCCARVILLE IN FINAL; EINARSON-CRAWFORD SEMI-FINAL: Kerri Einarson’s Team Canada eliminated Manitoba-Wild Card Tracy Fleury and Krista McCarville (Northern Ontario) advanced to the final with a win over Andrea Crawford (New Brunswick) – both with come-back wins Saturday.
Team Einarson: Photo-Curling Canada/Andrew Klaver
In the afternoon Page 3-4 game, Einarson trailed 5-4 at the fifth end break but took control with a four on the sixth end, then stole two on the seventh to lead 10-5 in an 11-6 win over Team Fleury.
McCarville trailed Crawford 7-3 after seven ends but scored three on the eighth and two more coming home to force an extra end. The home town team stole one on the extra to advance to the Sunday 6PM (CST) final game.
Crawford drops to the semi-final against Einarson. That game goes at 11AM (CST).
(Friday, 10PM, February 4) BAD DAY FRIDAY FOR MANTIOBA’S SCOTTIES TEAMS: Kerri Einarson’s Team Canada (Gimli) and Tracy Fleury’s Manitoba Wild Card Team (East St. Paul) will meet Saturday in a Page Playoff game in the Scotties Tournament of Hearts in Thunder Bay – but not the game most would have predicted.
Team Zacharias: Photo-Curling Canada/Andrew Klaver
Both had earned playoff round byes and played Friday evening with a chance to advance to the top side of the Page Playoff draw – the game with two chances to reach the Sunday final.
Neither was able to win their game. Fleury and her team were blasted 8-3 by Northern Ontario’s Krista McCarville team. Einarson fell behind 4–0 early and fought back to tie but had trouble scoring again as they trailed Andrea Crawford’s New Brunswick foursome 7-4 playing the ninth. They scored two on end nine and forced Crawford to a last rock draw coming home but saw her hit the four foot for victory.
Crawford and McCarville will meet in the Page Playoff 1-2 game while Fleury and Einarson will meet in the Page 3-4 elimination game.
Earlier in the day, Mackenzie Zacharias’ Team Manitoba (Altona) had lost their tiebreaker 8-6 to Kerry Galusha (NWT). Galusha then lost by the same score to McCarville. Crawford advanced to her game with Einarson by defeating Christa Black (NS) 11-8 in the first playoff game.
The Einarson-Fleury game is set for 1PM (CST) Saturday while the McCarville-Crawford game goes at 6PM
(Thursday, 10PM, February 3) EINARSON UNDEFEATED, ZACHARIAS IN TIEBREAKER: Mackenzie Zacharias did what they had to do to survive Thursday. They won one of their two games, and 10-7 win over Alberta, and ended with a 5W-3L record. The last game, however, was the one that got away. They scored a five on Kerri Einarson and Team Canada. However, they could not hold the lead – giving up five points over the next three ends and five more over ends 7 to 10. The final 10-7 Einarson win gave Team Canada a perfect 8W-0L record.
Zacharias finished with a 5W-3L record, tied with Christina Black (Nova Scotia) and Kerry Galusha (Northwest Territories). Nova Scotia earns second place thanks to round robin wins over both Manitoba and Northwest Territories. Zacharias and Galusha will meet in a tiebreaker on Friday morning.
EINARSON VS Manitoba: Win 10-7 EINARSON VS NWT: Win 8-5 EINARSON VS Yukon: WIN 6-4 EINARSON VS BC: WIN 10-5 EINARSON VS Alberta: WIN 10-5 EINARSON VS Quebec: WIN 8-5 EINARSON VS Nova Scotia: WIN 6-3 EINARSON VS Ontario: WIN 12-5
ZACHARIAS VS Canada: LOSS 10-7 ZACHARIAS VS Alberta: WIN 10-7 ZACHARIAS VS Quebec: WIN 4-3 ZACHARIAS VS Nova Scotia: LOSS 7-6 ZACHARIAS VS NWT: LOSS 8-6 ZACHARIAS VS Ontario: WIN 8-7 ZACHARIAS VS Yukon: WIN 12-3 ZACHARIAS VS British Columbia: WIN 6-5
FINAL ROUND-ROBIN STANDINGS: 8-0: Team Canada (Einarson) 5-3: Team Nova Scotia (Black) 5-3: Team Northwest Territories (Galusha) 5-3: Team Manitoba (Zacharias) 4-4: Ontario (Duncan) 3-5: Team Alberta (Walker) 3-5: Team Quebec (St-Georges) 3-5 British Columbia (Arsenault) 0-8: Yukon (Birnie)
(Thursday, 6PM, February 3) ABSOLUTELY FLEURY SHOULD PLAY – AND SHE DID, VERY WELL: There was a social media debate Thursday. Tracy Fleury was out of Covid protocol and ready to play. But should she – they asked. Or should she let Selena Njegovan continue to throw last – they asked.
She played and threw last – and even if they had lost, that was absolutely the right decision. First, the game was not critical as they had already confirmed a playoff berth. Obviously the win was important but they could play on if they lost. And second, it was logical to give Tracy the full chance to test herself. If there were unidentified implications of the several days off – better to learn them today so an informed decision could be made for tomorrow’s game.
So she played – and shot 85%, outscoring Krista McCarville by a fully 20 percentage points.
They’ll go into the Friday playoff round as the top team in the pool so they earn a bye to the 6PM draw, awaiting the winner between McCarville (Northern Ontario) and Christina Black (Nova Scotia).
Team Fleury finished with a 7W-1L record while Andrea a (New Brunswick) finished 6W-2L and McCarville finished third in the group with a 5W-3L record.
FLEURY VS Northern Ontario: WIN 8-6 FLEURY/NJEGOVAN VS Nunavut: WIN 8-2 FLEURY/NJEGOVAN VS Nfld-Labrador: WIN 8-3 FLEURY/NJEGOVAN VS Wild Card-Saskatchewan: WIN 9-4 FLEURY/NJEGOVAN VS Wild Card-Ontario: WIN 11-9 FLEURY/NJEGOVAN VS Prince Edward Island: WIN 9-1 FLEURY/NJEGOVAN VS Saskatchewan: WIN 9-7 FLEURY/NJEGOVAN VS New Brunswick: LOSS 6-5
FINAL ROUND-ROBIN STANDINGS: 7-1: Wild Card-Manitoba (Fleury/Njegovan) 6-2: Team New Brunswick (Crawford) 5-3: Northern Ontario (McCarville) 4-3: Saskatchewan (Barker) 4-4: Wild Card-Ontario (Homan/Miskew) 4-4: Wild Card – Saskatchewan (Carey) 4-4: Prince Edward Island (Birt) 2-6: Newfoundland-Labrador (Hill) 0-8: Nunavut (MacPhail)
(Wednesday 9PM, February 2) EINARSON, FLEURY WILL ADVANCE, ZACHARIAS MUST WIN THURSDAY: Kerri Einarson’s Team Canada and the Selena Njegovan skipped Tracy Fleury Team Wild Card have, with games to play Thursday, already assured themselves of advancing to the next round at the national Scotties Tournament of Hearts in Thunder Bay. Mackenzie Zacharias and Team Manitoba won their only game Wednesday to stay firmly in the chase for one of the three spots to advance from their pool.
Team Fleury/Njegovan: Photo Curling Canada/Andrew Klaver
The Manitoba Wild Card team of Tracy Fleury won a pair of games on Wednesday to improve to 6W-1L. That record assures them of advancing to the next round with a game to play on the afternoon draw Thursday against Northern Ontario. New Brunswick’s Andrea Crawford is also assured of advancing, also with a 6W-1L record. Northern Ontario’s Krista McCarville is at 5W-2L and can grab the third ‘next round’ berth with a win over Team Fleury. If Fleury/Njegovan win, then Saskatchewan can also improve to 5W-2L by beating the Emma Miskew-skipped Ontario Wild Card team.
FLEURY/NJEGOVAN VS Nunavut: WIN 8-2 FLEURY/NJEGOVAN VS Nfld-Labrador: WIN 8-3 FLEURY/NJEGOVAN VS Wild Card-Saskatchewan: WIN 9-4 FLEURY/NJEGOVAN VS Wild Card-Ontario: WIN 11-9 FLEURY/NJEGOVAN VS Prince Edward Island: WIN 9-1 FLEURY/NJEGOVAN VS Saskatchewan: WIN 9-7 FLEURY/NJEGOVAN VS New Brunswick: LOSS 6-5
STANDINGS AFTER WEDNESDAY: 6-1: Team New Brunswick (Crawford) 6-1: Wild Card-Manitoba (Fleury/Njegovan) 5-2: Northern Ontario (McCarville) 4-3: Saskatchewan (Barker) 3-4: Wild Card-Ontario (Homan/Miskew) 3-4: Wild Card – Saskatchewan (Carey) 3-4: Prince Edward Island (Birt) 2-5: Newfoundland-Labrador (Hill) 0-8: Nunavut (MacPhail)
Team Canada is still perfect at 7W-0L following an 8-5 win over Northwest Territories (Kerry Galusha) in their only game of the day Wednesday. She ends the round robin, assured of advancing, with one game Thursday. That game will be on the evening draw – against Mackenzie Zacharias and Team Manitoba.
A win Wednesday, 4-3 in an extra end over Quebec, kept Team Manitoba’s hopes very much alive. However, Zacharias faces a very tough day Thursday. On the early draw, they play Alberta’s Laura Walker team and then finish the preliminary round with the game against Team Einarson. With a record of 4W-2L, Zacharias and her Altona team need at least one win, and may need to win both, to have advance.
EINARSON VS NWT: Win 8-5 EINARSON VS Yukon: WIN 6-4 EINARSON VS BC: WIN 10-5 EINARSON VS Alberta: WIN 10-5 EINARSON VS Quebec: WIN 8-5 EINARSON VS Nova Scotia: WIN 6-3 EINARSON VS Ontario: WIN 12-5
ZACHARIAS VS Quebec: WIN 4-3 ZACHARIAS VS Nova Scotia: LOSS 7-6 ZACHARIAS VS NWT: LOSS 8-6 ZACHARIAS VS Ontario: WIN 8-7 ZACHARIAS VS Yukon: WIN 12-3 ZACHARIAS VS British Columbia: WIN 6-5
STANDINGS AFTER WEDNESDAY: 7-0: Team Canada (Einarson) 4-2: Team Northwest Territories (Galusha) 4-2: Team Manitoba (Zacharias) 4-2: Team Nova Scotia (Black) 3-3: Team Alberta (Walker) 3-4: Ontario (Duncan) 2-4: Team Quebec (St-Georges) 1-5 British Columbia (Arsenault) 0-6: Yukon (Birnie)
(Tuesday 10PM, February 1)TOUGH TUESDAY FOR ZACHARIAS; EINARSON STILL PERFECT Mackenzie Zacharias and her Team Manitoba had a tough day Tuesday at the Scotties Tournament of Hearts. A pair of losses has dropped their record to 3W-2L. In both games, Team Zacharias mounted strong comebacks but were unable to overcome early deficits. On the morning draw, they trailed Kerry Galusha (NWT) by 4 after two ends and 7-2 after six but fought back to trail 8-6 loss coming home. On the evening draw Christina Black (NS), they again trailed by 4 after two ends and 6-2 after six but fought back to trail 7-5 coming home.
Kerri Einarson and her Team Canada won a pair of games Tuesday to improve their perfect record to 6W-0L with two games to play. On the morning draw, a four on the third end was the base for a 10-5 win over Mary Anne Arsenault (BC) They opened the evening draw against Hailey Birnie (Yukon) with a 4 ender and went on to a 6-4 victory.
EINARSON VS Yukon: WIN 6-4 EINARSON VS BC: WIN 10-5 EINARSON VS Alberta: WIN 10-5 EINARSON VS Quebec: WIN 8-5 EINARSON VS Nova Scotia: WIN 6-3 EINARSON VS Ontario: WIN 12-5
ZACHARIAS VS Nova Scotia: LOSS 7-6 ZACHARIAS VS NWT: LOSS 8-6 ZACHARIAS VS Ontario: WIN 8-7 ZACHARIAS VS Yukon: WIN 12-3 ZACHARIAS VS British Columbia: WIN 6-5
STANDINGS AFTER TUESDAY:
6-0: Team Canada (Einarson) 4-1: Team Northwest Territories (Galusha) 3-2: Team Manitoba (Zacharias) 3-2: Team Nova Scotia (Black) 3-2: Team Alberta (Walker) 2-3: Team Quebec (St-Georges) 2-4: Ontario (Duncan) 1-5 British Columbia (Arsenault) 0-5: Yukon (Birnie)
Meanwhile, Selena Njegovan continues to skip Team Fleury and continues to lead them to victory. Tuesday’s one game was against the Saskatchewan Wild Card entry skipped by Chelsea Carey. They improved to a 4W-1L record with a 9-4 win, although the somewhat unflattering score for Carey included a stolen three coming home when Carey had to ‘go for it’ but simply had no shot with her final stone of the game. Team Fleury plays two games Wednesday, against Nfld-Labrador and Nunavut.
FLEURY/NJEGOVAN VS Wild Card-Saskatchewan: WIN 9-4 FLEURY/NJEGOVAN VS Wild Card-Ontario: WIN 11-9 FLEURY/NJEGOVAN VS Prince Edward Island: WIN 9-1 FLEURY/NJEGOVAN VS Saskatchewan: WIN 9-7 FLEURY/NJEGOVAN VS New Brunswick: LOSS 6-5
STANDINGS AFTER TUESDAY:
5-0: Team New Brunswick (Crawford) 4-1: Wild Card-Manitoba (Fleury/Njegovan) 3-2: Northern Ontario (McCarville) 3-2: Saskatchewan (Barker) 3-3: Wild Card-Ontario (Homan/Miskew) 2-3: Wild Card – Saskatchewan (Carey) 2-3: Newfoundland-Labrador (Hill) 2-4: Prince Edward Island (Birt) 0-6: Nunavut (MacPhail)
(Monday 5PM, January 31)A PERFECT MANITOBA MONDAY AT THE SCOTTIES: Manitoba’s three team won their only games of the day on the first two draws Monday – in three distinctly different manners. In their pool, Kerri Einarson’s Team Canada dominated Alberta’s Laura Walker, scoring two three’s and two deuces in an 8-end victory, while Mackenzie Zacharias and Team Manitoba gave up a three point lead and had to go an extra end in beating Ontario’s Hollie Duncan. The two lead the way in their pool: Team Canada is perfect at 4W-0L while Team Manitoba has already had their bye and are also perfect at 3W-0L.
EINARSON VS Alberta: WIN 10-5 EINARSON VS Quebec: WIN 8-5 EINARSON VS Nova Scotia: WIN 6-3 EINARSON VS Ontario: WIN 12-5
ZACHARIAS VS Ontario: WIN 8-7 ZACHARIAS VS Yukon: WIN 12-3 ZACHARIAS VS British Columbia: WIN 6-5
Both teams will play two games Tuesday. Current standings:
4-0: Team Canada (Einarson) 3-0: Team Manitoba (Zacharias) 2-1: Team Nova Scotia (Black) 2-1: Team Northwest Territories (Galusha) 2-2: Team Quebec (St-Georges) 2-2: Team Alberta (Walker) 1-3 British Columbia (Arsenault) 0-3: Yukon (Birnie) 0-4: Ontario (Duncan)
In the other pool Selena Njegovan is proving her ability to move back to the tee, if/when the future time comes when that becomes necessary. After the close (6-5 loss) opening draw loss to still undefeated Andrea Crawford and her Nova Scotia team, Njegovan has skipped the Tracy Fleury team to three consecutive victories with their bye on Monday evening.
FLEURY/NJEGOVAN VS Wild Card-Ontario: WIN 11-9 FLEURY/NJEGOVAN VS Prince Edward Island: WIN 9-1 FLEURY/NJEGOVAN VS Saskatchewan: WIN 9-7 FLEURY/NJEGOVAN VS New Brunswick: LOSS 6-5
The Njegovan led Fleury team has one game Tuesday. Group standings:
4-0: Team New Brunswick (Crawford) 3-1: Wild Card-Manitoba (Fleury/Njegovan) 2-1: Northern Ontario (McCarville) 2-1: Saskatchewan (Barker) 2-2: Wild Card-Ontario (Homan/Miskew) 1-2: Wild Card – Saskatchewan (Carey) 1-2: Newfoundland-Labrador (Hill) 1-3: Prince Edward Island (Birt) 0-4: Nunavut (MacPhail)
(Sunday 10PM, January 30)STRONG SCOTTIES START FOR MANITOBA’S TEAMS: The three Manitoba teams had a strong opening weekend at the Scotties Tournament of Hearts in Thunder Bay.
Playing in the same pool, Kerri Einarson’s Team Canada has marked up three wins to lead the way. Mackenzie Zacharias and her Team Manitoba had their bye on the opening weekend but won the two games they played.
EINARSON VS Quebec: WIN 8-5 EINARSON VS Nova Scotia: WIN 6-3 EINARSON VS Ontario: WIN 12-5
ZACHARIAS VS Yukon: WIN 12-3 ZACHARIAS VS British Columbia: WIN 6-5
As a result of opening weekend play, the two Manitoba teams top the standings in their pool.
3-0: Team Canada (Einarson) 2-0: Team Manitoba (Zacharias) 2-1: Team Nova Scotia (Black) 2-1: Team Quebec (St-Georges) 2-1: Team Alberta (Walker) 1-1: Team Northwest Territories (Galusha) 0-2: Yukon (Birnie) 0-3 British Columbia (Arsenault) 0-3: Ontario (Duncan)
In the other pool, the Wild Card Manitoba entry of Tracy Fleury has an impressive 2W-1L start. After losing their opener to New Brunswick, who are the only unbeaten team in the group after three games, the East St. Paul team won two games on Sunday. Selena Njegovan has had to skip the team with Fleury being in covid-protocol isolation after a positive test result.
FLEURY/NJEGOVAN VS Prince Edward Island: WIN 9-1 FLEURY/NJEGOVAN VS Saskatchewan: WIN 9-7 FLEURY/NJEGOVAN VS New Brunswick: LOSS 6-5
The two Team Fleury wins have them squarely in the top half of the pool standings after the opening weekend.
3-0: Team New Brunswick (Crawford) 2-1: Wild Card-Manitoba (Fleury/Njegovan) 2-1: Wild Card-Ontario (Homan/Miskew) 2-1: Northern Ontario (McCarville) 1-1: Saskatchewan (Barker) 1-1: Wild Card – Saskatchewan (Carey) 1-1 Prince Edward Island (Birt) 0-2: Newfoundland-Labrador (Hill) 0-3: Nunavut (MacPhail)
(February 2, 2022) The Manitoba Curling Hall of Fame has announced a 2022 Inductee class which includes a Builder, two Curlers, four teams, and two additions to the Olympic Curler category.
Builder: Judy Brown served as Manitoba Ladies Curling Association President in 1990-91. She was elected to the MLCA Board in 1984 and she was part of a progressive leadership who, among other things began the discussions about amalgamation of the MLCA and MCA and also encouraged a study of thinking-time timing a couple of decades before it became reality in championship curling. During her term as President, she was a member of the Board of Directors of the 1991 Winnipeg World Championship Committee and she ended her provincial volunteer career with six years on the Board, including two as President, of the Manitoba Curling Foundation. Judy Brown is the 21st Woman recognized as a Builder in the Manitoba Curling Hall of Fame.
On the eve of the 2022 Olympics, two Manitoba-born champions are added this year to the Manitoba Curling Hall of Fame Olympic Curler category. This category recognizes Manitobans with a strong Manitoba curling resume and an Olympic accomplishment with a team outside Manitoba.
Ryan Fry
Olympic Curler: Ryan Fry is a two-time Manitoba Junior champion skip and a Manitoba men’s champion third for Jeff Stoughton in 2007. Ryan’s curling legend continues to grow but he is already one of the most accomplished of Manitoba born curlers after success with Brad Gushue and Brad Jacobs. Specifically, of course, that includes the 2014 Olympic Gold Medal won with Team Brad Jacobs at Sochi.
Curling Canada Archival Photo: Carolyn Darbyshire
Olympic Curler: Carolyn Darbyshire – is actually the first former Manitoba champion to earn a medal at the Olympics. She was a member of the 1985 Manitoba Scott Tournament of Hearts champion team skipped by her mother Merline. A remarkable 25 years later, she played second on the silver medal-winning team skipped by Cheryl Bernard.
In the normal course of things, the Manitoba Curling Hall of Fame honours teams and it honours individuals. In general, individual curlers are recognized for their career accomplishments – and generally that means both longevity and a high level of success with several teams. Sometimes one or more of those teams might already have been recognized – and such is the case with our two curler inductees today.
Team-mates on the 1995 Kerry Burtnyk world-champion team, which is already in the Manitoba Curling and Manitoba Sports Hall of Fame, Keith Fenton and Jeff Ryan in fact curled together in winning an MCA Bonspiel Grand Aggregate in 1981.
Keith Fenton
Curler: Keith Fenton, between 1977 and 2011, competed in 23 Manitoba championships at the Junior (2), Men’s (18), Senior Men’s (1), and Mixed (2) levels. He is a one of a very small number of curlers who played with the Stoughton, Peters and Burtnyk at men’s provincial championships. He won the MCA Bonspiel Grand Aggregate four times – in 1981 with Jeff Ryan, and with Burtnyk in 1997, 1998 and 2001.
Jeff Ryan
Curler: Jeff Ryan won his first championship with Mark Olson when they won the 1976 Junior Men’s Bonspiel. In addition to the MCA ‘Spiel Grand Aggregate he won with his own team in 1981, he won five with two different Burtnyk teams – in 1985 and 1986 and then again, the three he shares with Keith Fenton and Rob Meakin – in 1997, 1998 and 2001.
Their greatest frustration was no doubt 2001 when they won Manitoba but lost both the Brier final and the Olympic Trials final. The highlight year was 1995 when Keith Fenton and Jeff Ryan, with Burtnyk and Meakin, won Manitoba, the Brier and the World Championship – the only Manitoba team to win a world title at home in Manitoba!
The 2022 induction class also includes four teams – the 2 senior men’s teams and 2 Master’s men’s teams who won all four of the Canadian championships available in 2001 and 2002….and in fact both teams in 2001 had one player in common – a rare accomplishment for Winston Warren to win two buffalos in the same year.
(l-r) Gary Ross, Winston Warren, Garry Smith, Ken Orr
2001 Canadian Senior Men’s Champion Team:: Winston was the third on the team skipped by Gary Ross and including Gary Smith and Ken Orr. 2001 was their second season competing together as a team. At the 2000 Manitoba Seniors, they had reached the playoffs but finished with a 5W – 3L record. The next year they won Manitoba with a 7W – 2L record. At the Canadian Seniors, where Gary Ross was named second team all-star skip, they had a 10W – 3L record and won the championship. For Gary Ross and Ken Orr it was the first, and only, provincial championship of their careers. For Gary Smith, it was a second senior title in a career which saw him later add three Masters titles. For Winston Warren, it was the first of two championships won in the same season – he has a total of seven Manitoba championships in Mixed, Men’s, Senior’s and Masters’ competition. Gary Ross, Garry Smith and Winston Warren have all been previously inducted into the Manitoba Curling Hall of Fame in individual categories. This is a posthumous induction for Garry Smith.
(l-r) Barry Coleman, Winston Warren, Don Duguid, Barry Fry
2001 Canadian Masters Champion Team: Winston Warren’s second championship that season came at second for Barry Fry and Don Duguid with Barry Coleman at lead. They were undefeated with a 9W – 0L record at provincials and went on to win the Canadian title with a 6W – 2L record. With individual and team honours, this is the fourth induction into the Manitoba Curling Hall of Fame for both Barry Fry and Don Duguid- and as previously mentioned, this is the second in the same day and third total for Winston Warren. It is a posthumous induction for Barry Fry.
There are not many occasions when a Canadian Championship title has been defended by a completely different team – but it happened twice in 2002.
(l-r) Carl German, Ray Fillion, Ray McDougall, Brian Copeland
2002 Canadian Senior Men’s Champion Team: The first Canadian championship banner to hang in the East St. Paul curling club was won by Carl German’s team in 2002. Carl German and Ray Fillion were all-star skip and third respectively and they were joined by Ray McDougall and Brian Copeland in posting an 11W-2L record to give Manitoba a repeat Canadian Senior Men’s Championship. That year, the WCF started a World Senior championship – but Carl was ineligible to compete in that inaugural Worlds event in Bismarck, ND due to differing age standards for Senior competition at the Canadian and World levels. Ron Westcott joined the team and led them to a 4W – 2L round-robin record. They won a playoff game but lost the final. Their silver medal is the first Senior Worlds medal won by a Manitoba team and Ron Westcott is included with the four members of the Carl German team in this induction.
(l-r) Ken grove, John Usackis, Bob Lesko, Richard Schroeder
2002 Canadian Masters Champion Team: Also a five-man team -Ken Grove, John Usackis, Bob Lesko, and Richard Schroeder won the 2002 Canadian Master’s Championship with a 7W-2L record. In this case, Ken Grove was the fill-in. Orest Meleschuk had skipped the team to the Manitoba championship with an 8W-1L record but due to a health situation, Orest was unable to compete at the national event. They recruited Ken Grove who had won the 2000 Manitoba Senior Men’s championship. Orest Meleschuk and John Usackis are both previous Manitoba Curling Hall of Fame inductees. It is a posthumous induction for both Ken Grove and Bob Lesko, for whom it is a first induction.
(Manitoba Curling Hall of Fame & Museum Release – February 2) Planning is underway for the first Manitoba Curling Hall of Fame Induction and Fund-raising Dinner to take place in three years. The event will take place on Saturday, May 14, 2022 at Canad Inns Destination Centre Polo Park.
Having missed both the 2020 and 2021 annual Induction Dinners due to the pandemic, Manitoba Curling Hall of Fame & Museum (MCHoF&M) President Peter Nicholls says the Board and volunteers are optimistic the current Omicron surge will be sufficiently in decline by May 14 to allow a celebration party to occur.
“We are planning for an induction event which will excite the interest of Manitoba curling fans of several generations,” Nicholls says. “We are making adjustments to our traditional event to help change what has always been a celebration into a party as well.”
“The biggest change is a move to Saturday from Sunday evening, which has been traditional,” says Dinner Chair Sharon Thiessen-Woods, who acknowledges the significant support which has been received from the Canad Inns organization in scheduling and re-scheduling over the past three years.
“The pandemic has obviously impacted host venues like Canad Inns Destination Centre Polo Park in a major way and we very much appreciate the effort they have made in helping us plan for a gala event on May 14 this year,” says Thiessen-Woods.
The move to Saturday evening will allow guests to stay a little later after the induction ceremony to visit with old friends and congratulate the inductees. To allow for the visiting, a post-Induction social is being planned and Canad Inns Destination Centre Polo Park will be holding a block of rooms for Manitoba Curling Hall of Fame inductees and other dinner attendees. Call the hotel direct (204-775-5091) to reserve a room.
The MCHoF&M will require that all guests at the event be fully vaccinated and will work with Canad Inns staff to ensure that full attention will be paid to the implementation of all necessary health protocols.
Banquet details, including pricing, are currently being finalized. Send inquiries c/o mbcurlmuseum@gmail.com OR info@curlmanitoba.org.
The expanded dinner program will include the twice-deferred induction of the 2020 honourees and the new slate of 2022 honourees as well as recognition of the five historically significant teams inducted in 2021.
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