BRCC Hosts Open House Sept 5 @ 7 PM

The BRCC will be hosting an Open House on Friday, September 5  7 pm - 9 pm. Bring yourself and bring your friends. Check the curling center out! Check out our new leagues. There will be an open bar and there will also be equipment on display.

By now, you will have noticed posters around town. This is for YOU! Everyone is welcome.

ALSO: Registration night is Monday, September 8 @ 6:30 pm. Please come out and register to have a winter full of fun and excitement.

See you there!

Rock On!

The Curling Chronic

A Curling Story

In 1973, in Labrador City, NL, Sue Anne Bartlett was a Newfoundland curling icon. Curling out of the Carol Curling Club, she had been to several Scotts and had more to come. While she was doing this, there were a group of kids playing road hockey on a regular basis during those long, cold winter days (when not in school). Road hockey was a big deal back then...so big, in fact, that different neighborhoods played against each other and it was pretty competitive.

So one October day (yes, there was lots of snow in October...after all...we are talking about Labrador) while a road hockey game was going on, a group of kids were walking up the road. The one road hockey player stopped to ask these kids where they were headed. They replied, "We're going to the curling club to try out curling". So, with that, the kid who made the inquiry threw his hockey stick in the snowbank and went with those other kids to see what this curling thing was all about. The kid had heard about curling...even watched a bit of the Air Canada Silver Broom on television (in black and white of course).

When they got to the club, they were given the opportunity to try it out. There were lots of other kids there, both from Labrador City and Wabush. After some instruction, they even played a game. These kids were hooked..it was awesome. New friendships were struck and a junior league started up. In fact, junior curling was after school three days a week...curl as much as you want was the message. And curl they did.

I guess you have guessed by now that I was the kid who threw his stick into the bank.

A love affair began that day. I fell in love with curling and spent all my time at it. My parents were happy at this new found pastime...after all, I could have been out getting into trouble and causing them grief. Instead, I was at the curling club where they knew where I was and also knew I was not up to no good! They bought me a green pair of Bauer shoes (yikes!!) and a corn broom (polkadot...remember those?) Eventually, I played alot of competitive curling and it got so we got to play in the adult leagues. We played in all the family bonspiels and that is how I spent my elementary and high school years.

When I went away to university, I curled alot less but still played ion tournaments held a couple times a year between the different residences...a bit of a hiatus really but curling was always in my blood. After I graduated, I headed west to Lloydminster, AB where I played one  night a week in the Oilmen's League. It was great fun and I enjoyed this night out. I met lots of new people and I have to say, it was a blast.

Eventually, I headed back east and ended up in Toronto where I did not curl for a few years. Another hiatus...but curling was always there, just waiting to be rediscovered...which I did once I moved to Blind River. I started up again playing in the Mixed League with Francois and Shirley Lemieux...and once again, my love for the game was rekindled. Work brought me to Barrie for a decade and I played there with zeal...3 or 4 nights a week. Once again, new friendships and lots and lots of curling.

Eventually, we made our way back to Blind River and without hesitation, we rejoined the BRCC where we have been ever since. I have to say, I have made many great friends at the BRCC and of all the places that I have played, the BRCC is tops!! The fun level is off the charts.

So what is the point of this? Well, other than being a story that I am sharing with you, I want to impress how the game of curling created so many new and lasting friendships over the years. It was an excellent way to be involved in something worthwhile and it has been a game that has stayed with me for my lifetime. I imagine I will curl until I can 't which I hope is a long time yet.

I bet there are lots of people that can share similar stories. Many of them are my friends. That is why I advocate curling to others. Because it is such a great social activity. That is why it is important for all of us to advocate curling to others. To keep the game alive and to give your friends the pleasure of the excellent experience that curling delivers.

And if you aspire to be competitive, there is a place for that as well...and I can tell you from experience, there is nothing quite like the adrenaline rush that comes from a tight game...shot for shot.

Food for thought.

Rock On!

The Curling Chronic

Why You Should Curl

Know what all these people have in common? They are having fun! That's the beauty of the Roaring Game...it is for everyone.

Curling is a winter sport. And winter is not a season that everyone embraces with equal enthusiasm. While some embrace the cold weather and get out there and make the best of it, there are others that go running for the Vitamin D and bide their time for the summer season to come. If there was a census taken as to which season people liked the most, it is my guess that the vast majority would choose summer. I think I am one of those people. However, winter is a part of life here in the north and like it or not, we have to make the best of it. I mean, let's face it, you only get one life so instead of sitting around wishing for summer to come, it would be better to make the best out of every day, be it in the cold of winter or the heat of summer.

But, not everyone is out there with their snowshoes on, or drilling holes and ice fishing. So, what to do? Well, that's where curling comes in. Curling is an excellent way to spend your winter months. Not only do you get to get out there and get some exercise once or several nights a week, you also get to hang out with friends (and family in some cases).

Curling in a Mixed League is certainly a great way to spend an evening with your significant other. Play a game and have a beverage after coupled with some idle chatter with other couples. Sounds great, right? Well, it is! A perfect way to avoid hibernation. And that's not all, there are, from time to time, bonspiels to participate in and spend a weekend curling and enjoying the company of others. Usually, a Saturday night dance (and I can tell you from experience that the dances at the BRCC are humdingers!) and prizes on the Sunday.

How about a night out with your pals? Well, on Tuesday night is the Ladies league and on Thursday nights is the Mens League. Both great fun and excellent leagues.

This year, the BRCC is opening a Rookie league. Tentatively to be held on Friday evenings, the Rookie league will introduce you to the game with some instruction and games to follow. And what's more, you will be receiving instruction from a bonafide coach and Canadian Curling Hall of Fame inductee. Hard to beat that.

What if you are a past curler looking to rejoin the game. Perfect! There are always openings in the league and you will always find a spot.

New to Blind River (or any other community)? What better way to meet people and ensconce yourself into the community that to get out to the Curling Center. It is impossible not to meet people...and people will always be there to welcome you.

Want to kick the winter blahs? Well, kick them with curling and have a great time doing it. Equipment and memberships are cheap and you will come out of the winter absolutely fulfilled and with a whole new outlook on those long, cold winter months.

Certainly food for thought. Are you already a member? Get your friends out. Curling is not a sport that is only for the well off. Quite the opposite...it is for everyone, from all walks of life and of all skill levels.

It will never hurt to check it out. In fact, the BRCC will be holding an open house coming up later in the summer. Keep your eyes open for details.

Till then,

Keep Rockin' On!

The Curling Chronic

BRCC Needs A Webmaster!

I know what you're thinking. Did Don Lees start curling again? Well, that's  not him. That's Pal Trulson from Norway. But. it would be nice to see Don Lees start up with the Roaring game again now, wouldn't it?

In the meantime, years after the Salt Lake City, UT Winter Olympics when Trulson won the gold over Martin, both have now retired. Martin, a curling icon, will now be commentating the game with Sportsnet. Great choice, since Martin knows everything there is to know about curling. And another big name entering the ranks of the curling retired?...Cheryl Bernard. Yes, it is true, once again Cheryl Bernard is going to attempt to retire. She was going to do that before, a few years ago but came back to the game anyway. You never know, this could be another false alarm...time will tell.

But it won't be retirement for my fav...the Gush! In fact, Gushue is reuniting with with his old pal, Mark Nichols who has departed Winnipeg and Team Stoughton to return to the Rock and right back into the Gush's loving arms. Say so long to Adam Casey who has been sent packing. Brett Gallant will move to the second position and for all intents and purposes, this will be a powerhouse next season.

Looks like Johnny Mo was about to have a curling sabbatical but instead will be skipping for Team Ex-Koe. That right, with the departure of Kevin Koe from Team Koe, the first mens Team Canada will have Johnny Mo at the helm. Meanwhile, Koe will join up with Marc Kennedy, Brent Laing and Ben Hebert. Another tough squad on paper. That leaves Glen Howard to pick up John Mead and the return of his pal, Richard Hart. And what of Stoughton, well he is teamed up with Rob Fowler.

On the ladies side, with the departure of Allison Kreviacuk (heading to Sweden for love) from Team Homan, Joanne Courtney (formally vice for Val Sweeting) will come into the second position. Not to leave a gap on Team Sweeting, Andrea Crawford (New Brunswick's Bunny Eyes) will be in the third position.

I'm sure there will be other cabinet shuffles to report before all the summer dust settles.

In local news, the BRCC needs help in creating and maintaining a web page. The Hack to Hack is a great tool but the club really needs a webpage and thus requires someone who has the where-with-all to develop and maintain such a thing. Can you help? Please if you can and want to volunteer your time to help out the club, please contact Bob Villeneuve, Rose Neufeld, Al Gemmell or myself. We would love to hear from you!

In the meantime,

Rock On!

The Curling Chronic

WASSUP with Fridays @ the BRCC?

Summer curling....for the die-hard curler. If it wasn't for the high hydro costs, summer curling might be a good thing! But as it is, curling, for the most part, remains a winter thing.

So, what is the dealio with Fridays at the BRCC? As strong as out cool club is, Fridays are just not the best day to plan league curling. At many other clubs, Friday night curling is a big night. And I can see why it is....a night out with your significant other or just a night out with pals. Perhaps play a game, have some vittles after and a few beverages. No work the next day so, kick it! But for some reason, Fridays remain to be a pretty mediocre night at the BRCC.

Perhaps we should try to resurrect Friday curling. It would have to be a league....this might be the perfect night for the Mixed Doubles to take off....perhaps even the Rookie League. Granted, locals from the Blind like to hit the road alot on the weekends...shopping in Sudbury or the Soo, or whatever but the Friday night at the club sounds like the perfect way to kick off the weekend. Give it some thought...expanding the membership will ultimately mean thinking outside the box a bit and utilizing the ice more than 4 nights a week.

In other news, the BRCC is undergoing a massive upgrade to the plantroom. New equipment and using glycol instead of water. Big job but come the fall, we will be "cooking with gas!"

The dance floor of the club was repaired and resealed just recently. I am afraid to name the individuals who volunteered their time to do it because I may leave someone out. But these people did a bang up job! That dance floor gets quite the work out during the season so it facelift (or is it floorlift) was definitely needed. Great job guys.

The ice surface looks great. The guys got our there and touched it up and boy, it is sharp. Looks so good, seems like you could go out and curl without ice!

So just in case you did not know: Bob Villeneuve is now the BRCC president. Vice president is Kristy Blanchet and Al Gemmell is the new Treasurer. Other directors are: Glen Austin, Wendy Smith, Michel Rivard, Al Viel, Rick Roberts, Ryan Hagger and Christie Hagger.

More news to follow later in the week.

Rock On!

The Curling Chronic

Good changes coming for the BRCC

The Times They Are a Changin'. Remember that one by Bob Dylan? Not my favourite Dylan song but I know it well. Well, in an effort to boost membership and enhance the BRCC curling experience, there will be some changes coming to our cool little club.


The BRCC is awesome. We all know that. In a time when clubs are struggling and with some even closing down, curling is still alive and well at the BRCC. BUT, last season, our membership took a dip for one reason or another. So, we need to get new members into the club and even try to get former members to return to the Roaring Game. So, with this in mind, a subcommittee was struck with Al Gemmell, yours truly, Rose Neufeld and Bob Villeneuve to look at ways to increase membership. Let's face it, no members...no club.


Some of the ideas we are looking at thus far include:


Rookie League: A new league for newcomers. Newbies can receive instruction and play games in this league. It might even be a perfect league for those existing members who are presently front end players but want to get into playing third or skip. What an excellent way to get people into the game and offer them a league of their own.....even at a special rate. I really like this idea! More to come on this!


Mixed Doubles: Another awesome idea. Mixed doubles is a great game. Easy to learn and fun to play. Presently, we are thinking about a Friday night league. Yes, that's right, Friday night! And I know you are going to say....Fridays are a tough sell...but this league can work. To take it a step further, we might be able to get other clubs involved (like Thessalon and Elliot Lake) and rotate from club to club. This would be awesome. Great way to spend a Friday night with your spouse or your pal, play some curling, have some food and socialize. More to come on this as well.


There is also talk of a rotating school league. That would indeed be quite the curling coup. Let's face it, young curlers are the future of the game.


And what about a reduced rate for new curlers for their first year. A lot of clubs offer this financial incentive and have been successful. I am in favour of this. The idea is to get people in the door and a financial carrot is always helpful.


Got ideas?! We want to hear them! One thing is for sure...we need to keep our membership numbers up and we need to be constantly thinking about getting new people to try out the game. Let's all work together to keep our club strong.


Keep an eye out for signs around town promoting curling. They will be up shortly. Talk to your friends. Try to get them out.


Keep an eye on this blog. I know it is summer, but I will be blogging twice a week for the summer months keeping you informed about what is going on at the BRCC AND ALSO what is going on in the curling world in general. Since I am in a different position on the board now, I will have more time to blog and keep you up to speed...and at the very least, provide you with some curling humour and wild, random thoughts.


Keep the Hack to Hack in your favourites...I look forward to entertaining you!


Still Rockin' On (and doin' some fishin' too)


The Curling Chronic

Last Day Of Regular Round Robin at Brier

Martin Crete of Team Quebec. Most likely choked on a tonsil a couple of days this week as he and his team look to scream their way into the playoffs. They are up 6 - 4 against Alberta's Kevin Koe as I type this. Me, being a die-hard Gushue fan, will require a loss by Team Quebec AND a loss by Saskatchewan for the Gush to make a tie breaker. With Gushue at 5 losses, the loss of Saskatchewan and Quebec would bring them also to 5 losses and force a tie-breaker. It seems to be a tall order. With Gushue's fate in the hands of James Gratten and Kevin Koe, all he can do is sit and wait for it all to unfold.

I had hoped to see Greg Balsdon and his Ontario rink beat Saskatchewan yesterday evening and he had a shot to do it in the 8th with a straight forward double for 4. He set it out and only scored one. That was the epitome of an anticlimax for me but that's curling....the game of missed opportunities.

Meanwhile, the Dominion Club Championships are being held at the BRCC this weekend. Play kicked off today. Two BRCC teams are in this regional playdown...Team Anita Moran for the ladies and Team Dave Mitchell for the mens. Good luck to both these squads.

Check out the BRCC this weekend for some good curling.

Rock On!

The Curling Chronic

Gushue's "Unbrier"

I know what you're thinking. What is a picture of a sinking ship doing on a curling blog? Well, metaphorically, that is the Gushue sinking ship. You will  notice that it is not fully under water yet but it sure is close to the point of no return. And so is Gushue. With 4 losses in the Brier, the NL squad is in tough. If not already too late, it certainly will be too late if this squad sustains any more losses. And to make matters worse, Gushue will be taking on Team Morris in today's first game. Morris is on a roll so the Gush will have to get it together!

I had hoped this was going to be Gushue's Brier. And no doubt, so did he. But, it may not happen this year. In the meantime, Alberta's Team Koe is looking good. And so is Stoughton but I expected them to be at the top of the leader board. And also no surprise, Morris is in a tie for first as well. The only real surprise here is the dismal showing of Team Gushue. I got an email from a Newfie buddy of mine yesterday, following the loss to Steve Laycock of Team Saskatchewan...to quote my longtime friend..."I am so over Gushue!"

Yes, it has been quite the roller coaster ride with the Gush. But, it's not over for him yet but he has alot of winning to do, moving forward.

Eddie MacKenzie (PEI) had some good games and has become a bit of a crowd favorite...the crowd always cheers an underdog. With relegation staring him in the face, Eddie etal will have to find a way to generate some wins and avoid that nasty business.

I am not a fan of the new relegation system. I think it will be discouraging for the weaker teams. Every province should be able to play in  the National Championship. To punish them undermines the whole spirit of the competition. My opinion is,  if it wasn't broken...why on earth would the CCA try to fix it. Sometimes, I think the CCA is comprised of non-curlers when I think about some of the decisions they make. They are supposed to be hellbent on growing the game...the introduction of the relegation system does little to do that and certainly may have a negative impact on the amount of teams wishing to participate in competitive curling.

So as 11 am nears, I am starting to bite my nails and harbor hope that the Gush can pull this one out. I said in the beginning of the Brier, Gushue's success will depend on the performance of Brett Gallant. I was so right...Brett has been struggling and Gushue (to his credit) had made alot of big shots to bail out the team. There comes a time when the big shot cannot be made and then the game can be lost. Brett Gallant is an excellent player and if he is able to pick up his game, then Team Gushue will be able to stop the Johnny Moe Express.

Rock On!

The Curling Chronic

Local Boys Make Good In A Canadian Gold Medal Week

BRCC's Team Villeneuve. After a 5 day run at the Northern Ontario Senior Mens Provincials, this squad turned out to be the third place finishers. With Bob Villeneuve at the helm, Glen Austin at vice, Terry Fryer at second and Dan Horton at lead...this crew had a pretty good run making it to the semi-final.  The winner of the provincials was the Rob Gordon rink from Sudbury defeating the Bruce Munroe rink (also from Sudbury) in the final. So what's to take away from all this? Well, on a personal note, I enjoyed playing with these guys. There were highs and lows and overall, and we handled both pretty well.

One thing is for sure. Play well and you can win. Miss a bunch of shots and it will bite you in the derriere.

Never say die. We came back from a 5 - 0 deficit to win a game in an extra. For me, this was the highlight of the week. Nothing sweeter than a "come - from - behind" victory.

Bob Villeneuve, in my humble opinion, made the shot of the week. He threw a very low percentage angle raise double takeout and stuck it. Miss it, and the game is out of reach. Make it, a an ensuing momentum shift takes place. That's the shot that I will remember. I should add that Bob was battling a sore knee and iced it between games...despite the discomfort, he played through it and had a very strong showing. Kudos to Bob for that.

And finally, if you want some post- curling competition, get Terry Fryer to fire up his I-phone and play the millions of tunes he has loaded on it and play a round of "Name That Tune". Great fun and Juha Cantavera (Soo Curlers) was a force to be reckoned with....but I think I held up the BRCC end very well.

In BRCC action, top team in the BRCC Ladies is Team Joanna Hammond with only one loss this entire season. Great job by these ladies (with Hayley Horton, Julia Horton and Tamara Behnke).

The Mens League just finished up regular season play. The top 16 teams will move on to the playoffs but there will be another flight for the remaining 5 teams. Playoffs begin Thursday, March 6 (I'm not sure if there are any playoff games on Monday, march 3 but I presume Westy will get hold of the skips). Kudos to the Molson Exers (Team Keith Rouselle) who have finished regular season play in a tie for second place with Team Al Viel. The Exers have had it together all season long...great job guys).

Congrats to Team Pat Dakin (with BRCC's Al Viel and Kelly Barry) for winning the A Event in the BRCC Mixed. I'm not sure about the B, C or D Event winners but I will post those winners in a later post.

Huge Kudos to Team Brad Jacobs (big plus for NO curling) and Team Jennifer Jones in winning double gold at the Olympics. Way to go in making Olympic Curling history!

The Brier starts this weekend. Yahoo! So, with Stoughton heavily favoured to win, here are my predictions:

Top 4 teams at the end of the week: Stoughton, Gushue, Morris and Koe. The final? Gushue vs Stoughton or Morris with Gushue winning it all! Yes, that's right. I'm giving it to Gushue. Not since Jack McDuff in '76 has a Newfoundland team won the Brier but Gushue has a tough squad and I am thinking this year is the year! I know what you're thinking....a biased prediction. Indeed it is. Admittedly, I'm a Gushue fan but they are a good squad and they have played well this year.

Other Brier participants include:

Eddie MacKenzie (PEI): Probably won't make the playoffs. Not enough exposure to the big teams.

Jamie Murphy (NS): Will not make the playoffs but kudos to this sqaud on a great win against former Brier winner Mark Dacey.

James Gatten (NB): Tough team and Gratten is a solid player. They have the potential to make the playoffs but they will have to bring it big time.

Jean Michel Menard (QC): A black horse in this competition. They are a real good team and also a former Brier winner. You never know with these guys...they might get on a roll and scream themselves into a playoff spot.

Greg Balsdon (ON): First Brier appearance. lots of experience playing against the big boys but I cannot see them getting to the playoffs.

Jeff Currie (NO): First Brier appearance. No real experience with the big boys. I hope they do well since they are a Northern Ontario team.

Steve Laycock (SK): Tough team with ,lots of experience on the WCT. Definitely potential to make the playoffs but once again, they will have to have their A Game all week long.

Jamie Koe (NWT/YT): Jamie is back for his umpteenth appearance. Could be a big surprise. He has lots of experience but can he bring it all week and get to a playoff? Time will tell.

So that's it...starting tomorrow it will be a week of the Brier. And my Gushue roller coaster ride will begin. Apparently, the Saturday night game is Gushue vs Stoughton. You can be sure I'll be watching that one! So, kick back and enjoy the ride at the Big Show!

Rock On!

The Curling Chronic

China No Pushover

Liu......Who knew?......Quite the coup.......Is there anything he can't do?....For the Canucks, it was almost boo hoo.....what a crew!..... China grew!...almost upended the Soo!.....that game was a zoo!.....and we have to play them again too!....

Yes, the rhymes go on and on. What a game that was between Jacobs and Liu. Quite possibly one of the best games I have ever seen. It had everything...the highs, the lows...incredible shot-making, a fabulous come-back and in the end, a stupendous (is that a word?) shot by Jacobs for the win.

Who says there is no drama in curling? And guess what, they will go at it again in the semi-final (tomorrow). Great run for the Canucks as they win their first game, lose their next two and then win 6 straight to end up in a tie for second place. I am hoping beyond hope that they can get to the gold medal game but they will have to get by China who are one tough nut to crack.

I have been watching China's line scores all season long (WCT events) and they have been solid. They have won a few big spiels and placed well in others. I just knew they were one of the teams to beat and I was right. They have been fabulous. Bottom line....international curling is alive and well. But I digress....Team Jacobs have battled the nerves and have settled in to being the solid team that they are. Not surprisingly, they are in a semi-final in the Olympics. C'mon boys...bring home the hardware!!

And then there is Team Jones on the womens' side. They rolled to a perfect 9 - 0 finish and will play Muirhead in the semi-final. I have to wonder about the tournament set up. It just seems a little unfair to me. There is no reward for placing first in the round-robin play....as in the Canadian Page Playoff system. And to go undefeated through round robin play (Olympic curling history made there)...no reward for that either. Jones will now have to keep winning to get to the gold medal game. Lose the semi and she will be playing for bronze even though she would have only 1 loss. There is just something about that, that gets in my craw. C'mon ladies...keep it going!

In BRCC news, the senior mens Provincials will start tomorrow in Sturgeon Falls. Team Villeneuve (Bob Villeneuve, Glen Austin, Terry Fryer, Dan Horton) will be one of the 8 teams in this competition looking to represent Northern Ontario in the Canadian Nationals (in Yellowknife in March). Here's to hoping.....

Next week will mark the end of regular season play in the BRCC mens league. The top 16 teams will come out of this and head to the play-offs. The other 8 will also have games to play and they land in the B-flight.
Top teams include Team (Keith)Rouselle (the Molson Exers), Team (Dave) Mitchell (current club champions), Team (Bob) Villeneuve, Team (Al) Viel and Team (Glen) Austin.

I have no news for the BRCC Ladies standings but I will get to the club and report on that one in my next blog.

Rock On!

The Curling Chronic

Canadian Women Roll On In Sochi

Jennifer Jones. Rollin' along at the Sochi Olympics with an impressive 4 - 0 record thus far. This is the dream tournament for this well-decorated veteran and she looks intent on being golden. The Winnipeg Free Press wrote a heartfelt article about Jennifer and an interview with her mother and father. What an incredible thing it must be for a parent to see their child competing and doing well in an Olympic Games. And pretty anxious times as well. Especially when watching that nail-biter against Muirhead from GRB.

Team Jacobs has put themselves back on the upside with a win today (last night) against Russia. They are now 2 - 2 and hopefully will use that win to put some wind in their sails and get the momentum going.

The late and early hours of these games are tough on a working stiff. I've been watching the midnight games and then waking up at 5 am to watch the morning game. A true curling chronic indeed but man, by 5 pm, I need toothpicks to keep my eyes open. Nutsville for sure, but these are the Olympics and they only come around every 4 years. I am hoping that the next winter Olympics will be hosted in a location with a timezone that is easier to work with.

In BRCC womens' action, it looks like Team Anita Moran (with Joanna Hammond, Hayley Horton and Denise Hutchings) will represent the BRCC at the Dominion Club Championships in March. With a win over Team Lucy Ann Trudeau last night, Anita and her squad earned the berth into this event. For the men, it will be Dave Mitchell and his crew (Gator Fortin, Richard Olmstead and Scott Smith)...by virtue of winning the club championship last season. This event will be hosted by the BRCC so here's a good weekend to hang out at the club and watch some good curling as teams from all over the region will be here to compete. This event will go off March 7, 8 and 9. Save the date!

Rock On!

The Curling Chronic

Homan Off To Worlds

And for the second consecutive year, Team Rachael Homan is going to the worlds after an impressive 13 - 0 record. Truly a remarkable run..in fact, this squad has a 25 - 1 record in both Scotties that they have played in. Amazing! They will be a tough nut to crack at the worlds as well.

In Olympic action, Team Jones has gone 3 - 0 on the womens' side while Team Jacobs sits at 1 - 2. Most likely not what was expected, but there is lots of curling to go and certainly lots of time to get the ship back on an even keel. No need to panic yet, by far.

Monday night at the BRCC saw action in the Mixed League. All the sheets were full in the early draw and 1 sheet in the late draw.

GREAT DELIVERY: Michel Rivard. Michel is the BRCC ice director and when he is not working on the ice, he's curling on it. He has certainly improved his game. I watched a few of his shots last night and his delivery is rock - solid. He has the soft weight touch and this is the type of game where he will take you down. Excellent job.

OUTLANDISH CURL: You might have noticed the incredible curl on Sheet A. If you get out past the 4 foot line, the rock will go sideways almost towards the center. But this is a tempoary thing as the crew are busy building up the sides. Once they finish scraping, etc, you will find zero falls on the outside sheets and lots of curl. Great job by the ice crew.

FELLOW CURLING CHRONIC: Dan Horton. Dan Horton is a huge curling enthusiast. He plays as often as he can. He plays lead for Team Villeneuve and will be heading to the Northern Ontario Provincials (Senior Mens) next week. Dan Horton most likely holds the record for most games played as a spare. He almost  never turns a game down and he does not care about which position he plays. There's a BRCC asset.

ON THE FENCE: Kristy Blanchet. Kristy is the current president of the BRCC. This is, in fact, her second term. Being the president of the club can feel like a thankless position but it is a busy one and Kristy does her job well. Over the past few years, Kristy has done alot for the club and sometimes it may not be evident just how much effort she puts into the running of the club. She is, presently, on the fence as to whether her tenure with the board will continue. If you see her around, give her kudos because she does work hard and it would be a good thing to have her stay on as a part of the board. Let's face it, the BRCC is a pretty successful little curling club...Kristy is a part of the success formula.

UNDER THE RADAR: Donna Lediett. Ever watch Donna curl? She makes an awful lot of shots. She seems to fly under the radar a bit but she plays in two leagues and when she is hot, she is hot. If you play against Donna in the same position, you better bring it because she does, every week!

AWESOME FRONT END: Terry McDonald and Kim Bates. Here is a curling couple that you see around the club all the time. They play front end for Michel Rivard in the Monday Mixed. Between the two of them, they quietly go about the business of providing front end support for their skipper and man, they make lots of shots.

The BRCC Mixed is coming up in a couple of weekends. From what I understand, the spiel is full at 16 teams (a 2 day event). If you are not playing in this, you can still come hang out at the club and watch some fun games. They have a dance on Saturday night where you can cut a rug. Always a good time...don't miss it.

Rock On!

The Curling Chronic

David and Goliath?

David and Goliath. Is this picture a good metaphor for the final of the 2014 STOH? Many would say that it is so. Team Homan is a powerhouse and have beaten all comers. In fact, Rachael Homan has yet to throw her last rock. Definitely the Goliath in this upcoming game. And they are worthy of the Goliath image..they make so many big shots and are so talented throughout the entire line up....it would seem there are no weaknesses.

And then there's Team Sweeting...the David. They have earned their way to this final with a combination of excellent shot-making and power sweeping. And here they are, capable of taking down the giant but they will have to execute and keep it together. Joanne Courtney will have to outcurl Emma Miskew.

But in the Bible, David prevailed over Goliath but it took a good shot with his sling. If history isd the be repeated, it will take several good shots with curling stones. I am anticipating a low scoring first half because of alot of defensive play.

Meanwhile, the bronze Medal game is presently underway. The bronze is a pretty good showing in a National championship but for these teams, perhaps a bit bittersweet. For Chelsea Carey and her team, my hat is off. They played a brilliant 1 - 2 game and came back and played an excellent semi-final. Certainly an outstanding showing for their first STOH. I'm thinking that I have watched the next Jennifer Jones. Perhaps others have recognized that as well and Team Carey will find a great sponsor and will get out there in all the big tournaments.

Saskatchewan had a good week too. Certainly nothing to sneeze at but it seems that a win in the big game continues to elude them. This is a seasoned team of awesome players yet they are still short of the potential I think they have. I hope they stay together but I seem to have read somewhere that Sheri Anderson will be stepping back from the game so there might be a change in the third position.

In Mens provincial action, Martin is in the Alberta final and will face off against the winner of Koe and Matt Blanchard tonight. Also, John Morris was through to the BC final and will face Jason Montgomery tonight. I noticed in New Brunswick that Mark LeCoq and James Gratten were the top two teams in that provincial so you never know, James might or might not get through to his millionth Brier! Also, for NL, Gushue is through again. Once more, I will be hoping to see Gushue win a Brier..not since `76 (Jack McDuff) has it been done. I have rooted for the Gushe since 2003 and for me, the emotional rollercoaster begins once again on March 1.

Rock On!

The Curling Chronic

When The Whip Comes Down

When the whip comes down. The Stones sang about it and Saskatchewan's Team Lawton just lived it! What started out to be an advantage Saskatchewan eventually turned into a complete reversal which saw Alberta and Team Sweeting controlling the second half of the game. She's a cool customer, that Val Sweeting and with a few good shots from her teammates, they pick up a convincing win and they will play the red hot Chelsea Carey squad from Manitoba in this evening's semi-final. Message to Chad H., although there were some blowouts in the regular round robin play, the playoff games are fabulous. The solid future of curling at the national level is assured so you can wipe that brow and kick back to watch some first rate weekend curling.

Manitoba is just coming off a tough loss to Team Canada in a game of the ages. But, if they can carry that level of play into this evening's match with Alberta, they will be very difficult to beat. I think the key to Alberta's success tonight will be Joanne Courtney playing lights out in the third position and staying with Kristy McDonald. I'm inclined to think that the higher percentage in this position will be directly proportional to the team's success. We shall see.

Looking at the three teams still in the mix, the bronze medal game won't be no gimmee either.

Rock On!

The Curling Chronic

Prego Power!

Kristy McDonald. Third for Team Carey and Manitoba. To watch the brilliant shots made by this lady in last night's 1 - 2 game at the STOH, I got to wondering if there was a correlation between being pregnant and playing good. You might recall Susan O'Connor, third for Cheryl Bernard has been pregnant in several competitions and played lights out. The same thing happened last night for Kristy.

Last night's game was among the best womens' curling game that I have ever witnessed. The shot-making was spectacular. I will admit here that I was all Team Canada but I cannot take anything away from Team Carey who stayed in it right to the very end. A hard one to lose and a tough one to win.

Today's game will have Lawton's Saskatchewan team facing off against Alberta's Val Sweeting. The winner of this game will face off against Manitoba's Carey with the winner of that game going through to face Team Homan. In the beginning, I predicted that the final would be Homan playing against either Lawton or Sweeting, but after last night's spectacular display, I can't help but wonder if I already witnessed the final. If Team Carey plays as they did last night, then Sweeting and Lawton will have to be at their very best to win. And the skill of Kristy McDonald will be a huge part of this.

And what about Homan and Team Canada? A powerhouse to be sure. How is it they steamrolled their way through the field to end up 11 - 0? I think their style of play and their big weight capabilities makes their game a likeness to a men's game and other womens' teams find this hard to deal with. Some of the shots that Homan made last night were out of this world. Really exciting to watch. And the ability of Lisa Weagle to throw those Weagles (tick shots) just made it that much harder to set up a steal in the last end. I expect that Homan will get through and go to the Worlds. If they play to the level they are capable of, they will be unstoppable.

To watch the mothers of the two skips last night, I can just imagine the anxiety these two ladies were feeling as their daughters were out there giving it their all. Both moms should be proud because both daughters put on a show last night that will have people singing accolades today.

The drama continues......

Rock On!

The Curling Chronic

STOH Playoff Stage Set

Chelsea Carey...Team Manitoba. I did  not predict them in a 1 - 2 game but there you have it. What a week this squad has had  9 - 2...certainly nothing to sneeze at. This squad has played excellent but they better hang on to that because they will be facing the Homan powerhouse tonight and that crew is on fire. 11 - 0 in this Scotties and 10 - 1 in last years Scotties makes this team a force to be reckoned with.

The 3 - 4 game will feature Alberta and Saskatchewan. Saskatchewan had a shot at the 1 - 2 game but with the loss to Sarah Koltun and her Territories rink, she had to settle for the 3 - 4. All in all though, not too shabby.

And how about that Alberta rink. Great showing this year with an impressive 8 - 3 record. Joanne Courtney, third for this crew has been excellent. What a sweeper...leave her alone and I am sure she could start melting the ice.

Disappointing run for the Newfie gals. Starting off strong (pardon the pun) with a 4 - 1 record, the bottom came out of er' with the next 6 consecutive losses. I'm sure that will give this able squad something to work on for next year.

And what happened to Heather Smith and her Bluenosers? I expected much more from them but it was not to be. Back to the drawing board (once again, pardon the pun) for this crew. Heather struggled with draw weight this week and it cost dearly.

Loved watching the youngsters from the Territories. Not the greatest record but these young ladies were certainly crowd favorites. I hope beyond hope that they can find a great sponsor and get out there on the WCT. I hope they make it back next year.

And then there's Team New Brunswick and  Bunny Eyes. Boy, I just like this team so much but there were costly misses during the round robin that kept her at a 6 - 5 record. Once again, if these gals could find a good sponsor and get out on the WCT, I think they would be awesome.

And here's a thought...Kristy MacDonald, third for Team Carey. Now 5 months pregnant and curling up a storm. She would be 7 months at the Worlds. Would this be a hindrance to her curling performance? Since I have no experience with being pregnant, I cannot answer that question but I'm thinking it would be difficult. I mean, I have trouble curling after I have eaten a big meal and am stuffed...I just can't see me being effective carrying around a 5 - 7 lb bundle of joy. But what do I know.

Absolutely loved the BC team, Van Osch. I rooted for them so much and would have been over the moon to see them in a playoff spot. But it was not to be but boy, they had an excellent showing. And what's more, their fifth played more than I have ever seen an alternate play...in three different positions during the week. What a great player this Patti Knezevic is. The epitome of curling ambidexterity.

BIG PLUS: No more North American Van Lines commercials with the guys carrying the old TV with Russ Howard on it. Won't miss those commercials at all. No one can say they didn't get their money's worth out of the commercial!

2014 Sochi: I watched part of the Opening Ceremonies and managed to catch a glimpse of Brad Jacobs and Ryan Fry. How wonderful a feeling to be an Olympic Athlete and out there marching with the rest of Team Canada. Talk about living the dream. If they play to their potential, they will be "golden".

In the Northern Ontario Mens Provincials, Blind River's Stepahne Lemiex sits at 0 - 4 as I type this. But don't let that number fool you...they have played some tough games and lost squeakers. If this squad stays together, they cannot help but be stronger. This is a great team...no doubt about it.\

Locally, the season rolls on at the BRCC.

SUPER-IMPROVED CURLER: Helene Rancourt. Helene has a great style and makes alot of shots. If she played more, she would be too much for the modern curler! And with her excellent attitude, she would lend balance to any squad.

GREAT SHOT-MAKER: Marshall Chow. Marshall is another one of those guys that are brimming with potential. He is an excellent shot-maker. If he curled more, there would be no holding him back.

MY EQUAL AS A CURLING CHRONIC: Al Viel. Awesome curler and awesome guy on and off the ice. Al loves the game and plays as much as he possibly can. He could be my double..even though he has more hair.

FUN ON THE ICE: Chris Zagar. May not win alot of games, but he's got game and he knows how to enjoy himself out on the ice.

So that's it for now. Tonight's 1 - 2 game promises to be a barnburner. I have to admit that I am rooting for Homan. I would just love to see these awesome young ladies get back to a Worlds and dominate and come home with the gold. But they will have to remain hot.....it's like Flip Wilson said (and I know I dated myself...and if you get this, you're dated too!) "When you're hot, you're hot and when you're not, you're not!"

Rock On!

The Curling Chronic

Homan Tops At STOH

I know what you're thinking. What is a steamroller  doing on a curling blog? Well, that's no ordinary steamroller, that's Team Homan and they have, thus far, steam rolled all comers to this point. They are on fire and it seems unlikely that they can be stopped. Talk about peaking at the right time.

I have not seen too many exciting games at the STOH so far but it is clear at this point, Homan is the team to beat.

The Crawford rink from New Brunswick is hanging in there and with any luck, will be around at the end of the week.

As expected, Team Lawton and Team Sweeting are still very much in the mix. It's been a disappointing week for Heather Smith and her Bluenosers. I've seen Heather play better than she has. I think at this point, all hope of a playoff berth is gone.

The Newfie girls got off to a great start but have faded to a 4 - 4 standing with more games to come. They will have to keep winning to keep hopes of a playoff spot alive.

And how about the Koltun rink from the Territories! I cannot help but like them even though they will not get to a playoff. But they look good...young and full of fire and just brimming with potential. The best thing that could happen to this fiery young crew is that they find a good sponsor and get themselves to a few WCT events. If they are able to play with the big girls regularly, the sky is the limit for this squad. Perhaps Parker Schnabel, from the series Gold Rush, can donate a few ounces of gold to this team and help make them golden!

I have heard it said that this year's STOH is a bit disappointing. I think we are in a bit of a transition and newer teams are coming up. Not a bad thing in the long run but it might mean a few blow outs in this years National Championship.

Rock On!

The Curling Chronic

Eventful Season For BRCC

The Thessalon Curling Club. Just a small 4 sheet club like the BRCC but with a heart the size of northern Ontario. We played our Regionals this past weekend at this club and if there is anything to say about this place, the people hosting this event were absolutely first rate. The ice was fast and with lots of curl. Add too much weight or set it out, very unforgiving. Matt Seabrook is the president here (you will recall perhaps that Matt was throwing last rock for Mike Jakabo up to a couple seasons ago) and he and his crew really wowed everyone in attendance. I must say, I didn't even recognize Matt first when I got there. His hair is much longer and he has a pretty robust beard. In fact, throw in a few grey hairs and he would look like a double for the guy on that show, Mountain Men....the one whose skidoo is always broke down! Jeanine Rosenberg and company were there cooking all weekend and I want to say that this lady sure knows how to dish up the vittles! And then there was Bill Rosenberg...always there and always willing to help. In fact, he fixed my broom...it was pretty loose in the head (the broom...not me...well yes, me, but to a much lesser degree) but now is just like new after Bill took it across the street and fixed it. The Rosenbergs are huge assets to this Thessalon club and I would like to extend a huge thank you to the Thessalon Curling Club for doing such a first rate job of hosting this event.

It turns out that Team Villeneuve (with Bob Villeneuve, yours truly, Terry Fryer and Dan Horton) managed to qualify and will be heading to the Northern Ontario Senior Mens Provincials in a couple of weeks in Sturgeon Falls. So, as I sit here today, 24 hours after qualifying, I have to ask myself, what was there to take away from all this. Well, besides elation, there are several things. There were several times that it occurred to me just how important it is to have the capacity to keep your emotions under control. In competitive curling, things are serious and emotions can run high. It is important to learn to control that and keep a balance in yourself and for the benefit of the team as a whole. Is this easy? No way. Different people have different emotional levels. And if you think that emotions are simple to deal with during competitive play, then I should think that you have not played much competitive curling. Understanding and maintaining an even emotional level during a tight, competitive game is a skill...just as much as the skill involved in shot-making. If you allow your emotions to be all over the place, then it is quite likely your shots will be all over the place too. I think I am an emotional player and I need to be  constantly aware of that. That's why I would like to try to keep it light with my teammates as much as I can...just to keep them loose and to keep me loose as well. As much as I know this is the right way to go about it, it can be difficult because there are a plethora of "moments" in a  big game that can make you forget all that and become all too caught up in those moments. Yes indeed...a skill that I want to be better at. Also, I chew alot of gum. Terry Fryer has told me, in his dentist's opinion that I chew way too much, and after a tough weekend of curling as I am approaching lockjaw and the inside of my mouth is sore from accidentally chewing my tongue or cheek (hurts like heck), I'm inclined to agree with him. But, fool as I am, I do it anyway and I will agree with anyone that says I resemble a billy goat when I am out there on the ice. But, despite all that, I find it helpful.

So what else could I take away from this past weekend? Well, it would have to be the comradrie that exists between curlers of opposing teams. Sitting with the other curlers after a game (win or lose) is something that only a sport like curling can offer. Curling is a social game...nothing has changed there.

And what else. Well, perhaps not too well known among all culers is the fact that you should not inhale while walking past the mens washroom at a curling club that provides beakfast on a Saturday or Sunday morning. Make that mistake once, and you will be sure not to do it a second time!

And according to Dave Trudeau, a pal from Soo curlers, when you are down a few and your opponent is lying 4 and you are left with a difficult, low percentage shot (on swingy ice) to get one point, it "could be a headin' for the truck moment"! A curling adage that I will not soon forget and hope not to use anytime soon! The Trudeau team are great guys...I enjoyed running into them again.

And finally, believing in yourself and your team is paramount in competitive curling. And I will say this, as we got off to a slow start in our regionals, I still had faith in our squad and I knew that if we could just play to our potential, then anything was possible. There was never a time when I stopped believing and in the end, we prevailed. The power of positive thought can not be counted out. (And of course, there was a little luck involved too but sometimes, you just gotta get lucky).

In other BRCC news, Team Hayley Horton played in their provincials (Bantams) at the Soo curlers. They ended up 2 and 4. I'm sure they had hoped to get further but I say they did great. It is awesome that they got to play in a provincial competition. I'm sure there were lots of things that they were able to take away from that competition and they will be all the more savvy on the ice next year. Personally, I am proud of these young ladies. It is hard not to like them. One thing is for sure, each one of them is just brimming with potential and I hope beyond hope that they stick to the Roaring Game. Who knows where it can take them?...nowhere bad, that's for sure.

And then there is Stephane Lemieux heading to the Northern Ontario Mens Provincials in February. Steph is curling under the Soo curlers flag but he is a Blind River boy and the BRCC will be rooting for him.

Great season for the BRCC. How could anyone not like curling in the north?

Rock On!

The Curling Chronic

Fasten Your Seat Belt

Bunny eyes. Andrea Crawford of Team New Brunswick. Certainly no stranger to the STOH, but she will have to bring her A game and maintain it while competing in Montreal. And so it begins...the stretch of TV curling that will last for the next couple of months. With the start of the Scotties Tournament of Hearts in Montreal this weekend, the Olympics will be right on its heels and then throw in a Brier, a couple of Grand Slams and a Worlds, you have a recipe for an awesome run of TV curling.

And as I type this current diatribe, I myself am waiting for my ride to pick me up and we will be heading to Thessalon for our Senior Mens Regional playdowns. It's an exciting time for me. This year, in particular, I am feeling confident that I am with a solid squad and we have a shot at getting to a provincial championship. Three of the six teams competing get to go so by the numbers, we have a 50 / 50 chance. Throw in some skill, and hey, you never know....

And as the teams get to Montreal today, I am sure there are lots of squads also brimming with anticipation. But here are my picks:

Homan wins it all in a final against either Sweeting or Lawton.

Allison Ross: PQ   I'm not sure about these gals but they did beat out Eve Belisle to get to the STOH. First time at a big show and not much exposure to big crowds and WCT events so my guess is they are in tough. Can they get past Wednesday...the starts will all have to align.

Kim Dolan: PEI   No stranger to the STOH but zero exposure on the tour and I think this will hurt them over the long haul. I think they suffer from the same thing that hampers alot of east coast teams...lots of talent but a lack of sponsorship dollars and minimal exposure to WCT events which in the end will make it tough to get past Wednesday.

Stephanie Lawton: SK. Tough team, lots of experience. Been around for a while now and I'm sure thier expectations are high. Certainly the potential to win it all but they will have to bring it! Absolutely a spot in the playoffs and maybe the final.

Chelsea Carey: MB.   I like this team but they are not seasoned enough yet to win it all. Certainly a good shot at a playoff spot. I mean let's face it, they had to beat alot of good teams to get out of Manitoba but it will be a long road. I have watched them play a few times and noticed alot of small strategy errors that hurt them. I'll be interested to see where they sit at the end of the week.

Heather Smith: NS.   Veteran team...it is difficult not to like them. They have the potential to get on a roll and make the play offs and I sincerely hope they do. They will have to be consistent during the entire week.

Kesa Van Osch: BC. I watched them play their semi-final and final in the provincials. These young ladies are straight out of the juniors and they beat Kelly Scott to get here. No exposure to the big teams or the WCT in general. I cannot see them getting past Wednesday...I think it will be all too new to them. Big crowds, TV...they will have to reign it all in and stay focused.

Allison Flaxey: ON. I like this team for a couple of reasons. One, they played well to get out of Ontario and it is obvious that they have worked hard to get here. Also, this is Caleb Flaxey's wife...from the old Jacobs team when they were just starting out. Also...Al and Maymar's niece plays on this team so how could I not like them? First time at the big show and I think they will be in tough but if they play like they played in the Ontario provincials, I can see them in a play off. Here's to hoping....

Valerie Sweeting: AB. This will be their second Scotties and what a year this squad is having. They will be tough to beat and I certainly see them around at the end of the week. In fact, this will be one of the teams to beat. Potential is there to win it all...they will have to keep playing well.

Andrea Crawford: NB  Been to the Scotties lots of times and I like her and her squad. Bunny eyes (among the nicest eyes in curling) is an excellent player and I would love to see them make the playoffs but for sure they will be in tough and will have to bring it to each and every game. Once again, here's to hoping.

Heather Strong: NL   No stranger to the STOH and an excellent player in her own right. I think that if Heather et al could find time and money to get to some WCT events, you would see a marked improvement in their performance at the STOH. Because I am a Newfoundlander, I will be rooting for them. They certainly have the potential to get to the playoffs...can they win it all...well, heck, remember Jack McDuff in '76....anything can happen!

Rachael Homan: CAN   No doubt the odds on favotites to win the STOH this year. Bar some kind of a cataclysm, this squad will be in the play offs at the end of the week, and if they are able to play to their potential, no doubt can win the whole thing easily. It has not been a stellar year for this crew, but that can change in a New York minute.

So, kick back and settle in for a winter full of curling beginning with the STOH. One thing is for sure, I'll be Rockin' On!

In local BRCC news, looks like the Thursday Mens has quite the bottleneck going on near the top of the leaderboard. Looks to me that there is Team Mitchell, the Molson Exers (Team Rouselle....lost their first game of the second half last night but still at the top), Team Austin (yes, the Newfie Bullet), Team Viel and Team Villeneuve. According to my calculations, all these teams are within a point or two of each other. There are other teams having great seasons too and it there is still lots of games to go. Playoffs will be interesting this year.

GREAT CONTRIBUTORS: Transcan Service Center and Cantech Construction. Both these companies have made donations to the Bantam ladies (Team Hayley Horton) and also to the BRCC Ladies Spiel. Rick Roberts and Dennis Roberts are excellent guys and the BRCC is fortunate to have them as members. And they are both curling chronics as well...so I cannot help but have a soft spot for them. With Dennis, in particular, he is a former teammate who I enjoyed playing with and he is also my mechanic. So as much as I trusted him with his shots, I also trust him with my ride!  Thanks alot for all you have done guys!

ANOTHER GREAT CONTRIBUTOR: Mary Shamas. Dr Mary pays for the Saturday morning breakfast for the BRCC Ladies Spiel. She has been doing this for a number of years now. Thanks alot Mary!

So that's it, I'm going to stop it there and head upstairs and put some underarm deodorant on. I anticipate sweeping my fanny off this weekend so I'll be looking to maximize on the brush strokes and minimize the BO!

Stay tuned! And to Maymar and Al....keep checkin' our linescores and keep sendin' positive energy our way!

Rock On!

The Curling Chronic

Post Ladies Spiel Reflections

BRCC's own Shirley Lemieux. Living proof that the Fountain of Youth exists! And here she is with her fav European curler, Thomas Ulsrud, certainly one of her Las Vegas highlights. Who says there are no highlights in curling. For sure there are many throughout a season. And you don't have to travel all the way to the American Southwest to find them. Many curling highlights are found right at your own club. The BRCC is no exception. And how do these highlights originate? From the excellent people who participate within the club.


EXCELLENT CONTRIBUTORS: Nicole and Nathan Mutch. Between the Maple Sugar Spa and Home Hardware, this terrific duo donated prizes and provided prizes at reduced prices. You can't beat em!

Dave Mitchell and Mitchell Pharmacy. ALWAYS donating and supporting the club, it's curlers and our competitive curlers. Dave and Marty are a first-rate people. The BRCC is a better place because of them.

Cameco. Need I say more? This company has contributed so much over the years, words can't express.....

SHOPPING LOCAL: Always a good idea.  I should note that the planning committee bought all the prizes for the Ladies Spiel locally. With so many local businesses contributing to the club, it seems only fitting that we shop locally for our prizes. It's a symbiotic relationship for sure.

BEATIN' THE BIG PEOPLE: Hayley Horton and crew. Hayley still loses a few games, but she wins alot more of them. All the hard work and dedication to the Roaring Game has paid dividends.

GOOD TIMES IN TV LAND: There is a ton of TV curling coming our way and it will kick off with the Scotties this weekend. If the winter is dragging on for you now, kit won't much longer because the plethora of TV curling that is about to engulf you will take the bite right out of old Jack Frost. And when you finally look up from your screen, it will be Mens Closing time...a sure sign of spring!

HEALED AND THROWING WELL: Sandy Milroy. Sandy had an injury before Christmas and was using a stick for a short time. However, that is all behind him now and he is back and curling with a vengeance.

GREAT Co-COOKS: Marshall Chow and Gator Fortin. These guys were cooks along with Ron Forest for supper and breakfast at the Ladies Spiel and boy, they dished up some awesome chow (pardon the pun Marshall!) Thanks alot guys.

GREAT ICE: The BRCC. The ice speed is great and the curl is awesome. Most runs have been eliminated thanks to the hard work and diligence of the BRCC ice crew. Boy...these guys are dedicated. They spend alot of time at the club. What good fortune that the BRCC has excellent volunteers. We could not do without them.

BRCC BE ALL - END ALL: Ricky Albert. Always helping at the club in every capacity imaginable. Ricky helps with the ice, with the bar, with cleaning....man, this guy is awesome! If you see him around, shake his hand and let him know he is appreciated. He is one of the best behind-the-scenes helpers we have!

Rock On!

The Curling Chronic

Lemieux Rink Off To Provincials

Team Dan Lemieux. Off to the provincials. After a great weekend at the challenge round in Timmins, Steph Lemieux, Marc Barette and Clint Cudmore along with Dam Lemieux will be heading to the Northern Ontario provincials. These guys have had a great season thus far and hopefully it will continue. For Stephane, he has been doing some curling commuting to the Sault every week so it is awesome that this is paying off for him. He sure deserves this. Good luck guys at the provincials! Bring home the hardware!

The BRCC Ladies wound up their Rock Of Ages Spiel yesterday with the A Event winner being Kelly Berry and her team from Sudbury. They won thier final against Eliott Lake's Jan Townes rink. The B Event winner was Anita Moran winning the final over Christie Hagger. The C Event was taken by Team Annie Austin winning their final over Beth Laderoute and the D Event winner was Lucy Ann Trudeau winning over Cathy Jensen. Great job once again by the BRCC in putting together a Rockin' good time. Events winners' pictures to follow.

NEW SKIP: Natasha Hallett. Skipped a team for the first time this weekend. They won their first two games and got knocked out in the dreaded Saturday night game. Excellent start to skipping for Natashia.

EXCELLENT VITTLES REVIEW: Ron Forest. Cooked up a mean prime rib supper for the Ladies Spiel. Received rave reviews. Certainly the consensus is that we keep Ron and his crew for this event. You just can't beat these guys in the food department. Awesome job   Thanks alot Ron!

AMAZING BENEVOLENCE: Mike Landry and Crysta Murdoch. Mike got a donation from St Joe's hospital in Eliott Lake and donated it to the Bantam girls team (Team Horton). Not only did they do that, but he and Chrysta showed up on Sunday morning and cooked a plethora of burgers and hot dogs for the girls to sell at lunchtime. The initiative was over the top successful and as far as I have heard, they raised in excess of $300.00. Great job Mike and Chrysta.

SKINS WINNERS: Team Villeneuve. The BRCC Senior Mens competitive team recently went to Thessalon to play in the Skins Match. They ended up winning this tournament and all in all, had a very good showing. This squad will be returning to Thessalon this weekend to play in the Regionals....we're hoping to keep the momentum going!

YOUTH CHALLENGE PARTICPANTS: BRCC's Mia Smith, Cassie Smith, Avah Olsen and Hanna May went to play in a Youth Challenge in Sudbury this past weekend. These young curlers are doing everything right. They are practicing and participating in tournaments. Kudos to these young curlers for embracing the Roaring Game...they can do nothing else but improve. And kudos to the parents who get them there and foster their enthusiasm. Extremely cool.

BRCC MEMBER AT HEART: Kelly Berry. Kelly is still attending school in Sudbury and sits at or near the top of her class (no surprise there). Because of this, she is on a hiatus from the BRCC but that did not stop her from getting a squad together and bringing them to the BRCC to play in the Ladies Spiel. What's more, she made a donation to the prize table. This was unsolicited which makes this donation all the more special. Thanks alot Kelly!

TOP SPOT IN THE MENS: The Molson Exers (Team Keith Rouselle) are still on a roll. They have not lost a game since the second part of the season kicked off. Awesome job guys. They will have their hands full this coming Thursday as they square off against the Mitchell crew (current club champions).

INCREDIBLE IMPROVEMENT: Rhonda Kirby. I watched a couple of the Liz Rouselle games this weekend and Rhonda was playing second. She played absolutely super. She made some incredible shots. Very impressive display. Also, BRENDA DAUB was playing excellent in the vice position. It is no wonder that this squad is in the top spot in the Tuesday ladies.

MISSED: Al and Maymar Gemmell. Have not been seen around the BRCC for a while now as they are on a curling hiatus. You guys are missed! We think and talk about you all the time!

Rock On!

The Curling Chronic

Rock of Ages Ladies Spiel Kicks Off Today

Well, it has finally here. The BRCC Ladies Rock of Ages Spiel kicks off this evening. This promises to be another of the BRCC excellent events that our cool little club is known for. Great games, great people, great prizes...even loot bags. Not to be outdone, that's for sure. Lots of planning by the Rez Girls and Vola Roberts....great job ladies.

Ron Forest will have some excellent vittles (prime rib) for the Saturday night supper. They will also be providing breakfast on Saturday morning...compliments of Mary Shamas. Thanks Ron (and crew) and thanks Mary.
Thanks to Al Viel (and crew) for running the shooter bar on Friday night.

And while this is going on, a team from BRCC is headed to Thessalon to play in the Thessalon Skins Match. Bob Villeneuve, Terry Fryer, Dan Horton and your truly will be braving the current storm to check out the Thessalon ice. Good practice, if nothing else, since the Senior Mens Regionals are in Thessalon next weekend.

Team Hayley Horton will be headed to the Soo next weekend to play in the Bantam Provincials. Best of luck to those young ladies...they have worked hard this year and they are stoked.

So, if you are stuck for a gig this weekend, check out the BRCC for a Rockin' Good Time. Those BRCC Belles really know how to put on a good time so there is no chance of being disappointed.

Rock On!

The Curling Chronic

Continental Cup Awesome!

 Great seats at the Continental Cup. And great shot-making by both sides.

 Maria Prytz. Among the many highlights of our trip to Vegas for the Continental Cup was meeting and chatting with this excellent curler from the Swedish team. Maria Prytz is an awesome curler and a very personable lady. Note to Maymar and Al Gemmell....notice the shirt. I saved it and wore it especially for this occasion!

The fans at the Continental Cup were awesome. If no one had heard of Blind River before this event, they surely knew about it by the end. The people sitting around us were great fun. This is a big part of seeing these events live...making new friends.








And so it was, 12 Blind River curling club members made the journey to Vegas to kick it at the Continental Cup of Curling.  We were not disappointed. The curling was first rate. Lots of opportunities to meet the players and chat with them. Here's my take on it all:

WEATHER:  20 degrees every day so it was shorts and T-shirts for us. It was crazy sitting in the stands wearing this kind of apparel. I loved it! No rain..in fact, you could not buy a cloud! Cool evenings but with a long sleeve shirt or a sweater, you were good to go!

VENUE: Awesome. The Orleans Arena is a nice facility and connected to the hotel. I could literally walk out of my room and go straight to my seat without ever going outside. (But I did go outside because the weather was awesome!

FOOD: Cheap and good! Lots of restaurants in the hotel that served good food at excellent prices. I gained 5 lbs last week. back to the elliptical this week.

CURLING: Incredible. Great games and great shot-making. Both teams did not disappoint.

HIGHLIGHT: Besides meeting Maria Prytz...got to chat and take a photo with Vic and Russ. Great guys. A big highlight for me was attending with Joanne Niganobe, Christine Owl, Al Moffatt, Yvette Maffatt, Sheri Blanchet, Kristy Blanchet, Frank Lemieux and Shirley Lemieux. They becaome my little ducklings and I led them up and down the strip over a couple of days. To look behind me and see them all coming behind in single file, it was like I was mother goose and they were my ducklings. I might have started off the day as Mother Goose, but after a few beverages along the way, I was more like Mother "Loose:"! These gals and guys were great fun and we had alot of good laughs.

LEARNING EXPERIENCE: You've heard the expression "Photo Bomb"? Well, I thought it was "photo bum" and did a bit of photo bumming along the way. Hence, I became the Photo Bum! What a good laugh that was!

EVE MUIRHEAD: Lots alot of weight. Did not look healthy but she must have been because she played well.

JEFF STOUGHTON: Crowd favorite and he did not disappoint. Jonathan Mead played to the crowd as well.

DELTA AIRLINES: Synonymous with "Nightmare". My first time with Delta and most likely my last. Going there and returning, there were problems. I've already sent a letter to them. Cancelled our flight and despite the fact that we booked back at the beginning of September, people who booked flights long after us got earlier flights out than us. This lack of a solid protocol cost us a day of our holidays, plus the cost of a shuttle to Alpena, MI. Definitely not cool.

FIRST RATE HOTEL: Kewadin in Sault Ste Marie, MI. Because of our problems with Delta, Kewadin shuttled us to Alpena,. MI...3.5 hours downstate. All they asked was that we tip the driver so we chipped in and gave him $160.00

VERY COOL MOMENT: We got interviewed by Colin Kelly, the event newspaper writer. Like I said, everyone knew about Blind River at the end of it.

BEST POSTER: Blind River's, of course. it was big and colorful and we made it on TV lots of times. Thanks alot Gator Fortin. BTW...that poster is very well traveled. Been to many Briers and Scots, Grand Slams and now the Continental Cup.

REGRETS: I meant to make daily entries while I was at the event but could not get our I Pad to work. Hence, this after-the-fact entry. Another regret?...it's over!

All in all, a real memorable trip. Loved the people we went with and enjoyed every minute of it. Would I do it again....in a New York minute! If you have never done anything like this, you owe it to yourself to try it. Memories abound!

Rock On!

The Curling Chronic

Thursday Mens

Vegas Baby! This is it, the time has finally come. With 11 other BRCC members in tow, this curling chronic is headed to Sin City for the Continental Cup of Curling. We purchased our packages last February so it has been quite a wait. But the waiting is over and now I'm stoked, big time! And I'm not the only one stoked. There is a club full of stoked curlers every Thursday night for the Mens League. And there is no secret as to why they are stoked. it is an excellent league...great games and great comradry. And as Thursday marks a nearing to the end of the week, it is always a perfect day to get out there and hang with your curling pals and immerse yourself in the Roaring Game.

Rick Berthelot vs Chris Zagar. WIN for Berthelot
Dan Berthelot vs Keith Rouselle. WIN for Rouselle
Francois Lemieux vs Al Viel. WIN for Lemieux
Michel Rivard vs Bob Villeneuve. WIN for Villeneuve
Tod Swan vs Andrew Roberts. WIN for Roberts
Jeff Mitchell vs Tom St Jules.  WIN for Mitchell
Glen Austin vs Chris Astles. WIN for Austin
Jim Kendrick vs Ben Lemieux. WIN for Kendrick
John Hammond vs Dave Mitchell. WIN for Mitchell


STILL GOIN' STRONG: The Molson Exers. Team Rouselle is having one heck of a season. These guys have been together for a long time  but this is their best year by far that I can remember. Great job guys.

PULLED IT OUT: Andrew Ludgate. At the helm (Jeff Mitchell was absent) and taking on the tough Family Jules, Andrew stayed with it and made a big shot in the end to win it. Awesome.

EXPONENTIAL IMPROVEMENT: Andrew Roberts. This guy just keeps getting better and better. He has an excellent understanding of the game and he makes alot of shots. This guy has certainly come into his own. BTW, I prefer the pony tail over the samurai look.

HAMPERED BY SHOULDER ISSUES: Benny Lemieux. It's been a tough go of late for Ben. He has an issue with his muscles in his shoulder and it makes it hard to throw. But like the true curling chronic that he is, Ben gets out there and toughs it out. Hopefully, this shoulder thing works itself out for him.

STILL TOP DOGS: Team Mitchell. Another stellar season for the Mitchell squad. Will they ever run out of gas?

EXCELLENT LEAD: Scott Smith. Scott Smith pays lead for Dave Mitchell. His game is real solid. He has excellent weight control and sets up alot of ends for his team.

AWESOME SUPPORT: Cameco. This company is so generous and supportive for lots of organisations around town. The BRCC thanks you. And a big thanks to the employees of Cameco who participate in the club. Several of which lend their trades skills to help out around the club. Like I have said many times...a great company with great people in its employ.

So that's it. The next post I make, I'll be making from the Continental Cup. I'll try to keep you posted as to what is going on there and share our experience with you. BTW: they have a patch and live entertainment every night. Awesome!

Rock On!

The Curling Chronic

Stoughton Wins Skins Match

Stoughton wins it all! And an impressive payday of $70,500.00  Not a bad weekends pay for a weekends work!

In Womens' provincial curling, the Scotties field is pretty well set. With the exception of Quebec, all other provinces are settled. It was excellent to see all those games on Sportsnet TV this weekend. They are as follows:

NL: Heather Strong:  Back for her umpteenth time. Hope she does well.

NS: Heather Smith. (Fomerly Heather Smith - Dacey): A great performance expected.

NB: Andrea Crawford (Bunny Eyes): Back for another go at it. I still say this team could be better if they played more on the Grandslam circuit. They need more sponsorship.

PEI: Kim Dolan.  Not her first time. I think she will be in tough.

ONTARIO: Allison Flaxey: Great run in the provincials. First time at the Scotties..I'm interested to see how they perform on arena ice in front of the big crowds.

TEAM CANADA: Rachael Homan: Not having their greatest year but capable of greatness. I expect them to be strong. In fact, I expect to see them in the final.

MANITOBA: Chelsea Carey. Good run in the provincials. They could be a contender.

SASKATCHWAN: Stephanie Lawton. Real solid team. I expect to see them around at the end of the week. Lots of potential to win it all.

ALBERTA: Valerie Sweeting: This team has been awesome this year. This is another strong contender.

BC: Kessa Van Osch: Beat Scott in a nail biter of a final yesterday. This will be their first Scotties so I am interested to see how they will fare. This could a learning curve deal for them but who knows!

TERRITORIES: Sarah Koltun: Ended Kerry Galusha's long time run. Further testimony to the fact that there are more than 1 womens teams playing in the territories!

Rock On!

The Curling Chronic

Gushue Upended At The Skins

The 16 Skins guys for the 2014 Skins Game. Great field of champion curlers assembled in Banff for a shoot out. And in the first game,Gushue took on Stoghton. It was looking good for the Gush as he was up a couple of skins early. With Johnny Mo, E J Harnden and Ben Hebert...I was liking Gushue's chances. But after a couple of miscues, Stoughton quickly turned the tables and eventually won the match in the 7th securing $11000.00. Since the last skin was worth $6500.00, Gushue had no chance to win and as fate would have it, Stoughton took that last skin as well, ending up with $17500.00. Team Gushue ended up with $3500.00

Tonight's game will feature Brad Jacobs against Kevin Martin. This should be a barnburner with Jacobs choosing Jon Mead (no shocker there), Marc Kennedy and Craig Saville. Tough crew. But then there's Martin with Ryan Fry, Carter Rycroft (bit of a reunion from the Wolchuck / Bartlett days), and Mark Nichols. Hard to pick the winner in this one but let's face it, Jacobs will be tough to beat. He's top skip these days so Martin will have to bring it. I guessing he will...thus, the barnburner.

A great night to kick it in the recliner and watch some world class curling.

Thank heavens for the Season of Champions. I look ahead at my curling and TV Curling calendar, and there is little room for anything else. And thank heavens for big screen TVs and surround sound....my TV curling experience is enhanced. Now if A M J Campbell Movers could only make a new commercial...my life would be complete!

Rock On!

The Curling Chronic

Wednesday Open 8 Ender

While it's true that there have been some pregnant women out there playing the Roaring Game, this cannot mean that these people are not athletes. The nature of the game accommodates pregnant ladies but that does not mean that these people are not athletes. They were athletes before they became in the family way and lets face it, the fact that they continue to curl is a credit to them!

And if you look at it, the fact that curling is possible for pregnant ladies is a credit to the sport. I mean, if these ladies were in the skeleton competition, no chance they are jumping on a skinny sled on their belly, face down to the icy track and hurtling themselves at breakneck speeds down the track. But in curling, they can slide and sweep without any trouble.

But as far as I know, there were no pregnant people at the BRCC this past Wednesday in the Open 8 Ender (but this has been a cold winter so I guess it IS possible). But despite being pregnant or not, they were all out there meeting between the sheets and having a good time doing it.

Al Viel vs Hayley Horton.  WIN for Viel

Glen Austin vs Warren Neufeld.  WIN for Neufeld

Ryan Hagger vs Tom St Jules. WIN for St Jules

Lucy Ann Trudeau vs John Topash. WIN for Topash

RED BUM AWARD: Team Austin. Could not deal with the excellent shots made by Warren and the Neufeld Factor. This team makes alot of shots and they are strong in every position!

BACK TO 100%: Tom St Jules. Big Daddy was having some problems with his Sciatic and it was hampering him. But, I am pleased to report that he has made a full recovery and is back to being the on-ice "tough guy" that we all know and fear.

CUTEST CURLER OUT THERE: Abby Hagger. I am so pleased to see this awesome young lady out there playing in the leagues. She makes alot of shots and her sweeping abilities sure have come a long way (must be the sharp, new broom).

GREAT SPORT AND ALL ROUND GREAT GUY: Brian Tonelli. Loves the Roaring Game. He doesn't really care about winning or losing....he just enjoys being out there. He epitomises the joys of recreational curling.

STILL A CURLING WHIZ: Al Viel. At this point, a veteran of the game and a true curling chronic. And can always be counted on for some real tough competition.

IMPROVED IN LEAPS AND BOUNDS: Helen Rancourt. I watched parts of her game the other night and she has developed a real solid delivery and is throwing the rock well. Great job Helen.
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FUN COUPLE: Judy Laframboise and Ron Coventry. This pair are fun to curl with. They will not be going to the National Mixed this year but if there was a National Competition for being a fun couple to curl with, they would definitely be on the Podium!

INCREDIBLY SOLID DELIVERY: Tamara Behnke. Her curling skills continue to improve at an exponential rate. All the curling and practising this young lady does certainly has paid dividends.

EXCELLENT POTENTIAL: Adam Valiquette. This guy has a solid curling style and is right into the game. Once he establishes more weight control, he will be a formidable opponent. Looking for a good player, he's your guy.

So that's how it all worked out for this Wednesday Open 8 Ender.

I will be away next week and despite this, I will send some reports of our Continental Cup experiences so keep an eye out.

Rock On!

The Curling Chronic