Monthly Archives: November 2022

MANITOBA’S COLWELL TEAM WINS TWO TO JUMP UP MASTERS STANDINGS

Posted on by
Reply

Manitoba’s Judy Colwell team and Nova Scotia’s Jocelyn Nix team both won a pair of games Thursday to move up the standings board in the championship round of the Canadian Masters Women’s Championship at the Pembina Curling Club.

The Team Manitoba wins came over Alberta (7-4) and Saskatchewan (10-2) while Nova Scotia beat the Manitoba Host team (6-3) and Ontario (6-4).

A win and a loss on the day by British Columbia, Ontario and Alberta creates a three-way first place tie with BC, Ontario, and Nova Scotia all holding 6W-1L records. Right behind at 5W-2L are Manitoba and Alberta.

With two games to play Friday, the final four to advance to the Saturday semifinals are still very much in question with Ontario having the toughest draw featuring two games against teams in contention. Alberta, BC, Nova Scotia and Manitoba have only one game Friday against teams in the top five.

** Ontario will play BC (6W-1L) & Manitoba (5W-2L)
** BC will play Ontario (6W-1L) & the Manitoba Host team (2W-5L)
** Manitoba will play the Manitoba Host team (2W-5L) & Ontario (6W-1L)
** Nova Scotia will play Alberta (5W-2L) & Saskatchewan (2W-5L)
** Alberta will play Nova Scotia (6W-1L) & Quebec (3W-4L)

WOMEN STANDINGS AFTER 2 CHAMPIONSHIP ROUNDS:
6-1 British Columbia
6-1 Ontario
6-1 Nova Scotia
5-2 Manitoba
5-2 Alberta
3-4 Quebec
2-5 Saskatchewan
2-5 Manitoba Host

As the second men’s championship round game of the day went on the ice for the late draw Thursday, Northern Ontario’s Al Hackner was the only undefeated team left in the double championship event. Six teams, including both Murray Warren’s Team Manitoba and Mark Franklin’s Manitoba Host team still were well positioned to advance to the Saturday playoffs.

MEN STANDINGS AFTER 1 CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND:
7-0 Northern Ontario
6-1 British Columbia
5-2 Manitoba
5-2 Saskatchewan
5-2 Ontario
4-3 Manitoba Host
3-4 New Brunswick
2-5 Nova Scotia

FRANKLIN OVER WARREN IN MANITOBA MASTERS FACE-OFF AT NATIONALS

Posted on by
Reply

The two Manitoba Men’s teams competing in the Canadian Masters Championship at the Pembina Curling Club met in today’s opening game of the championship round. A re-match of last spring’s provincial final, this time Mark Franklin’s Manitoba host team was an extra end winner over the Manitoba champion team skipped by Murray Warren.

The 4-3 win came on a ninth end last shot hit by skip Mark Franklin. On the eighth end, Warren had tied the game with a last shot hack weight bump to remove a mostly buried Franklin stone in the four foot circle.

On the seventh, Warren had made a perfect freeze in the four foot facing three to force Franklin to a single and a 3-2 lead.

The win improves the Manitoba host (Franklin) record to 4W-3L while Warren in now 5W-2L.

Northern Ontario’s Al Hackner, with a win over Nova Scotia, remained undefeated (7W-0L). British Columbia and Ontario also both won to improve to 6W-1L and 5W-2L respectively. Saskatchewan is also at 5W-2L after losing to Ontario.

MEN:
7-0 Northern Ontario’s
6-1 British Columbia
5-2 Manitoba
5-2 Saskatchewan
5-2 Ontario
4-3 Manitoba Host
3-4 New Brunswick
2-5 Nova Scotia

On the early draw Thursday, Manitoba’s Judy Colwell team defeated Alberta 7-4 to leave the two teams tied in fourth place with 4W-2L records. British Columbia and Ontario both won to stay perfect at 6W-0L and Nova Scotia won to improve to 5W-1L.

WOMEN:
6-0 British Columbia
6-0 Ontario
5-1 Nova Scotia
4-2 Manitoba
4-2 Alberta
2-4 Saskatchewan
2-4 Manitoba Host
2-4 Quebec

NEXT DRAW: 4PM Thursday Women’s Championship Round
NEXT DRAW: 7:45PM Thursday Men’s Championship Round

MANITOBA WOMEN’S TEAMS ADVANCE TO MASTERS CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND

Posted on by
Reply

Although they have a big job ahead to make the playoffs, both of Manitoba’s Women’s teams have advanced to the championship round of the Canadian Masters at the Pembina Curling Club.

Judy Colwell’s Team Manitoba completed the preliminary round with a 3W-2L record while Sandra Cowling’s Manitoba Host team advanced with a 2W-3L record. (A provincial host team is included as a wildcard team in the draw when there are an odd number of provincial/territorial entries.)

British Columbia and Ontario lead the way with perfect 5W-0L records while Alberta and Nova Scotia are at 4W-1L.

The four teams from each pool will play the four from the other pool in the championship round. The preliminary round record carries forward and wins continue to accumulate to determine the four semi-finalist teams to meet Saturday at 2PM, with the finals set for 10AM Sunday.

Women’s championship round play is underway at the Pembina Curling Club with future games set for Thursday, Nov 17: 4pm; and Friday, Nov. 18: 10am & 6pm. Men’s championship round play is scheduled for Thursday, Nov 17: 12:15pm & 7:45pm; Friday, Nov. 18: 2pm; & Saturday, Nov 19: 10am.

On the Men’s Championship Round, Team Manitoba (Murray Warren) plays the Manitoba Host team (Mark Franklin) at 12:15pm Thursday. Warren advanced with a 5W-1L record while Franklin has a 3W-3L record.

(UPDATED Nov. 17, 9am) HACKNER’S NORTHERN ONTARIO TEAM UNBEATEN AT MASTERS, TEAM MANITOBA 5-1

Posted on by
Reply

Former Brier and World Champion Al Hackner and his Northern Ontario team have advanced to the championship round of the Canadian Masters (age 60+) Men’s Championship at Pembina Curling Club with an undefeated run through their first six games.

Hackner, whose Canadian championship career began in Manitoba with a 1982 Brier win in Brandon, previously won the Canadian Masters in 2017. Teammates Eric Harnden, Frank Morissette, and Bruce Munro were all part of that 2017 Masters championship team.

The leader in the other 7-team pool is Murray Warren’s Team Manitoba. Warren, with his brothers Reg & Terry and Brian Barker, opened round robin play with a loss to Ontario but reeled off five straight wins for a 5W-1L record. British Columbia also sits at 5W-1L but a Manitoba win over BC gives the home team the seeding edge.

Behind Manitoba and BC in the pool standings are Ontario at 4W-2L and three teams (Northwest Territories, Alberta, Nova Scotia) at 2W-4L. Based on the tiebreaker formula, Nova Scotia advancess to the championship round.

Behind Northern Ontario, Team Saskatchewan has a 4W-1L record. Tied at 3W-3L, Team New Brunswick and the Manitoba Host team skipped by Mark Franklin will also advance. (A provincial host team is included as a wildcard team in the draw when there are an odd number of provincial/territorial entries.)

The four teams from each pool will play the four from the other pool in the championship round. The preliminary round record carries forward and wins continue to accumulate to determine the four semi-finalist teams to meet Saturday at 2PM, with the finals set for 10AM Sunday.

In the Masters Women’s championship, the final round robin draw at 7:45pm Wednesday will determine the fate of the two Manitoba teams. The Manitoba Host team, skipped by Sandra Cowling, has completed the preliminary round with a 2W-3L record while Judy Colwell’s Team Manitoba has a 2W-2L record and a game to play. Results of several different games on the ice at the same time will dictate whether either or both advance to the women’s championship round.

Women’s championship round play is scheduled for Thursday, Nov 17: 8:30am & 4pm; and Friday, Nov. 18: 10am & 6pm. Men’s championship round play is scheduled for Thursday, Nov 17: 12:15pm & 7:45pm; Friday, Nov. 18: 2pm; & Saturday, Nov 19: 10am.

“ROOKIE” NEUFELD TEAM WINS MASTERS BERTH

Posted on by
Reply

In their first competition after becoming eligible to compete in 60+ Masters qualifying, reigning Manitoba Senior champions and former World Senior Silver medalists, Randy Neufeld, Peter Nicholls and Dale Michie have won their berth in the provincial Masters in Thompson.

With Darren Oryniak subbing for Dean Moxham (who is still underage for this competition), Team Neufeld had the first draw bye in the seven team event at Fort Rouge. They won their opener, lost their next to Mike Mahon to drop into the playoff semifinal, then won the semi-final over Allan Gitzel.

The final against Mahon was tied at 2-2 after five ends. With a lot of rocks in play, Mahon was faced with a series of challenging shots through the final three ends. On the sixth (see picture), Neufeld stole a single when Mahon’s yellow-green-green raise slid through between the two yellow stones in the rings – a steal of one rather than a possible three.

UNBEATEN JOHNSON-MCDONALD WIN RED RIVER VALLEY STICK SPIEL

Posted on by
Reply

St. Vital’s Warren Johnson & Dan McDonald completed an unbeaten weekend with three Sunday victories to win the Red River Valley Stick Spiel championship.

Quarterfinal wins 8-2 (over Herb Sulkers & Harold Peterson) and 9-2 (over Mike & Greg Harding) suggested a dominant performance might follow in the final. However, it was a much closer affair against Ken & Shirley Strand.

Thee game was tied 3-3 after four ends when the champions broke it open with a three and ran the Strands out of rocks coming home in a 6-4 win.

In the Bronze medal game, Harding & Harding scored one coming home for a 2-1 victory over Lorne & Chris Hamblin.

In the other quarterfinals, the Hardings beat Tom & Rae Campbell 6-3; Hamblins beat Cam & Lynne McMillan 4-2; and Strands beat Norm Magnusson & Resby Coutts 7-6 in an extra end.

JOHNSON & MCDONALD UNDEFEATED IN RED RIVER VALLEY STICK SPIEL

Posted on by
Reply

Warren Johnson & Dan McDonald are the only unbeaten team at the completion of round robin play in the first Red River Valley Stick Spiel in Morris. The St. Vital team competed a nearly perfect preliminary round with a nearly perfect 5 wins and a tie – making them the only team not to suffer defeat.

They advance to the Sunday playoff round as the #1 seed. In the 10AM Sunday quarterfinals, Johnson-McDonald will play Herb Sulkers-Harold Peterson (East St. Paul).

Second seed Norm Magnusson & Resby Coutts (Fort Rouge), who topped the red pool with four wins and a tie, will play Ken & Shirley Strand (St. Vital).

Third seed Lorne & Chris Hamblin (Morris), who topped the green pool with a four wins in six games, will play Cam & Lynne McMillan (Fort Rouge).

In the fourth quarter-final, Greg & Mike Harding ( Springfield) will play Tom & Rae Campbell (Killarney).

The final rounds of play in the bonspiel sorted out the playoffs mostly based on win-loss-tie records and then wins against opponent to break ties. However, the Draw to Button totals were used to break a couple of the ties to establish the playoff draw.

The playoff seeds are:

POOL WINNERS 
#1 seed: Warren Johnson-Dan McDonald 5 wins and a tie
#2 seed: Norm Magnusson-Resby Coutts 4 wins and a tie
#3 seed: Lorne-Chris Hamblin 4 wins

POOL #2’s
#4 seed: Tom & Rae Campbell 4 wins and a tie
#5 seed: Greg & Mike Harding 4 wins
#6 seed: Ian & Lynne McMillan 4 wins

POOL #3’s
#7 seed: Ken & Shirley Strand 3 wins and 2 ties
#8 seed: Herb Sulkers-Harold Peterson 3 wins
#9 seed ($50 consolation prize): Ralph Nespor-Jim Webster

ST VITAL TEAM LEADS THE WAY AT RED RIVER VALLEY STICK SPIEL

Posted on by
Reply

Warren Johnson and Dan McDonald (St Vital) have 4 wins and a tie to lead the pack at the first Red River Valley Stick Spiel. Tom & Rae Campbell (Killarney) are in second place in the blue pool with 3 wins and a tie.

Logjams in the red nd green pools will be resolved on four round robin draws yet to be played today.

(NOVEMBER 11 – 9pm) MORRIS TEAM SURPRISES ON DAY ONE AT RED RIVER VALLEY STICK SPIEL Home ice may be an advantage for Lorne & Chris Hamblin, veteran international coaches and curling instructors at the Cargill Curling Training Centre in Morris. Relative novices in the two-person stick game, the Hamblins lead their 7-team pool with a 3W-1L record after day #1 of the Red River Valley Stick Spiel in Morris.

Behind the Hamblins in the green pool are four teams who posted two wins on Friday.

The only undefeated team was the St Vital team of Warren Johnson and Dan McDonald who won their three games on day #1. Four teams with two wins also share second place in the green pool.

In the red pool, Jim Rouse and Ross MacMillan (Warren-Marquette) lead the way with two wins in three games. Four teams are also tied for second in this group – each with a win and a tie on the first day of play.

CANADIAN/MANITOBA CHAMPIONS HIGHLIGHT RED RIVER VALLEY SPIEL IN MORRIS

Posted on by
Reply

The first Red River Valley Stick Spiel is underway this afternoon at Curl Morris, with no fewer than five past national or provincial champion teams included in the 21-team field.

Three Canadian Champion teams include the current Canadian champions Fort Rouge curlers Norm Magnusson & Resby Coutts, Killarney’s Tom & Rae Campbell (2018), and Jim Rouse & Ross McMillan from Warren-Marquette (2015). St. Vital’s Warren Johnson (who won in 2012 with Earl Stephenson) and Carman’s Charlie McCullough (who won in 2010 with Ken Horton) will also compete in Morris.

Two competing teams have also won past Manitoba Stick Championships. Gwen Smith & Lynne Rehbein (East St. Paul) won the Manitoba Women’s title in 2020 while Ken & Shirley Strand (St.Vital) won the Manitoba Open title in 2018. Ross McMillan, in 2019, and Warren Johnson, in both 2017 and 2012) were members of Manitoba champion teams.

The competition will feature three seven team pools playing a six-game round robin Friday and Saturday, followed by an eight team playoff Sunday. Highlight challengers include Darren & Darrell Beach, the 2022 Canadian finalists from Regina and Canadian National Wheelchair team member Jamie Anseeuw, who will partner with fellow wheelchair-curler Mark Wherrett, representing Assiniboine Memorial.

Manitoba clubs represented in the event include Assiniboine Memorial, Carman, East St. Paul, Fort Rouge, Killarney, Marquette, Springfield, Stonewall, St. Vital, Warren, along with teams from the host Curl Morris.

Total prize value is over $1,500, including an entry in the Manitoba 2-person Stick Curling Championship to be played in Morris in February.

Two-person stick curling is one of the developments in the continuing evolution of different forms of the sport of curling. Established 20+ years ago, mainly as a social-recreational outlet for older curlers, interest in a more competitive stream is occurring parallel with unique Mixed Doubles and Wheelchair Curling competitions.

The Red River Valley Stick Spiel will be played in the “Open” format which is common and popular in this of the sport. Billed as gender, age and ability inclusive, Open 2-Person Stick events include Women, Men & Mixed teams, wheelchair and able-bodied curlers, and curlers of any age.

CHAMBERS TEAM 3W-5L AT CANADIAN MIXED WITH A GAME TO PLAY

Posted on by
Reply

Corey Chambers and his team have split their game on each of the last two days to post a 3W-5L record with one game left – against 2W-6L Yukon. That game is set for 4PM Friday.

Felix Asselin-Quebec (at 6W-1L), Scott McDonald-Ontario and Jamie Koe-NWT (both at 6W-2L) lead the way in the championship pool.

(TUESDAY, NOV. 8, 8:30PM) THIRD LOSS FOR CHAMBERS AT CANADIAN MIXED A single day Tuesday for Manitoba’s Team Chambers at the Canadian Mixed but a third consecutive loss. After opening the competition in Prince Alberta with a win, the Manitoba reps now have a 1W-3L record. The Tuesday loss came at the hands of former Canadian champion Paul Flemming (Nova Scotia) who improved to a 4W-1L record. Flemming is tied in the pool with another former champion, Trevor Bonot (Northern Ontario).

In the other pool, Quebec (Felix Asselin) leads the way with a 4W-0L record while Saskatchewan (Shaun Meachem) and New Brunswick both have a 3W-1L record.

(MONDAY, NOV.7, 10:30PM) 1W-2L START FOR CHAMBERS AT CANADIAN MIXED Corey Chambers and his Manitoba team opened with a victory Sunday at the Canadian Mixed in Prince Albert. A 7-6 win over Dennis Watts (PEI) gave the Manitobans the start they needed.

However, a two loss Monday has them at 1W-2L after three games. The Monday morning loss was to former champion Trevor Bonot (Northern Ontario) by an 8-4 score. Jamie Koe (NWT) defeated the Chambers foursome 6-3 on the evening draw.

(SUNDAY, NOV. 6, 4:30PM) Canadian Mixed Begins Today in Prince Albert: Corey Chambers and his team of Lisa McLeod, Nigel Milnes, and Jolene Callum (representing the Miami CC) kick-off their quest for a Canadian Mixed Championship at 6:00pm today in Prince Albert. Their first round opponent is Prince Edward Island’s Dennis Watts, winners of their opening match against Scott McDonald-Ontario.

Playing in a seven team pool, Team Chambers faces tough competition from the likes of former champions Trevor Bonot-Northern Ontario (2017) and Paul Flemming-Nova Scotia (2003 & 1999) and high profile competitors Scott McDonald-Ontario and Jamie Koe-NWT.

The last Manitoba team to win the Canadian Mixed was skipped by Colin Kurz who, with Meghan Walter, Brendan Bilawka, and Sara Oliver, won Manitoba’s first, and to date only, World Mixed Championship

The previous Manitoba team to win it all was Sean Grassie’s 2009 team. Prior to that Manitoba teams had not won a Mixed since Jeff Stoughton did it in 1991.

The Stoughton teams had no opportunity to play a World Mixed. Grassie & Alli Nimik won Canada’s first World Mixed Doubles medals when they won the bronze medals that year.