Men's Worlds Kicks Off This Weekend

I know what you're thinking. Am I promoting the TV series, "Vikings?"  Well no, but I do like that series. But these guys are not in it, although they are northmen. This is Team Finland and they will be in Victoria this weekend to play in the Mens World Curling Championships and they will be meeting the Canucks at some point.

Here are my predictions for this year's worlds:

Top 4 Teams to playoffs at the end of the week: Jacobs (Canada), Murdoch (Scotland...yes, that's right..Murdoch is skipping and Tom Brewster will be third), Ulsrud (Norway) and Edin (Sweden). Final will be Canada vs Scotland with Jacobs going on to win the Worlds. However, i don't think it will be an easy win for the Canucks...the Scots look like a tough squad and in this case, I don't think looks are deceiving.

I forgot to thank Murray Fullerton and Michel Rivard in my last post. These guys lent the BRCC their trailers so we could have storage for the Mens Closing. Thanks alot guys for all you do.

Stay tuned and I'll get with you once the Canucks have played their first and we'll see how they look. I expect they will have  some early game jitters as this is their first World Championship but hopefully this will not impede their performance. Another big week for Northern Ontario Curling.

Rock On!

The Curling Chronic

Muirhead Wins Gold

Team Muirhead. Winners of this year's World Womens Curling Championship. They won it, they deserve it. There are many that would say that Homan should have thrown the draw for her last shot in that semi-final. I would have to argue that the scoring area was pretty small and the double was there. The take out is definitely Homan's "go to" shot and make no mistake, on another day she would have made it. As it was, she stuffed it and lost the game. BUT, the Canucks had a good run and they did well. They are a young team and I am confident they will get back there and go all the way. Just  not this year.

The Men's Closing ended on Sunday with Team Gary Graham winning the A Event over Al Harnden. Team Shane Boyer from the BRCC won the B Event with a win over Danny Lemieux. (By the way, Danny had his 16 year old son, Mitchell, playing third and this squad also had a good run). Team Chad Horton won the C Event over Team Jeff Edwards. And it was Team Dunc Murphy winning the D Event over  Team Terry Fryer.

All in all, an excellent event once again. Thanks alot to Nancy and Brian West for making this event such a success. The prize table was incredible! Nancy worked hard this weekend and I cannot say enough how much of an asset the Wests are to the BRCC. They do so much for the club, so if you see them around, offer them kudos on an excellent job. Also, a word of thanks to Mike Laderoute, Michel Rivard, Rick Olmstead, Rick Albert, Terry MacDonald, Ron Forrest, Dan Shannahan, Gator Fortin and Warren Neufeld for a great job on the ice.

I want to say a special word about Gator and Karen Fortin. These are first rate people and also huge assets for the BRCC. I noticed on Saturday that Karen showed up to the club with 2 laundry tubs full of sandwiches that they made for the curlers. Not only their teams, but for everyone who wanted a quick bite. This was NOT for profvit, they did this as a random act of kindness. This is truly a reflection of the type of great people that the Fortins are. Thanks alot Gator and Karen.

A special thanks to Cameco for donating the BBQ's. I'm not sure what else they donated but I am sure the list would be too long to type out, especially if we added up what this company has donated throughout the year. Cameco, once again, demonstrates just how community-minded it is. The BRCC has done well again this year, and the help of Cameco is a big part of this. Thanks alot to Cameco, Chris Astles and the great employees that work there.

Great job by Jukebox and the people who got up to bang out some tunes at the Saturday afternoon jam session. Anita and Joanna did a great job as DJ's for the dance.

And thanks to all the volunteers that helped out during this weekend. The BRCC depends on its volunteers so all these people are also a big factor in the success of the club.

The Mens Worlds will be this weekend, kicking off on Saturday. Jacobs will be taking on China first. Team Liu is no pushover but if the Canucks play anything like they played in the playoffs of the Brier, then they should have no trouble. Stay tuned for my playoff and winner predictions.

Rock On!

The Curling Chronic

Happy Men's Closing Day

Anna Siderova. Skip for Team Russia. This team has made huge inroads in the Russian Curling program. I like this team, they have a good game. But they will need it, because she will be playing against the US in a bid for the 4th spot in the playoffs. If Russia loses, there will be several teams at 5 losses that will play in a tie breaker. One of them is the US ladies. Another would be the Swiss but they will have to win their game this afternoon. If Siderova wins, there will be no tie breakers. But the Canadian ladies are in the wind for whoever comes out of this shuffle. They ended up going 8 - 3 in regular round play with wins against China and then Japan this morning. The Canucks look good out there now. They look to be in control and are confident. They need to win their next 2 games straight to get to the final.

And Happy Mens  Closing Day! It's finally here, the premiere event at the BRCC. With games beginning at 6 pm tonight, there are 48 teams playing in this excellent tournament. I'm stoked!

It's confirmed, the top team in the BRCC Ladies League is Team Anita Moran. Great job ladies! This squad of Anita Moran, Lucy Ann Trudeau, Denise Hutchings and Paulie Ann James were consistent all year and they won the vast majority of their games, ending their season by giving the Red Bum Award to my beloved Rez Girls. I should mention that Pauli Ann James is a junior curler and she is an awesome young curler. She has a solid delivery and given time, she will will be a tough act to follow. I'm hoping this squad stays together for next year.

So that's it for now. My first game tonight is 10 pm and Thursdays always turn out to be a late night. I will attempt to update the action at the BRCC Mens Closing but I cannot guarantee it but you can count on the results following the spiel!

Rock On!

The Curling Chronic

Canadian Ladies 6 - 3

Team China. Skipped by Bingyu Wang. This team has won the World Championships before but it will not be this year. Sitting at 4 - 5 with their most recent win being against Latvia, 5 losses is most likely too many.  But they are a tough squad and now they can play spoiler. This is the team that Canada will face next. And Canada is just coming off a win against Switzerland. This was a big win for the Canucks. I have to hand it to Tirinzoni, she made some fantastic shots but so were the Canadians and in the end, they finished early. But, the Canadian gals will have to carry this elation to the next game because it will not be an easy one and they will have to continue to play well.

It seems to me that the Canadians have found their mojo. They look to me more confident now, especially Rachael Homan. That's a good thing because when they are in the zone, they can beat anybody.

The Swedish ladies are guaranteed a play off spot. This is an awesome team, I am really impressed with Maria Prytz, she's a pistol!

Scottish Team Eve Muirhead is in second place now but still looking very strong. Russia just suffered another loss so they sit at 3 losses as well. I really like this Russian team. They have come on really strong this year and it is good to see.

So it's a tough road ahead for our Canadian champions but they are up for the challenge. A cup of focus and a few crumbs of confidence goes a long way. C'mon you Canucks, bring home the hardware!

Rock On!

The Curling Chronic

Team Mitchell Threepeats!

The Robb Road Express. Always a bridesmaid, never the bride. The team of Ben Lemieux, Robin St Jules, Dan Horton and Lloyd Wilton had an excellent year and a great play off run but they were stopped short of the finish by the ever-consistent Mitchell crew...Dave Mitchell, Gator Fortin, Richard Olmstead and Scott Smith. That's three in a row for Team Mitchell. Great job guys and congratulations on another successful season. They'll be back next season and I'm sure there will be a lineup of squads looking to unseat them. In the meantime, that's two finals in a row that the Robb Road Express has lost (and to the same team!) But they really didn't lose, they had an excellent season and even scored an eight-ender. This crew has been together a long time and they enjoy their Thursday night Mens Curling. They have already won, as has everyone else that participates in this league. The BRCC Thursday Mens is a big league and is usually spread over three nights of the week. Always lots of good games and certainly lots of good laughs. Well, I do lament the end of the season for this league, but the Men's Closing is just 1 day away and we'll all be back together again for one last hootenanny before everyone gets lost at the golf course and at camp.

The Tuesday Ladies finished off last night with their last night of play. This league enjoyed a successful season as well. I have not yet heard officially who the top team is so i will wait for the official word before I post that result.

Meanwhile, the Canadian Seniors is still going on in Summerside, PEI. Northern Ontario's Team Vicky Barrett sits at 3 - 3 at the mid-week mark. On the Men's side, Team Bruce Munroe is 1 - 5, most likely out of the play offs.

In the Womens Worlds, the Canadian gals took a loss to Sweden to go 4 - 3 but rebounded with a win against Germany and they now sit at 5 - 3. I'm sure three losses is close to the bubble in terms of making the play offs so really, another loss could be to their detriment. They did play a better game against Sweden but man, that Maria Prytz makes alot of shots and she really kept her squad in the game. It sounds like the there is a struggle with the ice and mis-matched rocks. I'm sure there is a difference in the ice conditions but they will have to adapt and overcome if they want to be around for the end of the week. Sweden and Scotland both sit at 7 - 1. They will be hard to get by but if Homan can pick up her game, they can beat these teams all day long. The Canucks will face Switzerland (Team Tirinzoni) today at 12:30 pm ET. Right now, the Swiss sit at 4 - 3 and are in a 3 - 3 tie with Germany (8th end) as I type this. This Team Tirinzoni are no push overs and Team Homan will have to find her confidence and pull it all together and get to 6 - 3. This game could be a real morale booster so they have to pull it out.

And that's it for another day of curling. Congrats once again to Team Dave Mitchell, once again the current BRCC Mens Champs.

Rock On!

The Curling Chronic

Mitchell / Lemieux Final in the Mens

The Thursday Newfie Bullet. Red Bum Award for last night's performance in the semi-final of the Mens Club Championship. And so it becomes Team Mitchell going up against the Robb Road Express. This is a repeat of last year's final. Both are deserving teams and it would be hard to predict the outcome. The Mitchell squad are the defending club champions but the Robb Road Express have been formidable this year and could easily take it. One way or another, this outcome will be decided tonight. Looking for some entertainment, check out this game. It'll be a good one! I have pals on either side in this match so I cannot root for one team over the other so that said, good luck to both teams.

Meanwhile, the Monday / Wednesday Leagues finished off last night with some curling and some snacks. Excellent vittles! Michel Rivard showed up with some kind of wieners in tangy sauce. It was awesome! Michel not only knows ice...he can cook too!

The BRCC Belles will wrap it up tonight as they play their final games. They will have their banquet on April 4 to finish out for the year. Tickets are available at the bar or speak to Jamie Ellmore, Paula Sommers or Jennifer Stanton Smith.

The Mens League will be having a pizza and wings night on Thursday, March 28 @ 6:30 pm. Come play some cards and/or hang out with the guys.

The BRCC AGM was yesterday and a new board was elected. The directors for this upcoming year will be: Kristy Blanchett, Christie Hagger, Lorraine Liss, Christine Scholburg, Al Viel, Glen Austin, Bob Villeneuve, Ryan Hagger and Michel Rivard. It will be nice to see some new faces on the board. It is always good to have fresh faces and fresh ideas coming to the table. Thanks to the outgoing board members!


At the Women's Worlds, Canada sits 3 - 2 and as I type this, are playing against Italy. They will most likely win this game but they are uncharacteristically tentative, I find. They do not look completely comfortable out there and as we approach mid-week, it will be imperative that they settle down and get to the job at hand. The Homan rink is an awesome squad. They will have to bear down though as they are meeting some tough teams coming up. One of those teams is Sweden, who are still undefeated. Also, Germany lies ahead as well.

Getting excited yet?! The Men's Closing is just a couple of days away now and BRCC's premiere event will kick off. This is always a huge tournament and what a good time. This spiel is famous...and it sure is a tough act to follow.

Rock On

The Curling Chronic

Day 3 Of The Womens Worlds

Allison Kreviazuk. Second for Team Homan. The Canadian Ladies had a shaky start on Saturday with a 6 - 4 loss to Eve Muirhead of Scotland.  Allison had a fall and burned a rock which resulted in a steal for Scotland. But that was just an unfortunate slip, Allison is a first rate player. She makes alot of shots and quietly goes about the business of making shots for her skip. A very impressive member of this team.

Team Canada rebounded and won the next three games straight so now they have moved up in the standings in a tie for second place with a record of 3 - 1. One of the tough teams...Sweden. No surprise there, with Maria Prytz throwing last. This lady is an excellent player and she closes an awful lot of ends. Can the Canadian women beat them/ I'm sure they can, but I think they need to catch on to the ice and perhaps shake the last of the jitters they might be feeling from being in their first Worlds. By the end of the week, I'm certain these ladies will be back to their usual on-ice formidable selves.

In local action at the BRCC, the final week of league curling begins tonight with Monday Night Mixed playing against teams from the Wednesday Open 8 Ender league. I guess there will be some vittles to consume following the games. It's a pot luck thing with Monday nighters bringing an Appetizer and Wednesday nighters bringing in a Dessert.

Tuesday ladies will play their last night of play tomorrow night.

In the late night games tonight, Team Austin will play against Team Mitchell in the semi-final of the Thursday Mens. If you are fan of local curling, this will be a great game to watch. I expect to see members of the Robb Road Express here tonight just to see who it will be meeting them tomorrow night in the final.

In Seniors action, the Canadian Senior Curling Championships are underway in Summerside, PEI. Longtime BRCC pals, Team Vicky Berrett are represe3nting Northern Ontario and they currently sit at 1 - 2. Best of lucks to these great gals. On the Mens side, Team Munroe currently sits at 0 - 3. Hopefully they can string some wins together.

Rock On!

The Curling Chronic

And Then There Were Three

I know what you're thinking. Who is that guy using Tom St Jules bowling ball? I don't know who this guy is, but obviously there are more Big Daddies than the one we know at the BRCC. And Tommy St Jules has more hair, but he is not a bowler. He's a curler and in the summer he golfs.

Tom St Jules has been a member at the BRCC for a very long time. He plays as much curling as he can and he can make alot of shots. He plays in all the leagues and can always be counted on for a tough game. And he's got 3 other brothers that curl at the BRCC as well. Dean, Robin and Royal are also out there playing for various teams. The Family Jules is a BRCC tradition when it comes to the Men's Closing. These 4 brothers get together every year and mix it up in the premiere event of the season. Awesome situation for these guys. It must be cool to have family come together for a tournament. There are others as well that do the same thing. Al Viel gets his brothers Denis and Marcel as well as brother-in-law Kenny McLeod together for the Mens Closing and they always have a blast.

The Mens Closing is just a week away now. Where has the season gone. Although there is still lots of snow, it won't be long before my broom is put away and the camp gear comes out. Bittersweet in a way. I love summer but I will miss the Roaring Game. But, we're not there yet and the action still continues at the BRCC.

The Thursday Mens Play Offs are now down to three teams that remain:

Ben Lemieux won over Bob Villeneuve. The Robb Road Express are through to the final as they will play the winner of the Newfie Bullet and Team Mitchell. You can't take it from the Robb Roaders, they have had an outstanding year and whoever plays them in the final will have to bring their A Game.

Dave Mitchell won over Dan Berthelot. Forced to make a tough last shot, the Mitchell squad are through to the semi-final. Team Dan Berthelot had a great game and the score was tied coming home. It has been a good couple of seasons for this Berthelot crew and there can be no doubt that they will be that much stronger next season. As for Team Mitchell, they are the current club champions. They will take a ride on the Newfie Bullet on Monday night so the opportunity id there for the Bullet to unseat the champs and make their way to the final but that will not be an easy task. This will be a tough match and definitely one worth watching.

Glen Austin won over Ryan Hagger. What a game. This one went into an extra end and the two last shots in this game were humdingers. Ryan's last shot negotiated a tough port with staggered guards on either side. he made it beautifully for full four foot. Incredible shot forcing me to follow him in with a backline number to move him out. It made for an outstanding finish to an outstanding game. Team Ryan Hagger have been outstanding in this, their first season out. Ryan has made quite a splash in his first year skipping and if this team decides to stay together, they will be that much tougher next year. Great year guys! As for the Thursday Newfie Bullet, it will be a tough road ahead as Team Mitchell lies ahead. But it should not be an easy path anyway, and we are all hoping for a good, close game. If that happens, then we are all winners.

I have no results for the other leagues this week but I would like to talk about them in general.

Monday Mixed:  This was a league with 10 teams which means there was 1 game in the late draw. That actually worked out this season as there was overflow from the Mens League so they took some second draw spots. The Mixed League is a fun league and alot of couples enjoy coming out and playing a game. There is room for this league to grow so if you are looking for a fun night out, try the Mixed League. It's a cheap night out!

Tuesday Ladies: Excellent league. The BRCC Belles have a 13 team league with more room for joining teams. The ladies league is an integral part of the BRCC success. having a strong ladies league enhances the club's strenbth on so many levels. And these ladies like their league. It is run by Paula Sommers, Jennifer Stanton Smith and Jamie Ellmore. These ladies have done a fabulous job of running the league and planning activities. There were some new skips out there this year, like Jamie Ellmore, for example. Jamie is a third year curler and she enjoys playing the game. She took several turns as skip this year for her team and learned first hand what the "Red Bum" Award really is. But as I have said many times, that is part of the process. What also happened is that Jamie learned the game more and improved her game by having to make difficult shots from time to time. being a third year player and taking on the role of skip is a huge progression and her game will improve as a result so great job Jamie. Then there was Joanna Hammond. I like Joanna's style. She is focused on her game and she goes out there and does her best. They did not win all their games this year, but this is also Joanna's first time as skip and she too had to endure the learning process. But Joanna is a quick study at the Roaring Game...and that should not be a surprise seeing how she loves the game. Joanna is a good candidate for competitive curling and at some point in the future, she should put a crew together and get out there and try to get to a provincial. And what about Team Scholburg. Another squad that made quite a splash this year. These are not new players  but they are a new team and Christine Scholburg has not played at the helm regularly until this season. They turned out to be a solid team and once again, Christine got to see the game from another perspective.

Team Liz Rouselle had a great come back season. Last season was not their best year but they came back swinging this year and are in top form. They will end up near the top on the leader board. Great season ladies.

I'm pretty sure top Team this year will be Team Anita Moran. This is a real tough squad and they won the vast majority of their games. Well done ladies.

Team Hayley Horton, the BRCC Junior Ladies team made quite a splash this year. These young ladies are so young yet so mature on the ice. They won a few games and they really grew as a team in just this one season. It was a delight to watch them improve. Excellent commitment by all 4 of these girls...curling twice a week in the leagues and practicing at least once as well. Kudos to the BRCC Belles for working with these young ladies to help them improve. When this squad returns next season, look out. I think they will be tough to get by.

The Iron Bridge Belles (Team Tivy) will finish well in the standings. These ladies are absolutely awesome. They have been BRCC members for years and they make the trek to Blind River every Tuesday to play their game. They are true curling chronics and they do well every season. No shocker there, they are a veteran crew.

It was nice to see the Alloway girls still in the mix. These young ladies are nice girls, and they are true curling chronics. Not only that, they are good players too. This may be their last year at the BRCC for a while. I think the Alloway sisters will be heading to college next year so all the best to these girls. All I can say is find a rink wherever you are going and stay with the game.

The other four teams are Beth Laderoute, Shirley Lemieux, Christie Hagger and my beloved Rez Girls. These are all teams that complete the league in so many ways. They can always be counted on for a good game and they all enjoy being out there and playing a good game. Hopefully all 4 teams will stay together and if that happens, there will be alot of strong teams in this league next season.

Wednesday Open 8 Ender:  This league has 9 participating teams and it was a fun league. Not many changes, it turns out, despite a new league title. There was a preseason misconception about this league. I think people thought that this league was going to be competitive. But it was the same league with basically the same people. There is also room for growth in this league and yes, that means late games. I know there are those that despise the late draws but in the end it is not every week and for many it's only once a week that they play. By and large, you can be home by 11, just in time for repeats of Two and a Half Men and then Jay Leno's Monologue right after. And another thing that this provided was another league for the Junior Ladies to play in and get more experience. That, to me, is a big plus. Junior curling is the future of curling and the BRCC does it's part in furthering our juniors where we can. Awesome league. Thanks and great job by my pal, Al Viel.

I guess you all know the Ford World Womens Curling Championship kicks off this weekend at 1:00 pm (TSN) ET with Canada's Rachael Homan playing Scotland's Eve Muirhead. And me with a wedding to go to at 3 pm!! I'll catch the beginning and with any luck, they will have a TV in the lobby of this wedding venue where I can steal off from time to time to catch segments of the latter ends. Alot of people have high hopes for this Homan team. They sure were impressive in the STOH. If they play like that at the Worlds, it will be hard for many of those teams to deal with their game. But there are a couple of good teams also here....for one, Sigfridsson from Sweden. With fourth thrower Maria Prytz, this squad is super tough and you be sure they will bring it. And I am interested in seeing what Tirinzoni does for Switzerland since this is the crew that unseated Mariam Ott. And, Andrea Schopp is there again for Germany but she has a newer squad now so it should be interesting. That tough Japanese squad is there and you certainly can't count out Betty Wang from China. And Anna Siderova of Russia has certainly got some game. Real tough to predict the final four in this field but here's my humble best:

Top 4 at the end of the week: Homan, Sigfridsson, Wang, Siderova. Homan goes on to win the Worlds.

Have you thought about going to the Continental Cup of Curling next January (2014) in Las Vegas? I'm pretty sure Team Homan and Team Jacobs will be there. Many of us already have our tickets and hotel booked. Probably not like the Brier, or the STOH, but by now, we have been to lots of different competitions so since Vegas beckons, who can resist 4 days of curling in a city that I love. I'm stoked.

Rock On!

The Curling Chronic

Jacobs Wins It!

Team Northern Ontario. The new Canadian Curling kings! This is a great day for Northern Ontario Curling and this squad did it in fine style. And this crew is a great example of how hard work and dedication to a goal can pay off. They played well all week and peaked in the playoffs.

Now the question remains, can they win the worlds. If they play like they did during the playoffs, the answer is definitely yes. I'm stoked to watch them on the world stage.

And what of Team Gushue? Well, they certainly had a good run and though they ended up 4th, losing the Bronze medal game, they played well and lost squeakers so all in all, the Gush had a good week and I was happy with the way they played.

So, getting back to Team Jacobs, not only are the sights set on winning the worlds, I am sure the Olympic Games are also a huge possibility. Knowing this squad, they will continue to practice hard and they will give all they have to get there. Kudos to Team Jacobs for an excellent showing!

To end on a kind of philosophical note, I couldn't help but think about Stoughton while I watched his implosion last night. I think by seeing Howard lose and then Stoughton getting thumped in the final, what I really witnessed was the next generation of great curlers move through. Let's face it, it happens all the time. The Howards, Martin s and Stoughtons of this curling world have all accomplished great things in this sport and have been on top for a long time, but there are always other teams coming up through that will eventually take over the top positions. Look at Mike McEwen and John Epping. They continue to be there in the  mix but just fall short of the mark but eventually, they make it through and they become top teams. I believe this is where it is at for Jacobs.

At any rate, it was an awesome brier. Lots of close, exciting games and a big win for Jacobs, By the way, you will recall I picked Team Jacobs to win the Brier (even though my 4 play off teams were not correct...Martin was shocker) so this year, I am 2 for 2 in picking the winners for the STOH and the Brier. Hmmmm, I'm having a pretty good year myself....now, if I could only translate that into curling on the ice......

Rock On!

The Curling Chronic

Saturday Morning Brier Hangover

Jacobs vs Gushue. That will be your 3 - 4 game in this year's Brier. After a late night watching the Martin / Howard game and the dramatic Manitoba / BC finish, I'm up early and still feeling the effects of all that action last night. What a Brier it has been! First, Martin winning that game against Howard..what an excellent game. But then, after Martin sat at 7 - 4, he needed BC to win against Manitoba, unable to anything but watch and hope. And then an extra end! Who says there is no drama in curling! The entire arena was charged but in the end, it was Stoughton pulling it out (he will advance to the 1 - 2 game against Howard) and the Old Bear's chances were over. I could not help but feel for Martin, who came back from 1 - 4 to win 6 straight. An excellent accomplishment in itself but it turns out Martin had one loss too many. It would have been an incredible story to have Martin come back and get to a final but it was not to be.

But, the upside is that both Jacobs and Gushue have made the playoffs and will play the 3 - 4 game tonight. I am torn for sure. I cannot help but want to see Jacobs win a Brier being that they are a Northern Ontario team, but on the other hand, I have been a Gushue fan since his first Brier in 2003. How could I abandon him now? It will be tough to see either one of these teams lose. What a juxtaposition!

The crowd was wild last night at Rexall Place in Edmonton. I cannot remember another time when everyone had to wait until the last game on the ice was over to decide the full playoff picture, and that game being in an extra end.

I could not help but think about how far TV curling has come over the years. It's the brilliant broadcasting of the TSN crew that helps enhance this viewing experience but the players themselves complete the picture. Players that play at this level have come so far in the game that spectacular shots are the norm. Whoever said that watching curling is like watching paint dry said so in absolute ignorance. If any of these people were at the Austin house last night (just myself and Annie there) would certainly have a different opinion this morning. I just about took the roof off the house when Gushue beat Quebec and then during last night's game (and drama), my house was just as charged as Rexall Center itself. I am not sure how Annie puts up with my shot by shot rants and raves but God bless her, she has endured me over the years and she is truly the one that I enjoy watching games with the most. We do have a blast watching TV curling together. Watching the Roaring game is definitely a piece of common ground where we can go and get lost in the moment(s).

And when Monday morning comes and the Brier is over, my Brier hangover will be bigger than most other years, and although I will lament the ending of the greatest tournament in curling, I will have watched one of the greatest Briers ever. If you can count all the great games that were televised, then you will indeed be good at counting because there were lots and it's not over yet. More drama to follow!

Rock On!

The Curling Chronic

Brier Stuff

Well, as I type this, my tears are falling on the keyboard and here I am, almost out of tissues. The Gush lost another squeaker to Team Martin. Another great game and although my beloved Gushue was forced to 7 - 3, the entertainment value is to the stars. The Old Bear stays alive to play one more and it won't be an easy road, he's taking on Ontario tonight and you can be sure that this will be the feature game. Meanwhile, Team Gushue now faces Team Menard this afternoon. This is the feature game and I can only hope that Martin Crete gets a case of laryngitis before the game. These guys, specifically Menard and Crete are screamers. There can be no mistaking them when they call the sweepers on. But they have been hot and this game will be a tough one for the Gush but I hold out hope that Gushue will finish 8 - 3 and post a win over this tough Quebec crew.

And Jamie Koe, what a spoiler! He will not make the play offs this year but he beat Stoughton, and that's good enough for me! You remember that Sesame Street song, "C" is for Cookie, that's good enough for me...well, substitute a few words and you get  "Koe beat Stoughton, that's good enough for me". That's the song I am singing this afternoon. Nonetheless, Stoughton is far from out of it and they will have at least a tiebreaker.

BC won a game. Kudos to them! Now, if only Nova Scotia could do the same but not against Jacobs who plays them today. In fact, Jacobs plays Nova Scotia and New Brunswick so they at least have an outside chance to go 8 - 3, although James Grattan has been m,aking alot of shots and won't be a push over. Pretty darn good, Jacobs is still in the thick of things.

What a great Brier it has been this year. Lots of nail biters! Looking for some entertainment this weekend?..settle in and watch the Brier. Entertainment plus!

Rock On!

The Curling Chronic

Wednesday Open 8 Ender (and Thursday mens Playoff Update)

Brad Jacobs. Still doing great at the Brier with a 6 - 3 record. They posted a big win over Manitoba last night and they look good to make it to at least a tiebreaker but they could even make a 3 - 4 game. Meanwhile, Team Martin continues to keep his play off hopes alive but he will have to get past my beloved Team Gushue this morning for those hopes to stay alive. Gushue lost a squeaker to Howard yesterday afternoon and after I dried my tears, I still had hope that he would continue on and make the playoffs.

but that is not all the curling action this week. The Wednesday Open 8 Ender had action of their own at the BRCC with 3 games to report.

Ice A: Andrew Roberts vs Al Viel. WIN for Viel. In this come from behind victory, the Viel crew were chasing the whole game but managed to take a big 5 in the 7th and went on to win the game. I guess they do their best work under pressure and that is why they win the "Under Pressure" Award. Queen would be proud (if they were curlers).

Ice B: Hayley Horton vs Ryan hagger. WIN for Hagger. The Hagger squad managed to pull out thew win but they had their hands full with the tough Juniors. There were several points where the Hagger crew were looking like they were going to give up a bundle but they managed to make some magic and save the ends. They win the "All I Need Is A Miracle" Award. Mike and the Mechanics would be proud (if they were curlers).

Ice C; Glen Austin vs Tom St Jules. WIN for Austin. The Wednesday Newfie Bullet were in the zone much to Big Daddy's chagrin. The Newfie Bullet has had a good season in this league this year with Joanne Niganobe as a new addition in the third position. Joanne plays alot of games during the year and has honed her skills nicely. She wins the "getting Better" Award. The Beatles would be proud (if they were curlers).

So that's how the rocks curled in this week's Open 8 Ender. With just 2 more weeks left, this league is also winding down. It's been a good year for this league and there is lots of room for other teams to join in on the action. Looking for another curling night, try the Wednesday Open 8 Ender. great games and great fun.

In the Thursday mens League, the playoffs continue:

Team Mtchell won over Team Laderoute. They will go on to play Team Dan Berthelot with that winner playing the winner of Team Villeneuve (who seem to be on a roll) and the Robb Road Express so the current club champions will have to hold it together regardless of who wins that one. Great finish this season for the Villenueve crew. I guess they did save the best for last.

Team Villeneuve won over Team Rouselle. After such a great season, the Posties are out after Round 2 of the playoffs. But they have had a spectacular year and although this might be a bit of an anticlimax, they can hold their heads high. And still on a roll, the Villeneuve squad will have to get by the Robb Road Express next so they will need some extra kinetic energy for that one.

Team Hagger won over Team Astles. Team Hagger are awesome. They are a new team and this is Ryan's first year as a skip in the Mens and they have had an excellent showing. They will meet the Thursday Newfie Bullet next in Round 3. The Bullet has had this week off and have been loading up on the coal so they will have some steam for this game. Note to Team Hagger: bring your seatbelts!

Team Dan Berthelot won over the Molson Exers. Despite a solid year, the Molson Exers are off to the B side while Team Berthelot continue on to Round 3. They will have their hands full with Team Mitchell but if they play to their potential, they will be moving on.

The Robb Road Express won over Team Francois Lemieux. The Robb Road Express are a powerhouse this year and you might recall that they lost the final last year to Team Mitchell. Undoubtedly they are looking for redemption and that might come but they will have to get by Team Villeneuve first. With the late season roll going on, the Villeneuve crew have the potential to derail the Robb Roaders. This will be a good game to watch!

So that's it for another week. The Mens Closing is just around the corner and the excitement is already in me and most likely everyone else that takes part in this hootenanny. It won't be long now!

Rock On!

The Curling Chronic

Tuesday Ladies

I know what you're thinking. Why is Natasha Hallett curling in a bikini? Well, that's  not her. Natasha loves to curl but she prefers to do it fully clothed. It can be chilly at the BRCC out on the ice without proper attire. And the BRCC Belles were out there again, still looking to climb the leader board with just a couple of weeks left. And they had all their clothes on while they played too!

Ice A: Paula Sommers vs Marg Tivy. WIN for Tivy. The Iron Bridge Belles pull it back together and post a win. It has not been the second half that this veteran team had hoped for but make no mistake, this squad is solid and they certainly will look to ending the season with a bang and that will give them a solid spot on the leader board. The I B Belles are dedicated to the game of curling. Every week, for years now, this squad makes the trek from Iron Bridge to Blind River to play their game. This is loyalty to the Roaring Game. They win the "Loyal To The Game" Award. 2Pac would be proud (if he was a curler).

Ice B: Shirley Lemieux vs Christie Hagger. WIN for Lemieux. The Lemieux squad have done some winning this year. Shirley's daughter in law, Tammy plays for this team and she is another of the longtime pals of the BRCC. She plays in this Ladies League but also is one of the people who work with the Little Rockers, Bantams and Juniors. Tammy had done this for a few years now and with Junior curling being the future of this sport, her contribution to the BRCC and the sport is huge. She wins the "Helping Hand" Award. Amy Grant would be proud (if she was a curler).

Ice C: Hayley Horton vs Christine Scholburg. WIN for Horton. Once again, the Junior Ladies illustrate how sticking with it pays off. These young ladies made a commitment to play alot of curling this year and try to improve and they did just that. They are regular fixtures at the BRCC and they followed through with their plan. Extremely impressive to say the least. They win the "I Hope You Dance" Award. LeeAnn Womack would be proud (if she was a curler).

Ice B (Late): Anita Moran vs Joanna Hammond. WIN for Moran. This was a mother against daughter contest and the mother won out. The Moran rink has been strong all season and they sit at the top of the leader board. Tough team to beat, that's for sure. But, this is the first year out for Joanna Hammond as a skip. She has to grow into this position and with her enthusiasm and curling talent, she can do nothing but improve. Joanna is a very enthusiastic curler. She is very competitive and there can be no doubt that she is focused when she is on the ice.She wins the "I Would Walk 500 Miles" Award. The Proclaimers would be proud if they were curlers.

Ice C: Annie Austin vs Liz Rouselle. WIN for Rouselle. Team Rouselle have really made their mark this year. With the departure of Lorraine Liss from this veteran crew, the Rouselle rink went through a period of readjustment but came back this season in the biggest kind of way. They have won alot of games and will finish near the top of the leader board. They win the "Back In The High Life Again" Award. Steve Winwood would be proud (if he was a curler).

So there you have it. It's been a great season for the Tuesday ladies League. it was great to see all the newly formed teams and they certainly enhanced this league and made for some fun nights.

Meanwhile, in Brier action, Gushue took his first loss last night in a lop sided match against Manitoba. It was tied after 7 ends and I was beside myself but then the 8th end came and Gushue was stuck throwing a hail Mary against 6 Manitoba stones...Manitoba went on to score 4 and that spelled the end of the game. They will have to regroup and bring their A Game for  their game against the red, hot Ontario team this afternoon.

Team Martin...still alive but still has some big games ahead of them. Can they keep it going....they are definitely in tough.

Team Nova Scotia and Team BC. Certainly an anticlimax for them as both teams are still winless. I feel their pain but that is just another thing about the big show.

Team Jacobs. Still 5 - 2. These guys need to reign in the emotions a bit. Even the commentators are talking about it. they are excellent players but their emotions seem to get the better of them and they risk becoming a bit unglued. Perhaps a round of yoga or Pilate's in the morning followed by a group hug will get them in a better place so they can continue in the winning side.

Still lots of curling to go yet and things can change but for now, my hopes remain alive for both Gushue and Jacobs. Note to self: pick up a stress ball because some of these games are nail-biters.

Rock On!

The Curling Chronic

Monday Mixed (and Thursday Mens Update)

Golden Gushue. Currently sitting at 6 - 0. It was quite a game against Jacobs the other night. Coming down to the last shot in the extra end (where he almost rolled too far), I almost ate my pillow! If you were looking for a great game to watch, then this one was it. I don't know if I can stand much more of the emotional roller coaster that comes with every game as the week wears on. Today is a big day for the Gush, he plays Jamie Koe this afternoon and then Stoughton tonight. I'm sure this will be the feature game and I wonder if the team from the Rock can hold on for these 2 games. If he wins both, he will guarantee himself a spot in the play offs. Gushue has broken my heart so many times before that I am afraid to hope, but hope I must! Not since 1976 and Jack MacDuff did the Newfies win the Brier (and that is the only time NL has won a Brier) so this is a big deal for these guys. (Especially for Gushue since he is the only Newfoundlander on the team).

Still a good week for Jacobs who now sits 4 - 2 after receiving the Red Bum Award from Team Howard. I still expect Northern Ontario to do well and you just cannot take it away from them. They are a good squad in their own right and I fully expect them to make a full recovery, put the Noxema on their burning backsides and come out swinging against Team Menard. The Quebec boys have been having quite a Brier. Remarkable shot-making....quite a surprise this week from this crew.

And for Kevin Martin, the slide continues. I feel his pain, which must be amplified seeing how he is playing in front of the hometown crowd. Just a bad week I guess but it may not be all over for this squad yet, 4 losses is definitely the bubble and they will have to make sure that they don't lose another game. No doubt, it's a tough road back but if any squad is capable of such a recovery, it is Team Martin. Don't count them out all together...they still might find their pace yet.

And for Paul Flemming, he still is looking to win his first. With no wins yet, this crew have had a tough week. I feel for them.

Brock Virtue...not the showing I expected from them and certainly not what this team had hoped for. Good team though, if they stay together, they will be back.

James Grattan...wow...great play from this squad. They may not make it to the playoffs but they are still in it. James has been making some dynamite shots and lost a couple of squeakers that he could have won. Great showing this week.

But the Brier is not the only curling going on in Canada this week. All over the country, leagues are still going on and that was the case at the BRCC on Monday when the Mixed League continued to battle it out.

Ice A: Al Viel vs Francois Lemieux. WIN for Viel. The Viel squad has won the vast majority of their games this year. Not surprising, there are good players on this crew. Al himself is a great competitor. You can always count on Al to be 100% into the game, and because of this, he always provides a tough game. He wins the "Tough Guys" Award. REO Speedwagon would be proud (if they were curlers.)

Ice B: Dan McMillan vs Michel Rivard. WIN for McMillan. The McMillan rink is another squad that has had alot of success in the Mixed League. Mary Shamas plays for this team and she is a long time pal of the BRCC. Mary is a busy lady but finds time to play curling at least once a week and you see her out there sparing as well. But that's  not all, Mary likes to play in bonspiels and she enjoys going to the big curling events to watch. Mary is a true Curling Chronic, and that is for sure. She wins the "Can't Get Enough" Award. Patty Loveless would be proud (if she was a curler).

Ice C: Bob Villeneuve vs Brian West. WIN for Villeneuve. The Villeneuve crew has been solid all season and certainly have won most of their games. And why wouldn't they, with both Bob and Terry Fryer playing on this squad. But Heidi Lees also plays on this team. She plays lead and Heidi has improved over the years and makes alot of shots. And she also loves the game. You can look at her out on the ice and know for sure that she is enjoying herself. If you watch her shoot or even watch her sweep, you will know that she is focused and into the game at all times. The curling bug has bitten her deeply and there is no recovering from that. She wins the "Lost In Love" Award. Air Supply would be proud (if they were curlers).

Ice D: Sandy Milroy vs Jerry Jensen. WIN for Jensen. Nice to see the Jensen squad post a win. They win some and lose some, but here is another squad that absolutely love the game. Kathy Jensen plays on this squad and she is a fabulous curler. And quite a nice lady to boot. Kathy is the model sportsperson and she just loves to play curling. Kathy has made many contributions to the BRCC over the years. She is usually behind the scenes giving consultations, but she has done much to benefit our little club and usually without alot of recognition. Just another refle ction of Kathy's wonderful personality. She wins the "Busy being Fabulous" Award. The Eagles would be proud (if they were curlers).

So that wraps up another Monday Mixed. There is only a couple weeks left and curling will end for this league. But it was a great year and kudos to Alain Viel for being the convener of this league. With the way this league went this year, I'm sure that there will be even more teams participating next year. The Mixed is a great league...and what a great way to get out with your significant other and play a game and mingle with some great people. That what Mixed curling is about and t hat is exactly what happens at the BRCC.

In Thursday Mens action, Round 1 is now complete. Here is a list of the teams that have made it through the first round and will continue on in the quest for the Club Championship.

Team Dave Mitchell: won over Team Zagar and current club champions. The question is, can they keep it together to the end. They will be looking to prevent the slide as they take on Mike Laderoute and his magic stick next.

Team Bob Villeneuve: Won over Team Hammond. I predicted this, did I not? While the Villeneuve crew had a tough season, they pulled it together in the second half and will be a team to watch. If they get on a roll, they could go all the way but they will have to hold it all together as they are meeting Team Rick Rouselle next and we all know the kind of season the Postie have had. they been goin' Postal, and gettin' it done.

Team Ben Lemieux: won against Brian Tonelli. The Robb Road Express have been on quite a roll. They even have an 8-Ender to their credit and they are looking to be the next BRCC kings. And it's not like they can't do it, if they continue to play the way they have been, they will be hard to beat. But the battle of the Lemieux's is next as they will have to play 'mon oncle" Francois. A cup of focus will be required for this one.

Team Francois Lemieux: won against Jeff Mitchell. Francois has had a good year but will really have to bear down against his nephew when he meets the red, hot Robb Road Express next.

Team  Dan Berthelot: won against Jim Kendrick. Great to see this squad moving on. Lots of talent on this team and they have had a solid couple of seasons. They will have to draw on this experience when they meet the Molson Exers next. The Exers have game and they are focused on the prize. They might tell you that it's all about the pizza and beer, but they are also looking to be top dogs.

Team Chris Astles: won against Brian West. The Astles crew are a veteran crew and it is great to see them moving through. They will have to bear down, however, if they want to get past the Hagger squad. It's not like they are in tough, Team Astles has lots of game..they will just have to have it all together for this upcoming match.

Team Ryan Hagger: won against Al Viel. Big night for this Hagger crew, knocking off a tough team in the first round. They will play Team Astles next and they will have to continue to hold it all together. If this squad plays up to its [potential, then they will be a force to be reckoned with. look for lots of rocks to be in play during this match. That seems to be how Team Hagger rolls (or slides in this case).

Team Glen Austin: won against Team Roberts. The Thursday Newfie Bullet has consistently finished in the top three every year since starting up in 2007. However, they have never made it past the second round. Hard not to develop a complex given this statistic. But they will be looking to change that trend this year when they take on the winner of Hagger / Astles. Perhaps a support group before this match will help with the psychosis.

Team Keith Rouselle: won over Team Valiquette. I'm happy to see the Molson Exers moving through. They have been together now for several years and they play good curling. While they did not finish as the top team, they still had a solid season and they have the ability to win it all but they will have to batten down the hatches and keep it afloat when they meet Team Dan Berthelot this week.

Rick Rouselle: won over Michel Rivard. The Posties are a red hot team this season. they got on a roll early and finished in the top three. Excellent showing and they will not be easy to beat if they continue to curl like they have been. And they will need to draw on all their skill as they play Team Villeneuve next, who appear to be ready to rock!

So there you have it. As teams lose, they are sent over to the B side and there are lots of good games going on there. And the beauty to this is that they keep curling and staying practiced up for the upcoming Mens Closing which is just a couple of short weeks away now. If you think you have been to great bonspiels but have never been to a BRCC Mens Closing, then you have never seen a spiel like this. It is the bets bonspiel that I have ever attended. It is extremely difficult to beat this one....I'm stoked!

Rock On!

The Curling Chronic

Brier Continues

Kevin Martin and Johnny Mo. A bit a trouble early on in the Brier but nothing to get in a twist about. Vic Rauter has not missed an opportunity to point how Team Martin was 0 - 2....I mean every time he began a broadcast, he would point this out. Simmer down Vic...you'll give Martin a complex! It's true, Martin lost a squeaker to Stoughton and then went on to lose against Menard (who would have thought) but I still think the Old Bear will make it to the play offs. The big news, Jacobs is undefeated thus far. While it is true that today is only Monday, Team Jacobs is looking good.

Team Gushue...4 - 0! That was a close one last night against James Grattan. Gushue was lucky to get through that one. This team will have to keep it together because they have some tough games today. Tonight they will meet Brad Jacobs and I will be torn over who to root for in this one, but in my heart of hearts, it will have to be the squad from the 'Rock'.

Team Menard...still undefeated. I think this ride at the top of the standings will be short-lived. By the end of the week, I cannot see them still being there but for now, they are playing great curling. Martin Crete..no problems with those lungs as he frightens the rocks into staying straight.

Team Howard...looking good. Man, these guys have been playing good curling for a long time.

Alberta vs Northern Ontario @ 3:30 pm today. Big game for both teams. If Jacobs wins this game, it will be a huge boost and this team is already in the zone. As for Martin, losing this game will put him at 3 losses...a place he does not want to be so I think Team Martin will come out swinging this afternoon.

The rocks...I guess the new rocks are giving everyone trouble but everyone is playing with them and this can be no excuse for losses. They will have to figure this out and move forward.

In Junior action in Sochi, Russia, the Junior ladies are now 0 - 4. While it would appear that the breaks are not going their way, it is important to remember that these are good, young curlers and the experience that they take away from this is the very thing that is to be focused on.

The Junior Men are 3 - 2 and although not at the top of the leader board, are having a decent run.

For both these teams, to get to this World competition is an accomplishment in itself. Meeting other curlers from around the world must be a rewarding experience and playing as well as you can is all that can be hoped for. Kudos to both these young teams!

Rock On!

The Curling Chronic

Wednesday Open 8 Ender

Happy Brier's Eve all you fellow Curling Chronics! I feel the same way today as I used to when it was Christmas Eve when I was a kid. The only difference here is that it's Christmas day for me for a week! And I bet it was like that for Ron Northcott, pictured here in the 1968 Brier. Boy, smoke in the mouth and sweeping to beat the band. Things sure have changed. And, I think we have better underarm anti perspirant these days as well. And since 1968, the game has changed. These high performance players are athletes and have a skill that puts them in a league of their own. And we will get a chance to witness it all starting tomorrow when the Brier kicks off in Edmonton. And at the BRCC, there was some action all of its own at the Wednesday Open 8 Ender. Sure, this was not TV curling calibre but hey, there were some good shots made and the enjoyment level was there.

Ice A: Andrew Roberts vs Ryan Hagger. WIN for Roberts. Team Santana sure has come a long way. This is this team's second year and they win as much as they lose. They continue to get stronger and I am interested in seeing them next year. For sure, the potential is there to be a top team. Andrew plays alot of curling these days. He plays in 2 leagues as a skip and does not miss too many opportunities to spare. Just another victim of the curling bug that has him in love with the Roaring Game. He wins the "Love Is The Drug" Award. Roxy Music would be proud (if they were curlers).

Ice C: John Hammond vs Vola Roberts. TIE GAME. With Vola conspicuously absent, it was Sandy Milroy at the helm and he battled it out with the tough Hammond rink. In the end, no one could claim first place. sandy Milroy is a veteran curler. He's been in the game a long time and he quietly goes about the business of playing good curling. He makes alot of shots and can always be counted on for good competition. He wins the "Eye Of The Tiger" Award. Rocky Balboa would be proud (if he was a curler).

Ice D: Tom St Jules vs Warren Neufeld. NO INTEL.  Big Daddy would most likely had his hands full with the tough Neufeld Factor. That being said, this game could have gone either way because Big Daddy and his squad also know how to manufacture points and generate wins.  Big Daddy (Tom St Jules) is also a long time pal of the BRCC. He plays 2 or 3 times a week and it shows in his shot-making skills. When he is on, he can deal out some curling pain, big time. He wins the "Heartbreaker" Award. Pat Benatar would be proud (if she was a curler).

So that's how it all played out for this week's Wednesday 8 Ender. The Thursday Men's playoffs got under way this week and the A and B sides have started to take shape. I don't have all the results yet but I do know that the Robb Road Express (Ben Lemieux) is through to the second round as is Team Ryan Hagger, the Thursday Newfie Bullet, Team Chris Astles, Team Francois Lemieux, the Posties (Team Rick Rouselle), the Molson Exers (Team Keith Rouselle) and Team Mike Laderoute. These are the ones I know about and the action will start up again on Monday when round 2 of the playoffs get under way. Stay tuned for the on-going results.

The Men's Closing is just around the corner now and everyone is stoked for this, the BRCC's premiere event. One of the highlights of the year, this spiel is once again full and 48 teams will hit the ice and jostle for position. I'm looking forward to seeing all my out of town buddies and we'll get caught up on the Thursday when this hootenanny begins.

Rock On!

The Curling Chronic