Category Archives: Provincial Qualifying

TERRICK, KAATZ WIN THE LAST TWO SCOTTIES BERTHS

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Rachel Kaatz, Jenna Boisvert, Gaetanne Gauthier, Kadriana Lott, Mary-Jane Sass

It worked out in the second game of the day for Zoey Terrick (Heather) and Rachel Kaatz (AMCC). The two teams had lost the A-Side Scotties berth games Sunday morning but both bounced back to win berths on their second try.

Team Kaatz will be in Morden in January, thanks to a 7-5 win over Katy Lukowich (Heather) while the Terrick foursome posted a 12-3 short game win over Shae Bevan (St Vital).

Zoe Terrick, Cassidy Dundas, Tessa Terrick, Jensen Letham, Coach Clint Cullen

(SUNDAY EARLY AFTERNOON) CHERWINSKI, JENSEN WIN SCOTTIES BERTHS: A comeback from five down and a “nearly” comeback from down two playing the last end made the Winnipeg Scotties regional playoff games great curling entertainment Sunday morning at Deer Lodge.

(l-r) Coach Cal Edie, Madelyn Hollins, Eryn Czirfusz, Lauren Evason, Emily Cherwinski, alternate Mackenzie Arbuckle

Trailing 6-1 after four ends, Emily Cherwinksi and her AMCC team scored three to draw close, and then outscored Rachel Kaatz (AMCC) 4-1 over the last half of the game to win 8-7 and earn a berth in the Manitoba Scotties in Morden.

The key was no doubt the seventh end. The Kaatz team blanked six and played a hit for three but jammed to give up another steal of one. Now down one, the Cherwinski foursome stole two more on the 8th, gave up the one on the 9th to come home tied. They didn’t have to throw their last stone on the 10th.

(l-r) Emily Jensen, Lane Prokopowich, Becky Friesen, Stephanie Feeleus

In the other game, Emily Jensen (Heather) led Zoey Terrick (Heather) 6-4 playing the ninth (and final) end. Playing wide on a tricky sheet of ice, Terrick had and angle raise takeout for a possible three and the win but she hit less of the target stone than needed and scored only one.

Two more Scotties berths will be awarded at Deer Lodge in games beginning at 2PM.

Yesterday, Tiffany Armstrong (Dauphin) and Shaela Hayward (Carman) won the first two spots awarded this weekend.

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(FRIDAY) REGIONAL SCOITTIES SET FOR THIS WEEKEND: Six teams repping three Winnipeg clubs will compete in Winnipeg regional Scotties playoffs at Deer Lodge this weekend. They will be playing for one of four available entries into the provincial Scotties in Morden.

Elsewhere in the province 2 teams will be playing in Clearwater for a berth. Two more will play in Dauphin for the sixth available berth this weekend.

As in the men’s championship, the provincial champions berth in Morden was vacated when the Jennifer Jones team was named as a pre-qualified team in the national Scotties. Entries into the Morden event have already been awarded to:
** Kristy Watling (Berth Spiel)
** Kaitlyn Lawes (CTRS)
** Beth Peterson (CTRS)
** Kate Cameron (CTRS)
** Jolene Campbell (MCT)
** Lisa McLeod (MCT)

BLANCHARD-BLANCHARD WIN VITERRA BERTH

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With a blue stone to come, and then the final red stone, the Blanchard team took a lot of time trying to figure out how to keep red from counting all four of those stones. No luck as all four counted

(CORRECTION): A couple of sharp-eyed readers advised me that I erred in one of the Virden results in the article posted last evening. Jace Freeman, in fact, defeated Kelly Marnoch to win one of the berths available in Western Manitoba. The listing in the article has been corrected!)

The father-son combo of Greg & Derek Blanchard, following a long tradition of dad calling the game & throwing first while son throw the finals stones, have won an invitation to compete in the Viterra Championship in Stonewall in February.

Playing on a team listed as Joey Witherspoon (AMCC) but with Dan Gagne and Taylor McIntyre on the ice for the berth win, the Blanchard team gave up a four early but fought back to steal one on the ninth to take a 6-5 lead over Travis Bale (Ft Rouge).

(l-r) Greg Blanchard, Derek Blanchard, Danial Gagne, Taylor McIntyre – AMCC

Blanchard (the younger) made a last rock draw to bite the button coming home. It was a straight spot in the ice and Bale needed to squeak past a centre line guard to nose the counter straight back past a rock of his own in the back four foot circle. It didn’t curl up enough and Blanchard stole another for a 7-5 berth win.

Also at Deer Lodge, Daniel Birchard with long time teammates Kelly Fordyce and Andrew Peck posted an 8-3 berth win over Darren Perche (Charleswood). Brody Moore, nursing a sore knee provided moral support from the seating lobby.

(l-r) Andrew Peck, Brody Moore, Kelly Fordyce, Daniel Birchard – Pembina

A third Winnipeg berth was awarded Saturday as well. Thomas McGillivary (St. Vital) beat Devon Wiebe (Charleswood) 10-6 in that berth game.

In Virden, Jace Freeman-Virden (7-6 over Kelly Marnoch-Carberry) and Cale Dunbar-Brandon (8-5 over Steve Irwin-Brandon) won the two berths available Saturday.

In Dauphin, Greg Todoruk-Dauphin (9-4 over Kyle Forsyth-Dauphin) and Jeff Stewart-Gladstone (7-6 over Glenn Toews-Dauphin) won berths.

In LaSalle, Mark Lowdon-LaSalle beat Randy Neufeld-LaSalle 9-6 and 7-5 to win the best of three berth playoff.

In Gimli, Emerson Klimpke-Stonewall (9-3 over Justin Richter-Beausejour) and Justoin Reynolds-Winnipeg Beach (7-2 over Wayne Ewasko-Beausejour) won two of the available Interlake berths.

All three berths in the playoff at Clearwater will be won on Sunday along with the final berth in Virden, Dauphin and Beausejour and four more at Deer Lodge.

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In Scotties Regionals Tiffany Armstrong (Dauphin) won a pair of games over Terry Ursel (Arden-Landowne) and Shaela Hayward (Carman) won two over Rhonda Varnes (Manitou) to win the first two berths awarded this weekend.

Four berths will be assigned Sunday at Deer Lodge with two games at 10AM and two at 2pm.

REGIONAL VITERRA PLAYOFFS THIS WEEKEND

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At risk of being the old guy who is always talking about ‘the good old days’, it is a little sad to me that regional Viterra playoffs will be played this weekend in five Manitoba locations for 20 provincial berths …. and there are only 36 teams playing.

Eleven teams will play at Deer Lodge for seven entries to the provincial Viterra championship in Stonewall; six teams in Dauphin and another six in Virden will play for three berths in each venue; five teams will play for three berths in Clearwater; and two teams will play for one berth in LaSalle.

The Manitoba champions’ berth at the Viterra in Stonewall will be vacant with Team Dunstone already qualified for the Brier.

It is fair to say the teams know that the 2024 provincial champion has probably already qualified for the Stonewall event where there will be a new champion crowned. The champion’s berth owned by Matt Dunstone’s team was vacated with Dunstone earning a wildcard entry to the Brier.

Pre-determined entries in Stonewall are already in the hands of seven teams, including:
** Reid Carruthers (CTRS end 2023 season)
** Ryan Wiebe (CTRS current season)
** Brett Walter (Berth Spiel)
** Braden Calvert (MCT)
** Jordon McDonald (MCT)
** Sean Grassie (MCT)
** Riley Smith (MCT)
** Grant Brown (single entry North region)

Three entries from the Manitoba Open Bonspiel and one from the Brandon Bonspiel will round out the field of 32.

Inevitable now is the conversation about change of format for the provincial men’s championship. Less than two entries for each available berth suggests the tipping point on that conversation has been reached.

Not so long ago I argued strongly for maintaining the model because the opportunity to compete at the provincial championship, on arena ice, was still an incentive for Manitoba curlers to compete in regionals – and providing that incentive was keeping people active in their curling clubs.

It is fair to say that the Curling Clubs Championship is now succeeding in providing that incentive for some competitors who used to be automatic regional entries, and contenders at the provincial men’s. As a result, those teams are by-passing the men’s regionals.

So the conversation is one that CurlManitoba must begin – the issues are not so much the timing, the number of entries or possible formats. The issue will be the unintended consequences of change.

For instance, will it make sense to host a reduced size men’s championship in an arena? – or does the decision start a movement toward a club based provincial championship? For instance, what will the effect be on sponsorship? – will a smaller event be less attractive to a sponsor?

On the other side of the discussion – there is a pretty high percentage of relatively (to very) young teams competing in the regionals this weekend. For them, the incentive of competing at the provincial men’s is no doubt, for some, a stepping stone to the future, and for others an incentive to continue to compete while there is a still a small chance of winning that dreamed about trip to the Brier.

Maybe the discussion is not about size of provincial championship & number of berths. Maybe the discussion should be about inventing new ways of allocating the provincial berths.

Would we ever consider assigning provincial men’s berths to the final four in the provincial juniors? the final four in the provincial seniors? the final four in the provincial club championships? There’s 12 berths right there – reducing to 20 the number of berths to compete for into a 32 team men’s.

A crazy concept? I’ve been accused of having them before. It would add 12 quality teams with a strong following to help fill the stands and the hospitality room at the provincial championship

I’d bet it would also increase participation in those three other levels but what would be the unintended consequences – the thing about brain-storming new ways to do something is that it is easy to suggest change. The problem comes when you start to figure out how to do it – or more importantly, if you should.

REGIONAL SCOTTIES PLAYOFFS THIS WEEKEND

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Team Jones is pre-qualified for the national Scotties so will not be competing in the provincial Scotties in Morden

Six teams repping three Winnipeg clubs will compete in Winnipeg regional Scotties playoffs at Deer Lodge this weekend. They will be playing for one of four available entries into the provincial Scotties in Morden.

Elsewhere in the province 2 teams will be playing in Clearwater for a berth. Two more will play in Dauphin for the sixth available berth this weekend.

As in the men’s championship, the provincial champions berth in Morden was vacated when the Jennifer Jones team was named as a pre-qualified team in the national Scotties. Entries into the Morden event have already been awarded to:
** Kristy Watling (Berth Spiel)
** Kaitlyn Lawes (CTRS)
** Beth Peterson (CTRS)
** Kate Cameron (CTRS)
** Jolene Campbell (MCT)
** Lisa McLeod (MCT)

THIRTEEN MASTERS BERTHS WINNERS NAMED

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The final regional Masters berths were identified Wednesday – bringing to thirteen the number of competing teams identified for the provincial Manitoba’s Credit Unions Masters Championship in Portage.

In Beausejour, former Canadian Senior Men’s champion Carl German (East St. Paul) was a shut-out winner over Doug May (Beausejour) to win the second East region berth.

In the West region, Lawrence Daniel (Hamiota) won the second berth in Minnedosa, needing an extra end to beat clubmate Brian Tolton 7-6 and in Melita, Barry Lowes (Virden) was a 7-4 winner over Al Fitzmaurice (Brandon). As there were a total of five available berths in the West, Fitzmaurice and Tolton will playoff for the extra spot.

TEAMS QUALIFIED for Manitoba Masters Men’s Championship:
Defending Champion: Randy Neufeld (La Salle)
Bob Picken Bonspiel Berth: Lionel Walz (Pembina)
Winnipeg Berth: Mark Franklin (Granite)
Winnipeg Berth: Robin Nelson (Granite)
Winnipeg Berth: Mike Mahon (Granite)
Winnipeg Berth: Stan Struthers (Pembina)
West-Melita Berth: Murray Warren (Brandon)
West-Melita Berth: Barry Lowes (Virden)
West-Minnedosa Berth: Murray Jorgenson (Hamiota)
West-Minnedosa Berth: Lawrence Daniel (Hamiota)
West-Playoff Berth: WINNER Tolton-Fitzmaurice
East-Beausejour Berth: Lawrie Hogg (Stonewall)
East-Beausejour Berth: TBD
South-Winkler Berth: Allan Gitzel (Miami)
North Berth: TBD in December
Brandon Bonspiel Berth: TBD in January

(Nov 14) (UPDATED) WARREN AMONG SEVEN MASTERS BERTH WINNERS TUESDAY: Murray Warren’s Brandon team, bronze medalists at last fall’s Canadian Masters at Pembina, defeated Jim Renwick (Brandon) 3-2 Tuesday to earn a berth in the Manitoba’s Credit Unions Masters championship later this season at Portage la Prairie.

Brandon’s Murray Warren calls the line in a Canadian Masters Championship game, November 2022 at Pembina CC

Renwick dropped to the B-Side of the draw in Melita and was beaten by Al Fitzmaurice (Brandon), who will play Barry Lowes (Virden) Wednesday for the second berth.

In Minnedosa, Murray Jorgenson (Hamiota) was a 5-4 winner over Morley Walker (Arden) to earn the first available berth. Walker, Lawrence Daniel & Brian Tolton (both Hamiota), and Butch Mouck (Minnedosa) will play Wednesday for the second berth.

In Beausejour, Lawrie Hogg (Stonewall) was an 8-2 winner over Carl German (East St. Paul) to win a provincial berth. German will play Doug May (Beausejour) for the second berth.

In Winkler, Allan Gitzel (Miami) defeated Louis Tanquay (Winkler) 7-5 to win the B-side of the playoff ands earn the provincials berth.

The three berth winners at Winnipeg’s Fort Rouge club were Robin Nelson- Granite (7-6 over Mike Mahon-Granite; Mahon (6-3 over Skuli Johnson-Granite); and Stan Struthers-Pembina (6-5 over Neil Okumura-Pembina.

(Nov 13) FORMER CHAMP FRANKLIN EARNS MASTERS BERTH: Former champion Mark Franklin and his Granite team are the first of thirty-two teams competing this week across Manitoba to earn a berth into this season’s Manitoba’s Credit Unions Masters championship.

Franklin (Jamie Hay, Barrie Campbell, Greg Ziemanski) defeated another former champion skip, Gord McTavish, Monday afternoon to join the two teams already qualified for the Portage championship. Defending champion Randy Neufeld and Bob Picken Masters Berth Bonspiel winner Lionel Walz and their teams have previously qualified.

Across Manitoba, there are seven teams competing for two berths in each of Melita and Minnedosa; six teams are playing off in Beausejour for two spots; and there are three teams competing for one berth in Winkler. Nine teams started the Winnipeg regional playoff with four berths available.

Former Manitoba champion, and 2022 Canadian bronze medalist, Murray Warren and his Brandon team are in the Melita playoff. Warren will play perennial; contender Jim Renwick (Brandon) for the first Melita berth. Morley Walker (Arden) will play Murray Jorgenson (Hamiota) for the first Minnedosa berth. In Beausejour, former Canadian Senior champion Carl German (East St. Paul) will play Lawrie Hogg (Stonewall) for the first berth.

In WInkler, Joe Fouasse (Lorette) will play Allen Gitzel (Miami) in the A-side final.

At Fort Rouge, Mike Mahon (Granite) will play Robin Nelson (Granite) for the second Winnipeg berth to be awarded.

SCINOCCA WINS NEIL ANDREWS SENIOR SPIEL IN BRANDON

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Paul Scinocca’s Charleswood team (Ed Barr, Paul Armstrong, Joel Newbury) has won Brandon’s Neil Andrews Classic, a senior men’s bonspiel which serves to identify the final qualifier for the Strathcona Senior Men’s provincial championship.

(l-r) Corey Lawson presenting to Joel Newbury, Paul Armstrong, Ed Barr, and Paul Scinocca

As well as identifying the final provincial qualifier, the bonspiel serves as a competition event for teams already qualified for the provincials in Dauphin in late March.

Scinocca beat Mark Anderson (Brandon) in the championship final by a 10-3 score Sunday after advancing to the final game with a 5-3 victory over reigning Manitoba Masters champions Murray Warren and his Brandon team in the semi-final. As Scinocca had previously qualified for the provincial seniors, Anderson earns the final berth.

In the other semi-final, Anderson had defeated a team skipped by Butch Mouck, who had also previously qualified, also in a tight game – by a 5-4 score.

In effect, Anderson earned the provincial berth when his team reached the final four, as the other three teams had also qualified to complete in Dauphin.

COMPLETE LISTING OF TEAMS QUALIFIED TO COMPETE IN DAUPHIN:
Sam Antila – Thompson
Kevin Paramor – Arden
Murray Warren – Brandon
Rob Van Kommer – Carberry
Butch Mouck – Gilbert Plains
Allan Gitzel – Altona
Dave Boehmer – Petersfield
Lawrie Hogg – Stonewall
Mike Mahon – Granite
Richard Muntain – Granite
Cory Anderson – Thistle
Neil Okumura – Pembina
Dean North – Carman
Paul Scinocca – Charleswood
Randy Neufeld – La Salle
Mark ANdersin – Brandon

TWELVE TEAM FIELD SET FOR EAST ST. PAUL SCOTTIES

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(CurlManitoba Release) Manitoba curling fans are in for a treat January 24-29, 2023 when 12 of Manitoba’s best Women’s curling teams compete in the Scotties Tournament of Hearts presented by RME in East St. Paul.

Four former Scotties champions are skipping teams they hope can take them back to the national Scotties where they will challenge the best in Canada including Team Canada skipped by Gimli’s Kerri Einarson.

Jennifer Jones (St. Vital), skipping the defending champion Mackenzie Zacharias team; Jones’ former third Kaitlyn Lawes (Fort Rouge), skipping part of the former champion Tracy Fleury team; Chelsea Carey (East St. Paul) with Liz Fife from that Fleury team; and Darcy Robertson (AMCC), with a young but capable supporting cast, all know the pressures and pleasures of playing and winning the Manitoba final game.

The group of four former champions will be tested this year by a group of eight challenger teams which includes three teams in the CTRS top 30 (as of December 18); a pair of teams aiming for a Manitoba Junior title this season, and three other very competitive teams.

GRACE BEAUDRY TEAM
DARCY ROBERTSON TEAM
KATY LUKOWICH TEAM
EMMA JENSEN TEAM
CHELSEA CAREY TEAM
BETH PETERSON TEAM

Abby Ackland (East St. Paul), an MCT rankings qualifier; Beth Peterson (AMCC), the Minnedosa berth bonspiel winner who was so impressive in a 2021 national Scotties wildcard appearance; and 2022 Manitoba Scotties finalist Kristy Watling (East St. Paul) are currently ranked #8, #21, and #29 on the Canadian Team Ranking System (CTRS). 

Winnipeg Scotties berth winners Katy Lukowich (Granite) and Grace Beaudry (St. Vital), who are CTRS #85 and 97 respectively, both have aspirations to win the Manitoba Junior title in Portage in mid-January. Both will be hoping to play the East St. Paul Scotties as a tune-up for the national Juniors.

The final three entries for this year’s provincial Scotties are also well experienced at the women’s and junior competitive levels in Manitoba. They include Lisa McLeod (Portage), Alyssa Vandepoele (Carberry) and Emma Jensen (Heather).

Full event passes ($175) and day passes ($50) for the Manitoba Scotties Tournament of Hearts can be purchased by connecting from the CurlManitoba website (https://curlmanitoba.org/scotties-tournament-of-hearts-presented-by-rme/).

THE COMPLETE LIST OF SCOTTIES QUALIFIERS:
2022 CHAMPION: Jones/Zacharias (St. Vital)
2021-22 Season CTRS: Kristy Watling (East St. Paul)
2022 MINNEDOSA ‘SPIEL BERTH: Beth Peterson (AMCC)
MCT Champion: Lisa McLeod (Portage)
MCT Points Berth: Abby Ackland (East St. Paul)
NOVEMBER 22, 2022 CTRS: Kaitlyn Lawes (Fort Rouge)
WESTMAN: Alyssa Calvert (Carberry)
WINNIPEG: Chelsea Carey (East St. Paul)
WINNIPEG:  Katy Lukowich (Granite)
WINNIPEG: Emma Jensen (Heather)
WINNIPEG:  Darcy Robertson (AMCC)
WINNIPEG:  Grace Beaudry (St. Vital)

VITERRA REGIONALS IDENTIFY 18 TEAMS TO COMPETE IN NEEPAWA

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TANNER LOTT TEAM

(CurlManitoba Release) Regional curling competitions across Manitoba on the past weekend have earned 18 teams an invitation to compete in the Manitoba Men’s Viterra Championship in Neepawa, February 7-12, 2023. The teams are from 15 different communities and curling clubs.

Assiniboine Memorial (Brett Walter & JT Ryan), Fort Rouge (Tanner Lott & Jordan Peters), and Beausejour (Wayne Ewasko & Justin Richter) Curling Clubs each won two regional playoff berths.

Single berths were captured by teams from Baldur (Grant Shewfelt), Burntwood (Tuffy Seguin), Deer Lodge (Sean Grassie), Carberry (Rob Van Kommer), Gladstone (Jeff Stewart), Granite (Mark Franklin), Morris (David Hamblin), Pembina (Daniel Birchard), Pilot Mound (Steve Pauls), Portage (Ryan Hyde), Riverview (Cale Dunbar), and Virden (Jace Freeman)

JORDAN PETERS TEAM
MARK FRANKLIN TEAM
DANIEL BIRCHARD TEAM
ROB VAN KOMMER TEAM WITH RIVERS CC PRESIDENT DAVE FALKEVITCH

Forty teams representing 28 Manitoba communities and curling clubs entered regional Viterra Championship playoffs. They were competing to join the 10 teams already pre-identified for the 2023 championship in Neepawa.

The pre-qualified teams were Braden Calvert (Deer Lodge), who earned the Canadian Team Ranking (CTRS) berth awarded at the end of last season and the top three Manitoba teams on the CTRS on November 22, 2022 skipped by Matt Dunstone (Fort Rouge), Reid Carruthers (Morris), and Ryan Wiebe (Fort Rouge). In addition, the four Manitoba Curling Tour (MCT) berth teams are skipped by Steve Irwin (Brandon), Riley Smith (Thistle), Steen Sigurdson (AMCC), and Corey Chambers (Fort Garry).

Jordon McDonald (Deer Lodge) and Kelly Marnoch (Carberry) won the Minnedosa Viterra Berth bonspiel invitations earlier this season.

The final four entries in the Neepawa Viterra Championship will be berth winners in the Brandon (1 berth) and Manitoba Open (3 berths) Bonspiels in early January.

THE COMPLETE LIST OF QUALIFIED TEAMS TO DATE IS:
2021-22 SEASON CTRS: Braden Calvert (Deer Lodge)
2022 MCT CHAMPION: Steve Irwin (Brandon)
2022 MCT POINTS: Riley Smith (Thistle)
2022 MCT POINTS: Steen Sigurdson (AMCC)
2022 MCT POINTS: Corey Chambers (Fort Garry)
NOVEMBER 22, 2022 CTRS: Ryan Wiebe (Fort Rouge)
NOVEMBER 22, 2022 Matt Dunstone (Fort Rouge)
NOVEMBER 22, 2022 Reid Carruthers (Morris)
BERTH: Kelly Marnoch (Carberry)
BERTH Jordon McDonald (Deer Lodge)
NORTH REGIONAL:  Tuffy Seguin – Burntwood
WEST 1 REGIONAL: Jeff Stewart (Gladstone)
WEST 2 REGIONAL:  Cale Dunbar (Riverview)
WEST 2 REGIONAL:  Jace Freeman (Virden)
WEST 2 REGIONAL: Rob Van Kommer (Carberry)
SOUTH 1 REGIONAL:  Ryan Hyde – Portage
SOUTH 1 REGIONAL: Steve Pauls (Pilot Mound)
SOUTH 1 REGIONAL: Grant Shewfelt (Baldur)
SOUTH 2 REGIONAL: David Hamblin (Morris)
EAST REGIONAL: Justin Richter (Beausejour)
EAST REGIONAL: Wayne Ewasko (Beausejour)
WINNIPEG REGIONAL:  Sean Grassie (Deer Lodge)
WINNIPEG REGIONAL:  Tanner Lott (Fort Rouge)
WINNIPEG REGIONAL:  Brett Walter (AMCC)
WINNIPEG REGIONAL:  JT Ryan (AMCC)
WINNIPEG REGIONAL: Mark Franklin (Granite)
WINNIPEG REGIONAL: Daniel Birchard (Pembina)
WINNIPEG REGIONAL: Jordan Peters (Fort Rouge)
MANITOBA OPEN: TBD
MANITOBA OPEN: TBD
MANITOBA OPEN: TBD
BRANDON SPIEL: TBD

ROBERTSON, BEAUDRY WIN FINAL SCOTTIES BERTHS

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Darcy Robertson’s AMCC team (Gaetanne Gauthier, Rachel Kaatz, Kadriana Lott, Coach Cathy Gauthier) AND Grace Beaudry’s St. Vital junior team (Emily Ogg, Madelyn Hollins, Mackenzie Arbuckle, Alternate Shaela Hayward, Coach Cal Edie) have won the final two entries into the Scotties Tournament of Hearts in East St. Paul.

Beaudry defeated the Manitoba Club champions skipped by Lisa Birchard (Pembina) while Robertson ousted another junior team skipped by Tansy Tober (Ft Garry) in the final berth games Sunday at Deer Lodge.

(December 17, 11PM) CAREY JOINS JONES, LAWES IN MANITOBA SCOTTIES ….With the exception of the absent Kerri Einarson Team Canada, ALL of Manitoba’s elite women’s teams have now qualified for the Manitoba Scotties Tournament of Hearts at East St. Paul, January 24-29, 2023.

Former champion Chelsea Carey, returning to Manitoba competition this season, was the first regional qualifier Saturday, December 17. Her East St. Paul team joins the defending champion Mackenzie Zacharias team, now lined up with Jennifer Jones, and Kaitlyn Lawes whose team had pre-qualified on CTRS points. They will be joined by the best young teams on the Manitoba scene.

Kristy Watling, Abby Ackland, and Beth Peterson (all in the CTRS top 30) were also pre-qualified prior to regionals. Watling (CTRS points 2021-22), Peterson (Minnedosa Berth Bonspiel), and Ackland (MCT points) were joined by MCT Champion Lisa McLeod in advance qualifying – leaving six regional berths to be played for this weekend.

In Western Manitoba, Alyssa Calvert-Carberry won a best of three series with Seniors Champion Terry Ursel to earn a Scotties berth. Joining Team Carey as Winnipeg regional berth winners on the Saturday evening draw were teams skipped by Katy Lukowich-Granite and Emma Jensen-Heather.

Lukowich fought from behind to tie 6-6 after five ends then stole the sixth for a one point lead. After trading deuces with veteran Darcy Robertson, Lukowich led by one, without hammer, playing the ninth and final end. The key shot of the end was draw by third Lauren Rajala who drew past a centre guard to be fully buried just short of the four foot circle – the eventual winning point.

For Jensen, it was a more dominating effort. The Heather team led 6-3 after five ends but ended the game with some great shotmaking, aided by timely misses, to score four on the sixth end.

The final two Scotties berths will be determined Sunday on a Noon draw at Deer Lodge when the crests will be handed to the winners of Lisa Birchard, Pembina vs Grace Beaudry, St. Vital AND Darcy Robertson, AMCC vs Tansy Tober, Fort Garry.

SCOTTIES QUALIFIED TEAMS:
CHAMP: Jones/Zacharias – St. Vital/Altona
CTRS 2021: Kristy Watling
BERTH BONSPIEL: Beth Peterson
MCT Champion: Lisa McLeod
MCT Points Berth: Abby Ackland
CTRS Nov 22, 2022: Kaitlyn Lawes
Westman Alyssa Calvert – Carberry
Winnipeg Chelsea Carey – East St. Paul
Winnipeg Katy Lukowich – Granite
Winnipeg Emma Jensen – Heather
Winnipeg Regional – Darcy Robertson – AMCC
Winnipeg Regional – Grace Beaudry – St. Vital

WARREN, NEUFELD TEAMS HEAD ENTRY LIST FOR SENIORS & MASTERS CHAMPIONSHIPS

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(CurlManitoba Release) Murray Warren’s Brandon team and Randy Neufeld’s La Salle team, reigning Manitoba’s Credit Unions Masters Men’s and Strathcona Trust Senior Men’s champions respectively, will play in both Manitoba championship events this season.

With last year’s Manitoba title, both earned the champion’s invitation to compete again this year. Both teams have also won qualifying berths to compete in the second event this season and will attempt to win these two titles – a feat which has never before been accomplished in the same year. 

The teams captured the Canadian bronze medals in their attempts to win their national titles in recent weeks. Team Neufeld had an 11W-1L record at the Everest Canadian Seniors last week in Yarmouth Nova Scotia. Team Warren compiled a 9W-3L record at the Canadian Masters at Pembina in November.

The Warren team (brothers Murray, Terry, Reg Warren, Brian Barker & alternate Gary Barker) will play intact in the two events while the Neufeld team has one change. Neufeld’s Senior Men’s line-up (Photo: Curling Canada/Clifton Saulnier) includes Dean Moxham, Peter Nicholls and Dale Michie while his Masters berth winning team has Darren Oryniak replacing Moxham.

Four other skips will also attempt to win both championships. Butch Mouck – Minnedosa, Allan Gitzel – Altona & Miami, Mike Mahon – Granite, and Sam Antila – Burntwood (Thompson) are those four skips although, like Neufeld, none of them will play the two events with the same teams.

Regional playoffs to qualify for the provincial championships in both Senior and Masters Men’s wrapped up Wednesday, December 13. In the Masters competition, 25 teams entered regional playoffs across the province to earn 13 playoff berths while 24 teams entered Senior regionals to earn 11 playoff berths.

The parallel Masters and Senior Women’s championships are both played in open-entry formats. The entry deadline for the Senior Women’s event is February 23 while the deadline for entering the Masters Women’s is January 26.

The Manitoba’s Credit Unions Masters Men’s & Women’s Championship will be played in Thompson, March 8-13, 2023. The Strathcona Trust Senior Men’s and CurlManitoba Senior Women’s Championships will be played in Dauphin, March 22-27, 2023.

With Brandon Bonspiel berths yet to be awarded in both Senior Men’s and Masters Men’s Championships, the teams competing will be:

STRATHCONA TRUST SENIOR MEN’S
Randy Neufeld – La Salle (Champion’s Berth)
Dean North – Carman (Morden Bonspiel)
Paul Scinocca – Charleswood (Granite Bonspiel)
Richard Muntain – Granite (Regional Berth)
Mike Mahon – Granite (Regional Berth)
Cory Anderson – Thistle (Regional Berth)
Neil Okumura – Pembina (Regional Berth)
Dave Boehmer – Petersfield (Regional Berth)
Lawrie Hogg – Stonewall (Regional Berth)
Allan Gitzel – Altona (Regional Berth)
Kevin Paramor – Arden/Lansdowne (Regional Berth)
Butch Mouck – Minnedosa (Regional Berth)
Brad Edwards – Carberry (Regional Berth)
Murray Warren – Brandon (Regional Berth)
Sam Antila – Burntwood (Regional Berth)
TBD – Brandon Bonspiel Berth Winner

MANITOBA’S CREDIT UNIONS MASTERS MEN’S
Murray Warren – Brandon (Champion’s Berth)
Randy Neufeld – La Salle (Fort Rouge Bonspiel)
Joe Fouasse – Fort Garry (Regional Berth)
John Norget – Pembina (Regional Berth)
Mike Mahon – Granite (Regional Berth)
Allan Gitzel – Miami (Regional Berth)
Neil Schmidt – East St. Paul (Regional Berth)
Len Loewen – Riverton (Regional Berth)
Butch Mouck – Minnedosa (Regional Berth)
Lawrence Daniel – Hamiota (Regional Berth)
Dale Brooks – Hamiota (Regional Berth)
Ray Baker – Dauphin (Regional Berth)
Jim Renwick – Brandon (Regional Berth)
Gerry Haight – Brandon (Regional Berth)
Sam Antila – Burntwood (Regional Berth)
TBD – Brandon Bonspiel Berth Winner