Hack to Hack

It's a ThreePeat for Jacobs

2012-02-12T10:22:00.000-05:00

Yep, that's right! After last night's final at the Soo Curlers, the Jacobs rink will be returning to the Big Show, for a third time. And they did it in fine style too. After a disappointing loss to Mike Jakubo in the 1-2 game on Friday night, they came out Saturday afternoon firing on all cylinders and dominated the Phillips rink in the semi-final. So much so, that they scored an 8 ender in 6 to end that game. That was the first 8-ender that I have ever seen played out and to see it in a semi-final of a provincial championship was nothing short of incredible. Nonetheless, my heart does go out to the Tim Phillips rink because they are the squad that had the 8 scored against them. Some may wonder why Tim Phillips did not throw a take out for his last shot to eliminate the possibilty of an 8 ender. In his defense, the Phillips squad was in tough all game and in this end, there were several inturn come-around attempts missed and by the time Tim went to shoot, he had very little. For his last, he threw a hack weight number to try to cut down the end or perhaps even try to score one (the chances of this were slim). I'm sure he was not thinking about the 8 ender, simply trying to save what was left of the game (he was already down 6 - 3 and really needed to score or just give up 1). At any rate, he did not make his shot and failed to remove anything from the rings leaving Jacobs a wide open take out for 8. In this instance, I think Tim "took one for the team" and I respect him for that. And I certainly feel his pain!

In the final, Jacobs controlled and the Jakubo squad, who had beat Jacobs twice that week, failed to keep it together and were forced to accept second place. So it's off to the Brier for the Jacobs rink again. And I'll tell you this, they HAVE put in the work and have given it their all so there is no one that can say that they did not deserve it. Indeed, they did deserve it! So good luck boys...make NO proud!

The entire provincials was livestreamed and could be watched on internet. By the semifinal and final, there were over 500 viewers. Everyone was blogging and the it was a hoot. I enjoyed chatting with other curling chronics all over Canada (and the world!..there was one viewer from Davos, Switzerland!) The telecast was commentated by long time BRCC pal (and Soo Curler) Juha Kantavera. He was great and gave us some good laughs! Well done Juha!

So there you have it. Jacobs will be back at the Brier and it will be here before you know it! In the meantime, the Scotties will be starting up on Saturday, Feb 18. I'm looking forward to it. Representing Ontario this year is Team Tracy Horgan from Sudbury. This is a crew of nice young ladies that have been knocking at the dor for a few years now and are finally having their crack at the Nationals. Good luck ladies!

Some other BRCC pals, Team Vicki Barrett from Sudbury will be playing their Senior Provincials in Kapuskasing on Feb 24. They have made it to the Nationals before and I would love to see them break through again! Good luck ladies, I wish you well! (Margaret McLaughlin, the team's third, reads this blog so I know she will see this!)

Rock On!

The Curling Chronic

CURLING EXHIBIT AT LOCAL MUSEUM

2012-02-10T16:43:00.000-05:00

Frank McWhinney's own curling sweater and club pins, trophy, and a great little photo album

That's Ruth Christilaw's 1950's curling shoes in their original box.

Check out a vintage hat that Evelyn Bell wore in her curling days, also dates back to the 1950's.

A beautiful hand knit sweater made by Shirley's sister, years ago for François Lemieux. It's still in absolutely mint condition.

Check out the curling stones, one is the original stone that was owned by Walter Bridges, founder of the BRCC in 1953. In those days, people owned a pair of rocks which they transported when they went to out of town events.

This is what you will find if you check out the Curling Exhibit at the Blind River Museum. The display is called ON THE ROCKS. You can see this display as part of the Winter Carnival on Sunday, Feb 12 1 - 4 pm. This is going to run right till the end of April so check it out. There is lots of cool curling stuff to see here.

Thanks to the people who generously donated things for this display: Ruth Christlaw, Evelyn Bell, Frank McWhinney, Mike / Beth Laderoute, Al / Maymar Gemmell, Nora / Earl Bell, Joan Laderoute, Myra Kiernan, Francois / Shirley Lemieux. And thanks to our beloved Rose Neufeld for getting this stuff together. She's awesome so if you see her, tell her how great she is, she deserves it!

And thanks to Chris Clarke, Museum Curator for putting this exhibit together.

Rock On!

The Curling Chronic

Wednesday Mixed

2012-02-09T17:33:00.000-05:00

I know what you're thinking. When did Chris Zagar become a whacked out sports fan? And who gave him the Norwegian outfit? Well, that's not him and I don't think it's a Norwegian outfit. This guy is a soccer fan. Chris, on the other hand, is a curling fan. I don't think he's hardcore like some of us, but he does enjoy getting out there with the guys for a game on Thursday nights in the Mens League. And there are people who like to get out there on Wednesday nights and play in the Mixed League. And they were all out last night. All the sheets were full and there were lots of good games going on.

Ice A: Glen Austin vs Dan Horton. WIN for Austin. The Wednesday Newfie Bullet has been back on the tracks for a few weeks now and posting some wins. Last night, the Horton crew won the "Johnny Cash" Award because they Heard That Train A'Comin'.

Ice B: Warren Neufeld vs Mike Laderoute. WIN for Neufeld. The Neufeld squad are always hard to get by. They operate at one speed, top speed so they win the "Tom Petty" Award because for them, it's always Full Speed Ahead!

Ice C: Andrew Roberts vs Ryan Hagger. WIN for Hagger. It was a good game played by the Roberts crew but in the end, they had to accept second place. But they never seem to mind that, they enjoy being in the lounge and having some friendly chatter....that's what makes their evening complete. And that's why they win the "Rascal Flatts" award this week...they were Winners At A Losing Game.

Ice D: Francois Lemieux vs Tom St Jules. WIN for St Jules. Big Daddy and his squad pull off a big win against the normally very tough Lemieux rink. Francois has had a great year in both the leagues he has played in. He doesn't mind the odd loss, it keeps him humble. So, his team win the "Ten Years After" Award..because You Can't Win Them All!

And that was how it played out this Wednesday night past. Like I said, some good games and certainly some friendly chatter afterward which is a trademark of the BRCC. If you can't find a friendly person at our club, then you are not in our club...you must be lost!

Rock On!

The Curling Chronic

Tuesday Ladies

2012-02-09T17:13:00.000-05:00

I know what you're thinking. Is this Malisha and Makaila Alloway in suits that their mother sewed for them? Well, no, that's not them (I don't think)!, but they sure look like they are having fun!. Just like the BRCC ladies have fun on Tuesday nights when they battle it out. The Alloway sisters play in the Mixed League and the Tuesday ladies. They are both talented young curlers and definitely curling chronics! And they are nice young ladies as well.

In the BRCC ladies league, things are starting to come unravelled for some while others are gaining momentum in the race for the top of the leaderboard.

Ice A: Denelda Cada vs Beth Laderoute. WIN for Laderoute. My beloved Rez Girls are in a downward spiral as they post another loss. They win the "Paul Simon" Award as they are "Slip, Slidin Away." I feel their pain!

Ice B: Christie Hagger vs Malisha Alloway. WIN for Alloway. Those Alloway sisters et al continue to be a tough squad to get by. They win the "Bee Gees" Award as they are Stayin' Alive.

Ice C: Marg Tivy vs Anita Moran. WIN for Moran. Oops, that's a stumble for the veteran Iron Bridge Belles. They've been on a winning streak lately so this may be just a minor set back. They win the "Steve Winwood" Award because They'll Be Back In The High Life Again!

Ice D: Christine Owl vs Maymar Gemmell. WIN for Gemmell. The red hot Gemmell crew still posting the wins and if I am not mistaken, have sole possession of the top spot on the leaderboard. They win the "Abba" Award...but they're the Curling Queens.

Ice B (Late): Tammy Lemieux vs Shirley Lemieux. WIN for Tammy Lemieux. Big win for Tammy and her crew. It's been a tough season for this squad as they have been in the growth phase but it looks like the growing is done! They win the "Barry Mnilow" Award because it Looks Like They Made It!

Ice C: Liz Rouselle vs Paula Summers. WIN for Rouselle. Big win for Rouselle after coming off a loss last week. They seem to be looking to improve and therefore win the "Beatles" Award...they're Getting Better!

So that's how it played out this past Tuesday. With the Gemmells at the top of the heap, they sport the targets and there will be a plethora of teams looking to knock them off the hill. Still a few weeks left so it remains to be seen who can claw their way to the top and hold on.

Rock On!

The Curling Chronic

Monday Mixed

2012-02-08T14:17:00.000-05:00

I know what you're thinking. Doesn't Maymar Gemmell have new Balance Plus shoes. And what is she doing using that club broom...doesn't she have one of her own?! Well that's not her, it's another lady curling in her own ladies league. Our beloved Maymar does have her own broom and she curls in the BRCC ladies League, but she also spares in the Mixed league as well. Maymar is one of the jewels in the crown of the BRCC. She is an inductee into the Canadian Curling Hall of Fame and she is forever helping out the club, whether in the background or spearheading the initiative. She has done so much to benefit the club over the years that it would be extremely difficult to quantify it. But the BRCC does love you Maymar! Her son Dean Gemmell, another long time BRCC pal will be playing in the US Nationals beginning on the 11th of February. You can follow him @ http://12theendsportsnetwork.weebly.com/index.htm I'm sure I speak for all the BRCC when we wish Dean every success and hopefully we'll get to watch him playing in the World's. In the meantime, it was business as usually for the Monday Night Mixed. 2 games went off while the Villeneuve / Kearns game was short of players and I am hearing that a scrap game got played.

Ice B: John Hammond vs Brian West. WIN for Hammond. The West squad were on a winning streak and got stopped in their tracks by the Hammond Almost Family Affair. Still awaiting a rematch with the Monday Newfie Bullet, the Hammonds win the "Waitin' In The Wind" Award.

Ice C: Gator Fortin vs Jerry Jensen. WIN for Fortin. The Fortin squad continue to post wins in the Monday Mixed. They win the "This Broom Was Made For Spankin" Award. Never count this crew out!

So that is how it played out for this week in the Monday Mixed. And it won't be long now and the BRCC Mixed Spiel will be going on. Feb 24 / 25 in fact. Brian and Nancy West are running it and it is promising to be fun, fun, fun. Good curling and good friends. Can't wait!

Rock On!

The Curling Chronic

Thursday Mens

2012-02-08T12:42:00.000-05:00

I know what you're thinking. Where did Dave Mitchell get that bowler hat? And when did he get a hankerin' for some outdoor curling in the Swiss Alps? And when did he start curling in hush puppies?! Well, that's not him. Dave prefers indoor curling and to the best of my knowledge, does most of his curling in Northern Ontario. And he's got a new pair of Balance Plus shoes, no hush puppies but I'm willing to bet that he has owned a pair in his lifetime. Dave curls in the Thursday Mens along with 95 other men. Yep, that's right, there's 24 teams in the BRCC Thursday Mens. And it's a pretty good league too! Lots of good games. This year, there are 16 playoff spots available and alot of teams vying for these spots. It'll be a dogfight to the finish!

Ice B (Monday): Rick Rouselle vs Shane Boyer. WIN for Boyer. The Rouselle rink was red hot there for a while but it's looking like the flames may have been doused. The Boyer rink wins the "Firemen Of The Week" award.

Ice C: Bob Villeneuve vs Glen Austin. WIN for Austin. The Thursday Newfie Bullet hands out a second place finish to the tough Villeneuve crew. It's the "Bump And Stumble" Award for the veteran Villeneuve squad. They'll be looking to do a quick patch job and get back on the tracks for next week.

Ice D: David Mitchell vs Mike Laderoute. WIN for Mitchell. Tough one for the Laderoute crew who have slipped a bit in this second half. They win the "Lookin' For Some Broomball Shoes" Award this week while they try to get a firmer footing.

Ice A (Thursday): Stephane Lemieux vs Ben Lemieux. WIN for Ben Lemieux. The veteran (Ben) Lemieux Express finally stringing a couple of wins together. In spite of a rough season, these guys can still make the playoffs and are looking like they found their mojo! They win the "Our Trials And Tribulations Are All Behind Us Now!" Award.

Ice B: Keith Rouselle vs John Hammond. WIN for Rouselle. The Molson Exers have had a pretty good second half and that's two in a row for them. As for the tough Hammond crew, it's the "Kickin' Pebbles" Award for them. No doubt they'll be looking for redemption as they face the Mitchell crew this week.

Ice C: Michel Rivard vs Jim Kendrick. WIN for Kendrick. The Kendricks squad are 'curling enigmas". They never post their results on the board so it is often hard to say what happened in their game. They win the "Oil Of Olay" Award because they always keep us guessin'!

Ice D: Brian West vs Chris Zagar. WIN for West. The West squad continue to post some wins in this second half and could easily make the playoffs. They get the "Dark horse" award. You never know what could happen if they get on a roll!

Ice A(Late): Yvon Valliquette vs Rick Rouselle. WIN for Valiquette. This Valiquette crew are definitely going to be around for the playoffs. They have had their best season in a very long time and they continue to deal out the hurtin'. They win the "Defying The Odds" Award...and if they can keep going, they'll end up winning the "Chest Beatin'" Award as well.

Ice B: Chris Astles vs Francois Lemieux. WIN for Astles. Great night for the Astles crew. They win the "We Been Savin' It All For The End" Award.

Ice C: Al Gemmell vs Brian Tonelli. WIN for Gemmell. The Gemmell crew continue to tear up the league. This is another crew that will definitely be in the playoffs and have the potential to go all the way. They win the 'Catch Me If You Can" Award.

Ice D: Al Viel vs Dan Berthelot. WIN for Viel. It's been a great year for the Viel crew and it would take an incredible string of bad luck to prevent these guys from being in the playoffs. They win the "Endeavor To Persevere" Award.

So, with 5 games left in regular season play, it is going to be a real race to the finish. With 16 teams qualifying for the playoffs, it will be quite the interesting conclusion. One thing is for sure, nothing is settled yet, far from it. There are yet to come some great match ups and it will be interesting to see where the chips land. In the meantime, the fun continues and regardless of it all, the BRCC Men's Closing is up and coming and that will be the perfect end to what has shaped up to be an excellent season.

Rock On!

The Curling Chronic

Wednesday Mixed

2012-02-02T15:55:00.000-05:00

Yes, that was the question of the evening last night at the Wednesday Night Mixed. Of the 4 games scheduled, only 1 game game went off. If curling was cancelled, only two teams never got the memo. But that's OK, us 8 people had a good game anyway, and even John Hammond showed up to watch so it was OK.

Ice C: Glen Austin vs Tom St Jules. WIN for Austin. The Wednesday Newfie Bullet pulled out the win in a hard fought match against Big Daddy and his crew. It was kind of weird being the only game out there but the ice was fine and there were lots of good shots too. And we all win the "Playing Through The Echoes" Award and the "Curling In The Twilight Zone" Award.

And that's it. The shortest blog report on record which is OK seeing that I'm a two finger typer. I'm sure we'll see the league back to its full strength next week.

Rock On!

The Curling Chronic

Tuesday Ladies

2012-02-02T13:02:00.000-05:00

I know what you're thinking. What's Chris Melmoth doing throwing Turkeys on arena ice? And when did he digress to a knee slide? Well, that's not him. Chris has a nice flatfoot slide. He's a member of the BRCC Board of Directors and he plays in the Thursday Mens. His wife, Danielle, plays in the Tuesday ladies...often sparing for Team Shirley Lemieux. But there are lots of ladies in the BRCC Ladies league, 12 teams to be exact which is pretty darn good for our little club. Our ladies are very important to the success of our club....and we appreciate having them around. Many of these ladies do alot of volunteering at the club and that is PRICELESS! We need them (and we love them)!

Malisha Alloway vs Marg Tivy. WIN for Tivy. The Tivy rink are now tops! With the Rez Girls taking another loss this week, the path is clear for the Tivy crew to make their way to the top of the leaderboard. They win the "Clawing Our Way Back" Award. They also win the "We'll NEVER Give Up" Award.

Maymar Gemmell vs Liz Rouselle. WIN for Gemmell. Once again, the Gemmell rink has posted a win and they, too, are at the top of the leaderboard with the Tivy crew. They win the "You Can't Keep A Good Team Down" Award. They might have had a slight slip late in the first half of the season, but they have recovered nicely and are in position to be top team when the season ends.

Shirley Lemieux vs Denelda Cada. WIN for Lemieux. My beloved Rez Girls take another loss. That's two in a row and unfortunately that's enough to knock them out of top spot. But, they are still right there and with a couple of wins can get back to the top spot. So they win the "Jack and Jill" Award and hopefully they get to the top of the hill and won't come tumbling down after.

LATE: Christy Hagger vs Beth Laderoute. WIN for Hagger. After coming runner up in the BRCC Ladies Spiel, Christy Hagger continues to be a tough customer. This team could be right there at the top of the hill with a couple of wins. They win the "Dark Horse" Award. I'll be keeping my eyes on this squad...I'm really interested to see how they make out. As for Christie Hagger, the more I watch her, the more impressed I am with this lady. If there are any ladies out there that want to put together a competitive ladies crew, Christy would be an excellent candidate. And it sure would be cool to see a ladies competitive squad from the BRCC!

So that's it for another Tuesday Ladies. Although there were lots of ladies burned out from curling all weekend, that did not prevent them from coming out and playing on Tuesday. Well done ladies!

Rock On!

The Curling Chronic

Monday Mixed

2012-02-01T13:59:00.000-05:00

I know what you're thinking. Since when did Beth Laderoute become a football fan? And really, the Buccaneers? And how come she's holding that sign upside down? Well, that's not Beth. Beth is a curling fan and she curls right side up in the Wednesday Mixed and the Tuesday Ladies.

This past week, the Monday Mixed was at it again. This, coming on the heels of the BRCC Ladies Speil which was an excellent time. So good, in fact, that some ladies missed their Mixed game just to have a little breather.

Ice A: Bob Villeneuve vs Dan McMillan. WIN for Villeneuve. Tough night for the MacMillan crew but perhaps Salli Watson was still a little tired from her big weekend. She wins the "Beat Out But Still Made It!" Award.

Ice B: Al Viel vs Gator Fortin. WIN for Fortin. Great win for the Fortin crew in this come from behind victory and for this effort, they win the "We Can Paddle Upstream Any Day Of The Week" Award.

Ice C: Brian West vs Malisha Alloway. WIN for West. Although the Alloway squad put up a good fight, they could not withstand the assault of the West crew who are on a roll and posting the wins. They win the "We Be The New Kings and Queens Of Monday Night!" Other squads will have the pressure on them to deal out a "curling impeachment!"

Ice D: Jerry Jensen vs John Hammond. WIN for Hammond. The intense Hammond crew continue to be a Mixed "force to be reckoned with". Interestingly enough, they will be playing against the West crew this coming Monday. They win the "We Be Lookin' To Do Some Impeachin'" Award.

So there you have it, another Monday for the record books. Looking ahead, the BRCC Mixed is coming up this month (February). The format has changed somewhat where the entire spiel will get played in its entirety by Saturday night. There will be NO Sunday games. I admit, it's a bit of a change but it may be a good thing. At any rate, I'm interested in seeing how the whole thing plays out. One thing is for sure, it will mean lots of curling on Saturday and a club full of dancers on the Saturday night. I applaud the Wests for trying something new.

Rock On!

The Curling Chronic

Thursday Mens

2012-01-31T16:42:00.000-05:00

I know what you're thinking. When did Mark Blondin start working at the airport. And who's that lady he's wheeling around? Well, that's not him and he does not work for the airport. But he DOES curl in the Mens League at the BRCC. He plays lead for the Rick Berthelot crew.

The season is wearing on and February is just around the corner. With 5 weeks left, the heat is on the get in position to make it to the playoffs. There are alot of teams in contention and as the season wears on, it is becoming more and more interesting to see who will actually make it through. One thing is for sure, with so many teams vying for a position, and only 8 available, these last few weeks will produce some exciting matches!

Ice A: (Monday): Rick Rouselle vs Glen Austin. TIE GAME. Probably not a bad result as the Rouselle crew has been super hot. this tie may in fact be the beginning of the cooling process. So for the Newfie Bullet, it's the "Kool Aid" Award.

Ice B: Alain Viel vs Bob Villeneuve. WIN for Viel. Ouch! It's the "Red Bum" Award for the Villeneuve crew this week.

Ice C: Dave Mitchell vs Al Gemmell. WIN for Gemmell. Ouch again! The Mitchell crew will have to share that Red Bum Award with the Villeneuve Four....and there's only so much Noxema to go around.

Ice A (Thursday Early): Stephane Lemieux vs Shane Boyer. WIN for Boyer. It's been nothing but improvements for the Lemieux squad and I think this process will continue, but NOT this week. The Boyer crew had loads of game this week and they win the "Knockin' Them Back To Earth" Award.

Ice B: Francois Lemieux vs John Hammond. WIN for Hammond. The Hammond crew continues to be a tough customer and a huge contender for the playoffs. As for the Lemieux crew, a slip this week and they win the "Who Put That Banana Peel There?" Award.

Ice C: Michel Rivard vs Rick Berthelot. WIN for Berthelot. It's been a season of overcoming large obstacles for the Berthelot crew and they have done well. Rick is now a full time lefty and has come around pretty good. He wins the "Accomplished Southpaw" Award.

Ice D: Chris Astles vs Mike Laderoute. WIN for Laderoute. The Bionic Hip et al continue to have an excellent season. They have had a few slips but manage to catch themselves and rebound the next week. The win the "Elastic Curlers" Award.

Ice A (Late): Keith Rouselle vs Dan Berthelot. WIN for Rouselle. The Molson Exers still managing to chalk up a few wins. They could easily get on a roll and make the playoffs. They win the "Serious Between Sips" Award. Git er done guys.

Ice B: Ben Lemieux vs Jim Kendrick. WIN for Lemieux. The Lemieux Express posts a win which is good news for them. It's been a tough year for this veteran squad and they will have to really string together some wins to get to playoffville. They win the "Wing And A Prayer" Award....there's still hope yet!

Ice C: Brian Tonelli vs Chris Zagar. TIE GAME. The Tonelli crew had a tough start this year but they certainly have grown and I am thinking that if they stay together, they will have a much better season next year. They win the "Looking To The Future" Award.

Ice D: Yvon Valiquette vs Brian West. WIN for Valiquette. The onslaught continues as the Valiquette crew posts yet another win. What a roll it's been for this squad and they are very strong contenders for a playoff position. They are the winners of the "Most Upwardly Mobile" Award. It will be interesting to see how their season finishes.

So that's how it was last Thursday in the ever popular Thursday Mens. lots of good games and the drama is building as the season winds down. More and more, the talk around the club is starting to revolve around the Men's Closing which is the premiere event at the BRCC and pretty well on the north shore. Looking to get on a team...you better get your feelers out now and look hard because it will get harder and harder as the event gets closer. Don't be left out, you'll be missing out on an awesome good time.

Rock On!

The Curling Chronic

BRCC Ladies Spiel HUGE Success

2012-01-30T14:17:00.002-05:00

Double click this picture and try to guess who is who. This picture is indicative of the thought and preparation that went into making the BRCC Ladies Spiel a gigantic success. When I walked into the club at around 5:30 pm on Friday past, I was amazed at the amount of decorating that was done. It was truly amazing. It seems like year after year, the BRCC belles find ways to outdo themselves from the year before. This year was NO exception. It was an uproarious good time, had by all.

The curling was excellent with many, many good games with exciting finishes. Great entertainment!

A Event: Won by Team Vickie Barret of Sudbury. These ladies are friends of mine and are 4 wonderful ladies! And great curlers too! This is not the first time these ladies have come to the BRCC and I'm sure it won't be their last. I was pleased to see them this weekend..I didn't know they were coming until Friday so it was an excellent surprise to see them. Thanks alot for coming ladies! Margaret...see you in Coppercliff in April!

A Runners Up: Team Christie Hagger. This squad had a great run and made it to the A Final. As I have said before, Christie Hagger is an excellent curler and her team really backed her up this weekend. They came up a little short in the final but an excellent showing nonetheless!

B Event: Won by Marg Tivy. The Iron Bridge belles once again show that they are one tough squad. The epitomize the phrase "Never give Up" and they certainly showed this to be the case in the come from behind win in this B Final. They came from behind, put it into an extra end and won it. Textbook! Great job ladies!

B Event Runner Up: Team Gelinas of Eliott Lake. Very strong showing by this squad. Thanks for coming ladies...hope to see you next year!

C Event Winner: Team Kelly Meeks. Great showing by this squad. Good, consistent curling all weekend and in the end, they only lost 1 game and put on a fine display for the fans. Good job!

C Event Runners Up: My beloved Rez Girls (Team Denelda Cada). The Rez Girls are always good for some great entertainment when they hit the ice. And this weekend they did not disappoint. They played awesome all weekend and lost in a barnburner of a final. I still love you ladies!

D Event Winners: Team Lisa Horton. This team was in tough every game and epitomize the word "Perseverance!" They were down 4 in the semi-final and took 4 in the final end to put it into an extra end where they came out the victors. Then they went on to win the final. Great job ladies!

D Event Runners Up: Team Tammy Lemieux. Nice job for this squad. With Heather Young at the helm, the Lemieux crew rallied in the final and very nearly sent this into an extra end. Nice job for these fine ladies.

It was a sad thing to see this Spiel end but all good things must come to an end I suppose. This spiel was so well put together that my mind was blown. And the prize table was excellent! It only goes to show just how much the volunteers do for our club. There were volunteer bartenders, volunteer ice people, volunteers in the kitchen. The list is too many to mention, but I will say that these people are the reason this event was the huge success that it was. You know who you are and the BRCC thanks you!. The organizer of this event was Lorraine Liss...thanks for an absolutely spectacular job. Seriously! And, of course, I cannot end this blog without mentioning Chauchi...who once again worked his tail off and provided us with excellent ice. Chauchi's efforts have been exemplary in everything that the club undertakes. I cannot say enough how great this guy has been for the club.

Another great spiel! Ladies, my hat is off!

Rock On!

The Curling Chronic

Northern Ontraio Rink Going to Scotties

2012-01-30T12:47:00.001-05:00

It's more great news for Northern Ontario curling as Team Tracy Horgan of Sudbury will be representing Ontario at this year's Scotties Tournament of Hearts in Red Deer in February. This Horgan rink has been around for a few years and lost in a final last year at the Ontario Scotties only to find redemption this year against the Homan rink. It's an interesting field this year.

NL: Heather Strong.... back with her sister and 2 new members. They are most likely the best that Newfie has to offer for ladies curlers and I would be happy to see them get to a final. This might be their year. Heather certainly has the experience.

NS: Heather Smith-Dacey. This crew had a good run last year and I like them. I would love to see them still in it at the end of the week.

PEI: Kim Dolan...new crew. I'll be careful not to set my expectations too high for this squad. I had hoped for Suzanne Birt because I am a huge Shelly Bradley fan. (I still remember her run in Sudbury!)

Quebec: Marie France Larouche. One question...when will they start recruiting new players in this province! There's a new task for Pierre Charette!

New Brunswick: Andrea Kelly. Back again. Andrea (Bunny Eyes) has a great squad and lots of potential. It would not disappoint me to see her in a Semi-final.

Ontario: Tracy Horgan. First time, but this is a solid crew. Can they go all the way. I sure hope so..it would be another notch in the Northern Ontario Curling Belt! These are real nice young ladies...I wish them well.

Manitoba: Jennifer Jones....yet again. I'm STILL not a fan. I hope Jennifer's head has shrunk a bit. I was personally hoping for Jill Thurston. As much as it pains me to say it, JJ is most likely the team to beat this year (as I reach for a Zantac).

Saskatchewan: Michelle Englot. She's back. Not a bad team at all. I was expecting to see Stephanie Lawton but the Englot crew beat her in the final. This is a solid squad and certainly has the potential to go all the way.

Alberta: Heather Nedohin. Wow! Heather breaks through. I've always been a Shannon Kleibrink fan but that was not to be this year. Heather Nedohin has been trying to get out of Alberta for years and finally, she breaks through. I'm interested in seeing how she makes out..they have to be a tough crew because they had to beat alot of tough teams just to get to the Scotties. This may be one of the teams that can upend the Jones crew.

British Columbia: Kelly Scott....she's back again, Canada's most polite curler...and I say that with love. This squad is minus Jeanna Schrader. They had a good run in the BC Scotties and I am counting on the Scott crew to be the team to prevent Jennifer Jones from winning the Scotties.

Team Canada: Amber Holland....this team has struggled on the WCT all year. I like them and all but man, when they struggle, they struggle! I do not see them winning the STOH but hey, this curling and if they can get on a run, they can win again. Amber Holland is a talented curler but her team needs to back her up better.

Territories: Kerry Galusha....obviously there are still only 4 women curlers in the Yukon / NWT / Nunavut.

Like every other year, I'll be watching the STOH and I'll be rooting for the Newfies (I must) and also for Ontario. It won't be long now and the games will begin. And thank heavens for TSN and the CCA. Our much beloved Season of Champions will not share the same fate of the Grand Slams and the CBC. What a disappointment that CBC has dropped curling. What a bigger disappointment that iSports and CBC caused it to happen. If this is about money, work it out before the bottom drops out of it. The loss of CBC's coverage could spell the end of the Slams. What a waste. To the people responsible for this debacle, I say..What an excellent display of underachieving. You should be ashamed. The curling world does NOT thank you.
Rock On!

The Curling Chronic

Wednesdeay Mixed

2012-01-27T12:28:00.000-05:00

This would be a big reason why I curl! Curling is less confrontational and you really have to go out of your way to get caught in a compromising position like this poor guy in the blue. The Wednesday might Mixed was going on again this week and while there were some great games, there were NO compromising positions.

Ice A: Mike Laderoute vs Vola Roberts. WIN for Laderoute. With Vola absent, MacKenzie Roberts was at the helm and tried to keep the Laderoute crew at bay. However, despite her best efforts, she was unable to stop the onslaught and the Laderoute rink steamrolled over them. They win the "Bully Of The Week" Award. Well, not really, they are a tough team and are playing well so the odds were with them right out of the gate!

Ice B: Warren Neufeld vs Glen Austin. TIE GAME. Good game from start to finish. Warren made some great end savers and his team really made alot of shots to back him up and keep the Wednesday Newfie Bullet wobbling on the tracks. MVP?...Patti Henderson...great delivery and some real good shot making. Patti plays lead for the Neufeld crew and made lots of shots to set up her team's ends. Great job Patti. Warren wins the "Always Got A Shot In My Back Pocket" Award...anyone who has played against Warren Neufeld would know this to be true!

Ice C: Francois Lemieux vs Andrew Roberts. WIN for Lemieux. Despit6e a good early game rally by the Roberts crew, they were unable to fend off the red hot Lemieux squad. Francois is still busy having the best season ever so it is no surprise that with some help from his team, he was able to post the win. Natasha Hallet wins the "Best Dressed Player" Award. She also wins the "Coldest Player On The Ice" Award. Here's a tip, trade the fashion wear for a warm sweater. You'll be happier on the ice and it'll keep your nose from running....just a thought!

Ice D: Tom St Jules vs Rick Berthelot. NO INTEL. I'm sure this would have been a good game. Team St Jules always provides good competition and so does the Rick Berthelot crew. So, who could win this one?....flip a coin.

So, that's it for another Wednesday night. The season wears on and still lots of curling left to do this year. This weekend, the ladies will take to the ice and battle it out and on Saturday, they'll look to solving a murder mystery because that what they do at the BRCC Addams Family Murder Mystery Spiel. The weekend will be a barrel of laughs. I'm stoked! Haven't got a favourite ladies team?...well, come out this weekend and you'll have one by the end of it!

Rock On!

Thye Curling Chronic

Tuesday Ladies

2012-01-25T16:03:00.000-05:00

Lurch...still funny after all these years. And it'll be funny this weekend too as the BRCC Ladies host the Addams Family Murder Mystery Spiel. A good time is guaranteed for all. And you know what else, there is a shooter that is going to available called the Lurch. It's straight Tequila and I'm sure that will make any brave soul "lurch!" This spiel is full...great job ladies! Personally, I can't wait for the games to kick off! It may not be world class curling but it will be entertaining curling and world class fun! And the BRCC belles were out there just this past Tuesday playing their regular league play and at the same time, getting warmed up for the big weekend.

Ice B: Laderoute vs Gemmell. TIE GAME. The tough Gemmell rink tried to capture the win but the Laderoute crew have been having a good second half and forced the tie. They win the "Newton Third Law" Award for Curling because for every action, there is an equal and opposite action and in curling that usually spells a tie. That is the physics of curling!

Ice C: Tammy Lemieux vs Malisha Alloway. WIN for Alloway. The Alloway squad continues to be a tough crew. As for the Lemieux squad, their battles continue and they win the "We'll Never Stop Tryin'" Award.

Ice D: Liz Rouselle vs Christie Hagger. WIN for Hagger. Excellent game here. A real barn burner..the Rouselle were showing shades of their former selves and the Hagger rink was right there to squash the moment. In the end, the Hagger crew clinched the win. They win the "Look Out, Here We Come!" Award. This is a team to watch for sure. Christie Hagger wins the "Small, But Intense" Award. I'm interested how this team ends up in the standings when the year is done. Regardless, they should stay together because they could be a d\league dominator in seasons to come.

Ice A(Late) Denelda Cada vs Anita Moran. WIN for Moran. This was another barn burner that came down to the last rock. The Rez Girls looked like they might pull this one out but Anita made a nice shot to end it and post the win. The Rez Girls will have to stay on the winning side if they want to stay at the top of the eap. Right now, they still remain top team but just barely. They win the "Keepin' The Wolves From The Door" Award....just barely!

Ice C: Shirley Lemieux vs Paula Summers. WIN for Lemieux. After a brief hiatus, our beloved Shirley Lemieux has returned to us and her team has posted the win. This team has not won every game this year but they don't care about that, they enjoy having good games and they do that for sure. Shirley wins the "Grandmother Of The Year" Award!....that being the case, Frank may win the "Bachelor Of The Year" Award...goes with the "Dieter Of The Year" Award!

So, that's it for another week. There was talk of introducing playoffs to the ladies league. I have not heard if this is a reality yet but I hope they do it. I think it will be fun for the league and spruce up their end of the year run. Well, it remains to be seen. In the meantime, if you want some good fun and some real entertainment, come out this weekend and watch some ladies games...I assure you, you just cannot pay for this kind of entertainment. Don't know what I mean?...just come watch and you'll see!

Rock On!

The Curling Chronic

Monday Night Mixed

2012-01-25T15:25:00.000-05:00

I know what you're thinking. When did Jim Smith shave off his facial hair? And who's that guy he's hanging out with? Well, that's not Jim but he is a curling nut. And so is Jim. Jim plays in the Thursday Mens League with the Team Molson Exers. There was a time he played in the Mixed League but that was some time ago. He plays lead for his team and you know how important the lead is in the game today. Well Jim does too, and he always gives his best game and he is definitely a solid player in his position. But there are other solid players in the BRCC as well. And you can find some of them in the Monday Mixed.
Ice A: Al Viel vs Malisha Alloway. WIN for Viel. After a slow start to this game, the Viel crew picked it up and ended up posting the win. They win the "Beatin' Up On The Students" Award.

Ice C: Jerry Jensen vs Dan McMillan. I'M NOT SURE WHO WON THIS MATCH....but it looked like a good game. Both these teams win the award for "Most Rocks In Play"....(all behind the teeline!) What a crazy end that was! Ben Lemieux was conspicuously absent for this game....reports were that he was burnt out from all the curling he did last weekend in the Senior Mens Regionals. Perhaps a cup of Geritol wouldn't go astray here!

Ice D: Glen Austin vs Brian West. WIN for West. This West squad had it together the entire way through. The Monday Newfie Bullet tried a comeback but was stopped short in the last end. Chantal McCleod was lights out for this one, making most of her shots and really making it impossible to make anything to save an end. She wins the "Tantalizer Of The Game" Award. Great job Chantal.

So, it was a little quiet this week at the Monday Mixed but the games were fun at any rate. Here's a shocker...the BRCC Mixed is already full! If you want even the outside chance of getting in this spiel, get you name on a waiting list by calling Brian and/or Nancy West. Great news for this spiel...I'm stoked!

Rock On!

The Curling Chronic

Gemmell Rink Does Well At Senior Mens Regionals

2012-01-24T15:38:00.001-05:00

Just this past weekend, the BRCC hosted the Senior Mens Regional Playdowns. 3 teams came from the Soo, 1 from Eliott Lake and 2 BRCC teams all looking for capture one of the two spots available to get to the provincials to be held in Timmins in February. The BRCC teams were 1: Team Gemmell (Al Gemmell, Bob Villeneuve, Terry Fryer and Dan Horton) and 2: Team Austin (Glen Austin, Ben Lemieux, Dennis Roberts and Kelly James). Team Austin went 1 - 4 but this stat is not indicative of the good games that were played. This is a new team and for a team that played only 5 games together, they did very well. They played some real good games and most of all, got to experience some competitive curling which is always fun. As for the Gemmell crew, these guys went 4 - 1 and lost a heart breaker of a tiebreaker to Team Fisher from the Soo. But this squad played well ALL weekend and really were just a couple of shots away from going to the provincials. (Team Trudeau and Team Fisher, both from the Soo won to go to the provincials). Did Team Gemmell deserve to go?...they sure did! These guys put on a show all weekend and the Sunday afternoon tiebreaker was no exception. Us fans behind the glass could not have cheered for them any harder, and certainly could not have been entertained any more that what we were. The game was close and came down to the last shot to be decided. Although they did not get to a provincial, they certainly were a top team out there all weekend and that's something worth mentioning. MVP?...Bob Villenueve, who time and time again made some spectacular shots. He really was great all weekend long...and that is NOT to take anything away from the rest of the team. They ALL played well and there's no doubt about that! Well done guys!

Other MVPs?...Chauchi. This young fellow is TOPS. The ice was great and Chauchi's caring attitude and excellent work ethic makes each and every day awesome for the BRCC. What a great guy and what an asset for the club. And how about Warren Neufeld, BRCC's mainstay. You can always count on this man to be there for the club...another excellent asset for the club. Also, Richard Olmstead, Rick Albert and Danny Shannahan were there helping all weekend. These guys are excellent....I can't say it enough! And not to forget Pauly-Ann James who worked all weekend keeping the club clean, helping with the ice and timing games. She is our student club employee, and boy, she's great...I love that kid. She has a great attitude! And I must thank Kathy Ingram from Thessalon who was the official this weekend. Kathy spent the entire weekend at the BRCC and she was great. What a nice lady and what a great job! Finally, I cannot forget to mention Brian West who also took the time to come and time a couple games...thanks alot Brian (great guy!). Also thanks to Joanne Niganobe and Christine Owl for working the bar. Thanks ladies, the BRCC loves you! And finally, I cannot forget to mention our Maymar Gemmell. Maymar was not only part of the organizing committee, but she was also there helping Kathy Ingram and always there to help out where she could. That is so typical of Maymar...I cannot say enough how much this lady contributes to our cool little club. Oh...and a big thanks to the BRCC ladies who provided lunch for the curlers....the vittles were a big hit!

If I have missed anyone, I can assure you that it was absolutely unintentional!! But, I will close by saying that our club is successful because of the people that help out. There are lots of BRCC members who come out time and time again to help out and boy, it helps in the biggest kind of way! Personally, never have I been more proud of being a member of a curling club.

Rock On!

The Curling Chronic

Thursday Mens

2012-01-24T15:25:00.000-05:00

I know what you're thinking. What's Todd Swan doing in kilt, and who are those Scottish guys he's hanging around with. And is Swan even a Scottish name. Well, that's not him...it is, however, a Scottish curling enthusiast. Todd Swan is not Scottish but he IS a curling enthusiast. He plays in the Thursday Mens League but he likes to wear pants while he's doing it. Todd was off for the first part of the season but is now back playing every week in the third position for Team Rick Rouselle. This team has been having a great season and is considered one of the hot teams right now. Definite playoff contenders. But there are other playoff contenders as well and there is still lots of curling left to do in regular season play so anything can happen.

Ice A (Monday): Al Gemmell vs Mike Laderoute. WIN for Gemmell. After a 2 game losing streak, the Gemmell squad has put the ship back on an even keel and is still very much in playoff contention. The Laderoute crew will have to get some bandaids and stop the bleeding right away.

Ice B: Michel Rivard vs Brian West. WIN for West. Brian West has had a pretty good year with his squad this year. They rotate in the skips position and could care less if they make the playoffs or not. They certainly win the "Stress-Free Curling" Award.

Ice C: Francois Lemieux vs Dan Berthelot. WIN for Lemieux. Francois and his crew continue to be one of the top teams this year. Francois is an Ex-Club Champion who certainly has the potential to win it all again with this new squad of his.

Ice A (Thursday): Brian Tonelli vs Yvon Valiquette. NO INTEL. I'm not sure if this game went off. One thing is certain, the Valiquette crew have been tough customers all season. Can they keep it up and make it through to the playoffs? This is the question of the season.

Ice B: Ben Lemieux vs Rick Berthelot. WIN for Lemieux. The veteran Lemieux Express posts the win after a tough start to the second half. This squad has some making up to do and will have to string some wins together. Perhaps they should break out those team jackets again...maybe that will work!

Ice C: Shane Boyer vs Jim Kendricks. NO INTEL. Either one of these squads could have won this game.

Ice D: Al Viel vs Rick Rouselle. WIN for Rouselle. The Rouselle crew are on a roll and win the "Red Hot" Award. Unfortunately, it's the "Red Bum" Award for the Viel crew.

Ice A (Late): Dave Mitchell vs Chris Zagar. WIN for Mitchell. The Mitchell crew still staying in the mix and are likely contenders for the playoffs. However, they will have to keep the ship afloat for the rest of the season to pull this off. They win the "Up The Creek, WITH A Paddle" Award.

Ice B: Keith Rouselle vs Bob Villeneuve. WIN for Villeneuve. The Molson Exers could not get past the tough judgement of the Villeneuve squad. Most improved lead?...Jim Smith. Plays a great game and leads are important!

Ice C: Chris Astles vs John Hammond. WIN for Hammond. This Hammond squad are determined to get to the playoffs. It is quite likely they will. They have it going on when they step on the ice, that's for sure. They win the "Keepin' It Together" Award...but this is curling and an implosion is always just around the corner.

Ice D: Glen Austin vs Stephan Lemieux. WIN for Lemieux. I gotta hand it to this Lemieux crew. They sport a brand new front end and came out this year accepting the Red Bum Award every week, but not any more. This team has gained some experience and momentum and sure ain't no pushovers anymore. Look out for these guys next year....kudos to Steph for bringing 2 new curlers to the game.

So that's it for another week. Some predictable results and some upsets. That's the curling way. But regardless of all that, the BRCC Mens League is tops. Always some entertaining games getting played and always great camaraderie. And what's the big deal, you might ask, about winning the club championship...why braggin' rights!...and they always add to the fun. But that's not all, the winning team gets to represent the club in the Dominion of Canada Regional Playdowns....and that is also worthy playing for.

Rock On!

The Curling Chronic

Wednesday Night Mixed

2012-01-19T13:17:00.001-05:00

I know what you're thinking. Did Francois Lemieux grow his moustache long? And what's up with the soul patch? Well, that's not him, but it sure seems like this guy had Francois in mind when he got that tattoo! Francois would never grow his moustache that long, for sure. And what's more, I doubt that Shirley would ever allow it. And I'm not sure if Francois is big on soul patches. However, he IS big on curling and he has been having one heck of a great year. Francois plays in the Wednesday Mixed and the Thursday Mens, and has been formidable in both leagues. He was out just last night playing in the mixed along with many other curling chronics.

Ice A: Tom St Jules vs Andrew Roberts. WIN for St Jules. Big Daddy and his crew continue to be a tough customer in this league. Welcome back Ray Quenville and a brief time on the disabled list. As for the Roberts squad, they have started winning some games and although they did not post the win tonight, they will post a few more wins before it is all over. That's why they win the "Keepin' On The Sunny Side" Award.

Ice B: Mike Laderoute vs Sandy Milroy. TIE GAME. After taking his first loss last week, the Milroy crew pulled it together and managed to even this one out. They win the "Rubber Band" Award....nice rebound.

Ice C: Warren Neufeld vs Danny Horton. WIN for Horton. The Horton squad pull out the win this week. It's not surprising that Danny Horton should win a few games in the Mixed. He curls so darn much each and every week, he should be winning some games! He is a prime candidate for the "Ubiquitous Curler" Award.

Ice D: Frank Lemieux vs Ryan Hagger. WIN for Lemieux. The Bionic Boot and his squad continue to be a tough customer in this league. The Hagger crew still ride the curling roller coaster and despite posting some losses, they always provide a good game. They win the "We Ain't No Pushovers" Award.

So that is how it all played out last night at the Wednesday Mixed. Another fun night over and done with. There is going to be a fun weekend coming up this weekend, Jan 20 / 21 / 22. The Senior Mens Regionals are getting played here at the BRCC. There are two teams from Blind River playing in this competition (6 teams total). Team Glen Austin (yep, that's me) and Team Al Gemmell are looking to capture the two top spots that will get them a berth in the provincials in February. There will also be 3 teams from Sault Ste Marie and 1 team from Elliott Lake. So come on out and support your local curlers! Enjoy some curling games and cheer us on! bring your pom poms if you must.

Rock On!

The Curling Chronic

Tuesday Ladies

2012-01-19T12:44:00.001-05:00

I know what you're thinking. When did Lorraine Liss and Ron Forrest go to Switzerland to do some pond curling? Well that's not them. Lorraine likes her curling to be done indoors at the BRCC. Lorraine plays Ladies and she is no stranger to the Mixed League. She is a very active member of our club and the BRCC owes her a huge debt of gratitude. She is a board member and she also is the convener of the Ladies Spiel. And not only that, she's a good player too! But there's lots of good players in the BRCC Ladies League and they were all out last Tuesday. As the season wears on, it's a real battle to get to the top of the leaderboard. What an interesting season it has been for these BRCC belles and the season is far from over yet!

Ice A: Maymar Gemmell vs Mailisha Alloway. WIN for Gemmell. The tough Gemmell crew continues to hover near the top of the leaderboard and have been maintaining throughout the season. They, for sure, win the "Weathering The Storm" Award.

Ice B: Marg Tivy vs Shirley Lemieux. WIN for Tivy. The Iron Bridge Belles are looking to get back to the top of the leaderboard but will have to string some wins together to get there. They win the "Back Upwardly Mobile" Award.

Ice C: Beth Laderoute vs Paula Summers. WIN for Laderoute. Tough night for the Summers squad, having been forced to accept second place in this particular match. But they never seem to care about that, they make sure they have fun. They win the "The Odd Win Is Good Enough For Us" Award. Stress-free curling at its finest!

Ice D: Tammy Lemieux vs Anita Moran. WIN for Moran. The veteran Moran crew is another team that will have to string a bunch of wins together to get to the top of the leaderboard. With a win this week, they win the "Diggin' In For The Long Haul" Award.

Ice A (Late): Denelda Cada vs Liz Rouselle. WIN for Cada. The Rez Girls after a loss last week have pulled it back together and maintain their position at the top of the leaderboard. The win the "Keepin" It Together" Award. They'll need to keep it together because there a lots of teams on their heels looking to knock them off the top of the hill. Great season for these Rez Girls nonetheless.

So that was it for the BRCC ladies this week. They got a big weekend coming up on the 27 / 28 / 29 of this month. The BRCC Ladies Spiel (Adams Family Murder Mystery) is coming up and everyone is looking forward to the uproarious (is this a word?...if not, it should be) good time that this spiel is going to be. Personally, I cannot wait for the games to begin....excellent entertainment I assure you!

Rock On!

The Curling Chronic

Monday Mixed

2012-01-18T15:36:00.000-05:00

I know what you're thinking. How come Ryan Hagger shaved off his moustache, painted his skin gold and dyed his hair green? Is he that much of a hardcore Saskatchewan fan? Well, that's not him...but Ryan is a curling fan, and he's a good player too. He plays in the Wednesday Mixed and the Thursday Mens.

The Monday mixed has lots of curling enthusiasts as well. They are usually out and battling it out every Monday @ 6:30.

Ice A: Jerry Jensen vs Malisha Alloway. WIN for Jensen. I'm sure that Ben Lemieux's new curling jacket has boosted his team's confidence and certainly gives him that "athletic" look. "Gold Medal" Award for him!

Ice B: Dan McMillan vs Al Viel. WIN for Viel. It's been a pretty good year for Al and his crew. They seem to post alot of wins and would definitely be near the top of the leaderboard (if there was a leaderboard). That being the case, they get the "Virtual Winners" Award.

Ice D: Doug Kearns vs Gator Fortin. WIN for Kearns. So there it is, the Legal Eagle and his crew have posted the win! Big night!! "Break Through" Award for this squad. Free cake and cookies at Doug's office!!

So, that's how it went for this Monday Mixed. The Mixed Spiel is coming up February 24 /25. Get your team registered because they are3 only taking the first 16 "paid" teams. Don't miss out, this will be a fun time!

Rock On!

The Curling Chronic

Team World Wins Continental Cup of Curling

2012-01-17T15:42:00.000-05:00

Bing Yu Wang, Skip of Team China. Her team was part of Team World this past weekend in Langley, BC and they had a great showing. Team World had a great showing and won this tournament over Team North America. Right from Day 1, the North Americans were chasing and in the end, could not overcome their opponents. There have been several comments I have heard that Team North America was not that strong this time around. On paper, you would not think that to be the case. The likes of Team Howard, Team Stoughton, Team Holland, Team Fensen and Team Lank were there and these are all good teams. A couple of them are world champions. But then we look at Team World, and they were also comprised of world class teams. So what happened. Well, it's as simple as Team World played better than Team North America. Team Howard has some struggles and sure did not look as sharp as they normally do. Same with Jeff Stoughton and his crew. And as for Amber Holland, it has been a struggle all year for this squad. They have struggled on the tour and their struggles continue by the looks of it. As for the Americans, both are solid teams and they certainly have been around for a while, but I don't see these teams playing in the WCT and that may be just the thing that gives Team World the edge.

I don't think I'm alone when I say that perhaps we are seeing the progression of things. I mean, it is not possible for top teams to stay at the top forever. Over time, these teams get older and certainly there comes a time when they are not as sharp as they once were. Oh, I'm not saying that they are not still good, I mean I do not take anything away from Glen Howard and his crew, but seriously, are they looking as sharp as they once did? I say no. And look at Team Martin...not having the stellar year that you would expect from these Olympic Champions. There are newer faces dominating the top spots. Look at McEwen. I bet you'll be seeing these guys at next year's Continental Cup.

And the fact that teams are coming to Canada to play competitive curling certainly has enhanced their ability to win on a world level. Team Edin is an excellent example. And Thomas Ulsrud as well. Certainly Bing Yu Wang also proves that with alot of practice and playing against the top teams can help make a top team.

And how about Mixed Doubles....TV friendly or not? I was not sure at the start but I got into it. I certainly enjoyed the shot making. You'll have to agree, there were some good games. Not sure if Mixed Doubles is for every armchair curler...perhaps an acquired taste. In the end, if you love watching curling, you'll love watching Mixed Doubles. And you know what else, a Mixed Doubles Spiel for a weekend at the BRCC might be a cool idea! It would be fun and it just might catch on...make it a cash spiel. We should try it sometime. There's an agenda item for the board!

So that's it for another year of the Continental Cup. Great way to start up the Season of Champions. I'm looking forward to the Scotties which is not that far away. I'll be surprised if Amber Holland can can on and make it 2 in a row. If they want to do that, they better git practicin' because they'll need to shake the struggle to pull that off!

Rock On!

The Curling Chronic

Thursday Mens

2012-01-17T12:13:00.002-05:00

I know what you're thinking. When did Brian Tonelli become such a hardcore hockey fan? Well, that's not him, but I am guessing Brian is a hockey fan. And he's a hardcore football fan. And he's a big curling fan too. That pretty well makes him a well-rounded armchair athlete. BUT, he does play curling and after a brief hiatus (while recovering from knee surgery), our beloved Friendly Giant has returned to the BRCC and the Roaring Game. Yes folks, it's true, Brian was out there last Thursday night sporting a stick and playing a barnburner against Bob Villeneuve. It was great to see the big guy back and awesome that he will be back in the game for the rest of the season. Also, BRCC's own Ray Quenville is back. He was on the sidelines for a few weeks nursing some broken ribs but is recovered now and is back to meet his old curling pals between the sheets. They were all out there this past week at the Thursday Mens. I watched some games as I had the late draw and I have to say, there are alot of good teams in this league and alot of good games get played. Excellent entertainment, and excellent comradrie as well.

Ice A (Monday): Keith Rouselle vs Chris Zagar. Win for Rouselle. The Molson Exers continue to be upwardly mobile...that's two in a row. They will have to drink a couple cups of focus for their upcoming match this week against the tough Villeneuve crew.

Ice B: Stephane Lemieux vs Rick Berthelot. WIN for Lemiex. The Lemieux squad continues to be in the growth phase and it looks like the growth pills are working. Even with the loss, the Berthelot crew continues to gain momentum.

Ice C: Dan Berthelot vs Dave Mitchell. WIN for Mitchell. This come from behind win for the Mitchell crew only goes to show that you are never really safe with a two rock advantage in this game. The Mitchell squad will have to string some wins together to stay in the hunt for the playoffs.

Ice A (Thursday): Brian Tonelli vs Bob Villeneuve. WIN for Villeneuve. The tough Villeneuve crew had their hands full with this Tonelli squad. With the return of the Friendly Giant, it looks like this squad has some wind in their sails and it ain't all hot air!

Ice B: Rick Rouselle vs Brian West. WIN for Rouselle. Todd Swan is back and playing his second week with his crew. Looks like his leg is better and these guys continue to be in the playoff hunt. They will have to keep the momentum going because they will be meeting the Viel crew this week.

Ice C: Yvon Valiquette vs Al Viel. NO INTEL. I'm not sure what happened in this one. I think the Valiquette squad won this but I cannot be certain. One thing is for sure, the Valiquette squad are having a great year...the only question that remains is if they can keep it going and avoid an emotional implosion.

Ice D: Francois Lemieux vs Al Gemmell. WIN for Lemieux. That's two losses in a row for the normally red hot Gemmell crew. They came into the second half as top team but as it stands now, there are alot of teams into the mix. The Bionic Boot continues to be a dark horse....

Ice A (Late): Mike Laderoute vs John Hammond. WIN for Hammond. That's two losses in a row for the Laderoute crew. They are also right up there on the leaderboard and will have to find a way to plug the leak and keep their ship on an even keel. Anyone got gum?

Ice B: Michel Rivard vs Glen Austin. WIN for Austin. It's been an up and down year for the Newfie Bullet and this squad will have to keep the momentum going to secure a playoff spot. Perhaps a round of Cod Liver Oil wouldn't go astray for this bunch.

Ice C: Ben Lemieux vs Shane Boyer. WIN for Boyer. The Lemieux Express.....please call Dr Phil. He's waiting for your call.

Ice D: Chris Astles vs Jim Kendrick. NO INTEL. Not sure what happened here. This one could have gone either way.

So after week two, teams continue to jostle for play off positions. There is still lots of games left so anything could happen. One thing is for sure, there is no shortage of teams with the potential to grab top spot. The top eight spots will be a dogfight the whole way through.

Rock On!

The Curling Chronic

Wednesday Mixed

2012-01-16T15:59:00.000-05:00

I know what you're thinking. Did Mark Deverell buy a bow flex? And did it hurt making that smiley face? Well, that's not him but it IS a curling enthusiast and Mark is a curling enthusiast as well. Mark plays on the Yvon Valiquette squad in the vice position. His team is having a great year and this must be partially attributed to Mark's efforts as well as the rest of the team. But there are lots of curling enthusiasts at the BRCC. The Wednesday Mixed sports lots of these enthusiastic players and they were all out this past Wednesday meeting between the sheets.

Ice A: Ryan Hagar vs Sandy Milroy. WIN for Hagar. So, there you have it. The tough Milroy rink has been handed their first loss of the year by the Hagar squad. It's the Gravity Award for the Milroy rink.., after all...what goes up, must certainly come down.

Ice B: Tom St Jules vs Danny Horton. NO INTEL and will not be venturing a guess.

Ice C: Mike Laderoute vs Glen Austin. WIN for Laderoute. The Bionic Knee continues to have his good year. As for the Wednesday Newfie Bullet, that's two losses in a row. Where's Dr Phil when you need him most!

Ice D: Warren Neufeld vs Rick Berthelot. TIE GAME. Ties are always a good way to leave things in the Mixed league. Everyone leaves the ice with a feeling of accomplishment and serenity. So give both these teams the Serenity Now Award.

That's it for the Wednesday Mixed. The season is wearing on and before long, it will be February and the Mixed Spiel will be right around the corner. Haven't got your name in yet. Get it in there (Feb 24/25), this is a fun time and Brian and Nancy West really know how to put fun times together!

Rock On!

The Curling Chronic

Tuesday Ladies

2012-01-12T15:52:00.000-05:00

I am having trouble posting pictures today so we will have to do without for this post. (There is something funky going on with this blogsite today.) The BRCC belles were at it again last night, kicking off the second half of the season. All the sheets were full and some good games ensued.

Ice A: Christie Hagar vs Shirley Lemieux. WIN for Lemieux. This one looked like a barnburner but it turns out that the Lemieux rink posted the win. The Hagar squad have had a decent season to date. They have posted mostly wins with a couple of hiccups along the way. This is a team to watch as the season wears on..it would not surprise me to see them at the top of the leaderboard in the end. As for the Shirley Lemieux rink, this is a solid crew and they will always have the potential to lead the rest.

Ice B: Malisha Alloway vs Denelda Cada. WIN for Alloway. It was painful to watch but my beloved Rez Girls had to take second place to the Alloway sisters who are a force to be reckoned with. It's been a great year for the Rez Girls who are currently at the top of the leaderboard but they will have to drink a cup of focus and batten down the hatches to stay at the top of the hill. As for the Alloway squad, my hat is off. They play well and this is a team that also has the potential to be at the top of the heap. They may be quiet and unassuming, but don't let that fool you, these young gals got game and they show up to deal out a spankin' every week. Great young curlers and nice young ladies.

Ice C: Liz Rouselle vs Marg Tivy. WIN for Rouselle. What can I say...after a real tough first half, it looks like this Rouselle crew have found their MOJO and they were looking real good. Undoubtedly, they could always rally and get back to the top. The veteran Tivy rink, well they might have had a bad game last night, but this is, and always has been, a tough crew. They NEVER give up and play it out. They are sitting near the top of the leaderboard and top team will always be within thier grasp!

Ice D: Paula Summers vs Christine Owl. WIN for Summers. I watched part of this game and I will say this for the Rez Girl Newbies. They are getting it together. It is always a challenge to make a team out of 4 new curlers and avoid getting your backside reddened on a weekly basis. But these ladies have definitely improved, both in curling mechanics and game strategy. Well done ladies. Kelly Daybutch has developed a nice slide and is now throwing a much better rock. Very impressive...stick with it Kelly! As for the Summers squad, these ladies have not won a whole lot of games but they have had some good games. And this is another newer team that had to go through the "coming into their own" process. And it looks like that has happened. And one thing is for sure, these ladies appear to be having fun out there and that is fundamental! Stick with it ladies...there is no doubt that your team will grow and before long, you will be handing out the Noxema to your opponents before the game begins!

Ice A (Late): Maymar Gemmell vs Anita Moran. Win for Gemmell. Maymar has formed a new team this year and they are really having a great year. They were not tops after the first half, but they were right there, nipping on the Rez Girls' heels. This is a solid squad and they will be one of the teams to beat as the race for the top of the leaderboard heats up. As for the Moran crew, this is a good team that have had a decent season and certainly have the potential to be a top team. Undoubtedly, this team has one of the most intense players on the go, and that is Joanna Hammond. Joanna is definitely addicted to the Roaring Game and that is not hard to see. She plays hard and her game has improved exponentially. You can't miss her when she is playing, she's the one with her sleeves rolled up and sweeping like all get out. Awesome player and awesome improvement.

Ice B: Beth Laderoute vs Tammy Lemieux. WIN for Laderoute. This Laderoute rink win a few and lose a few...but they are always in the game. Thay may not be the top team, but these ladies are so darn nice that it's hard not to root for them. They certainly are good curlers and it does surprise me that they have not won more games, but that's how curling is. One thing is for sure, they could easily get on a roll and make a run to the top...wouldn't surprise me a bit! As for the Lemieux rink, this is another team that is in the growing phase. It's a new team and Tammy Lou Lemieux is having her first year as skip full time. Although the first half was tough, they are growing and I am positive that they will find their MOJO and start dealing out some beatings real soon.

So there you have it. A complete breakdown of the BRCC belles as we enter the second half of the season as viewed by yours truly. I am certainly not the "be-all, end all" of ladies curling but I do appreciate our BRCC belles and I get lots of enjoyment out of watching some of their games. It is a wonderful thing that the BRCC is fortunate enough to have such a strong league. It may not be the largest league in Canada, but for our little club, it's awesome...and these are an awesome bunch of ladies. Take a bow!

Rock On!

The Curling Chronic

Monday Mixed

2012-01-10T13:15:00.000-05:00

I know what you're thinking. Why did Ricky Albert grow his hair and beard? And why did he dye it? And is this part of his leprechaun suit that he has been known to wear? Well, that's not him. But he should be feeling all warm and fuzzy to know that he resembles Robin Williams so much! But Robin Williams has one shortcoming that you should all be aware of. He is NOT a curler, but Ricky Albert IS! Rick plays in the Mens league here at the BRCC and because of ongoing back issues, is a stick curler. And in the tradition of Ted Phillips, he is learning to master it. But it wasn't the mens league last night, it was Monday mixed and I cannot remember anyone playing with a stick.
Ice A: Brian West vs Doug Kearns. WIN for West. In spite of their best efforts, the Legal Eagle and his crew had to take second place. They win the TIMEX Award this week, They take a lickin' but keep on tickin'!

Ice B: Glen Austin vs John Hammond. WIN for Austin. Tough night for the Hammond Almost Family Affair and they will have to accept the "RED BUM" Award for this week. The same two teams square off again next week so undoubtedly, they will be looking to pass on the Noxema to us!

Ice C: Gator Fortin vs Bob Villeneuve. WIN for Fortin. The Fortin crew really know how to deal out a hurtin' on the ice when they want to. They win the "Red Hand" Award for the spankin' they dealt out last night.

Ice D: Al Viel vs Jerry Jensen. TIE GAME. This was the only game that went the entire 8 ends. KUDOS!! It looked like the Viel crew was going to run away with this one but the Jensen squad rallied and came back to tie it up! This Viel crew is living proof that early big leads are not always a good thing!

So, the 2nd half of the Monday mixed Season is under way. There is still lots of curling to do and lots of fun to be had. Here's a question for you to consider. Do you think that they should keep track of wins and losses in the Mixed leagues? Here's a chance to voice your opinion so make your thoughts known. I have heard arguments for both sides.

Rock On!

The Curling Chronic

Thursday Mens

2012-01-10T12:02:00.001-05:00

Curling out on the front stoop. Saves on the commute I guess and certainly helps with those long, unconstructive hours. However, as much fun as this looks, bit of a liability when people come to visit. These people must have good insurance, and if they don't, I suggest they give Rick Berthelot a call immediately!

So the Thursday Mens kicked off again last week and just this week, the standings after the first half were posted. Al Gemmell sits at top spot and then there is a plethora of teams vying for 2nd, 3rd and 4th spots. The Mike Laderoute rink sits in second and I have to hand it to this squad, they are having a great season! The Yvon Valiquette rink sits in third spot along with some others but for this team in particular, it has been an excellent season. These guys are playing good curling and are strong contenders for playoffville!

Ice B: (Monday): Francois Lemieux vs Dave Mitchell. Win for Lemieux. The Lemieux crew is another crew that has had an excellent season. They also sit near the top of the leaderboard and are also strong contenders for the playoffs. The Dave Mitchell rink also sits in a tie for third place but it has been a bit of a bump and stumble season for this veteran squad. Lots of curling left yet however and these guys are always strong finishers.

Ice C: Michel Rivard vs Ben Lemieux. WIN for Lemieux. The veteran Lemieux Express has had a tough first half and are certainly looking to have a better second half. The Rivard rink are also looking to get things into high gear. Although the veteran Lemieux rink has spent some time spinning their tires this season, this is a seasoned team with lots of talent. They may not be where they want to be in the standings right now, but I expect they will start moving upward in the standings and end up with a strong finish.

Ice A: (Thursday Early): Brian West vs Dan Berthelot. WIN for Berthelot. The Bionic Hip is always a tough customer and the West rink just found this out. The West rink likes to have alot of rocks in play but Murray's ability to draw/tap and Dan's capacity for throwing the vaporizers can make this a tough strategy.

Ice B: Chris Astles vs Stephane Lemieux. WIN for Astles. The Astles crew are a good rink to play against. They may not win all the time, but they do provide good games and they do have the capacity to string a bunch of wins together and hit the top of the leaderboard. And certainly KUDOS to Stephane Lemieux. He started a new team this year with Ryan Hagar and took on 2 brand new curlers. It's been a struggle for this new squad but given some time, I'm sure they will come into their own. The BRCC always needs new members and Steph has done his part to bring some new members to the club and promote the Roaring Game. And, he is fortunate to have Ryan Hagar as his vice, a player with loads of potential. I guessing that as the season wears on, this team will have lots of game.

Ice C: Keith Rouselle vs Mike Laderoute. WIN for Rouselle. The Molson Exers, always in the game. They enjoy a few beverages and a good game of curling. And don't let them fool you, they are focused on the game and these guys can win! Jim Smith has come a long way and is an excellent lead and we all know how important leads are in a game. The Laderoute rink has been excellent this year but here they are receiving a loss at the outset of the second half. It's one thing to be on top, it's another to stay there. But mike and his crew have been curling awesome. Goose St Jules has been adding some good chemistry to this squad; Big Daddy is always a handful to curl against and Mike himself, in spite of several knee surgeries has been curling lights out for most of the season.

Ice D: Chris Zagar vs Glen Austin. TIE GAME. The Zagar rink were down to 2 players last week and brought in Marshall Chow to throw third stones. New curler, Chris Spooney had a great game and Marshall was lights out. And then there's Chris Zagar. He made some spectacular shots and in the end, threw the game saver to tie the game. It's been a rough year for this squad but they come out and they have fun togther and they epitomize, perhaps, what this game is really about. I would also have to mention my front end players, Al Moffatt and Kelly James. These guys are solid front end players and as good a sweeping duo as anyone out there. These guys can pound a rock and help make alot of shots. Mike Landry is vice for the Newfie Bullet and is solid in that position. He is excellent to work with in figuring out the right call without taking all n ight to do it. Obviously, when the bell is in the wind, there is something to be said for decisiveness.

Ice A (Late): Rick Rouselle vs Jim Kendricks. WIN for Rouselle. The Rouselle rink have spent the first half of the season without Todd Swan who has been out with a knee injury. They have had Ted Phillips sparing most of the time and this team is up there in the standings. Rick, Gary McLeod and Mike McCoy are seasoned players and they can really take it to you on the ice. And as for Ted Phillips, he is a killer with that stick. So, put this crew on a sheet of ice, and they will make you earn every point. Although this team has not won a club championship, they do have the potential to be the top squad. Kings of the draw or draw/tap game. The Kendricks crew also have game. With Dennis Roberts playing vice, they give lots of opponents trouble. As their front end gain more and more experience, this team will start creeping up in the standings.

Ice B: Bob Villeneuve vs Rick Berthelot. TIE GAME. The Villeneuve team continues to be a tough team and certainly belongs in the pack at the top of the leaderboard. I personally enjoy playing against this crew because they always have game. Bob calls and plays a good game and his crew back him up. Doug Kearns is always in the game and if you watch him, you can see that he is always focused and his best foot is always forward. As for the Berthelot rink, top marks for this team as they always give a good game. Marshall Chow throws last for this squad and this, I think, has improved his game. Marshall has always been a good curler but throwing last rock has certainly enhanced his game. Rick sports an incredible story. He went from a tuck delivery to a flat foot delivery some years ago due to knee problems. Still hampered by these problems, Rick then switched from a right hand delivery to a left handed delivery which is truly an incredible feat! I expect that over time, this team will be a top contender.

Ice C: Alain Viel vs Al Gemmell. WIN for Viel. The Gemmell crew is at the top of the leaderboard. This is a solid team and they are tough to get by. Warren Neufeld plays third for this crew and he can make lots of shots. He has been at the helm for a few games while Al was absent, and he played well. Al has always been a good shooter and calls a great game. Even when he is down, he is far from out. It is not only good shotmaking that makes Al Gemmell a fierce competitor, it is his capacity to read ice and make good calls. This, of course, is fuelled by his unequalled passion for the Roaring Game. As for the Viel rink, this is a solid squad of players. John Topash has become an excellent lead and a great player to have in your court. Kyle Matthew is also a solid player and certainly gives this team strength in the second position. As for Kenny McCleod, what can I say about my step son. He is an excellent vice. He makes lots of shots all the time and it was Al's good fortune to snag him up this season. Al himself is always ready to deal out a beating on the ice. He loves the game and it shows.

Ice D: Yvon Valiquette vs Shane Boyer. WIN for Valiquette. What can I say about this Valiquette crew. They are having an excellent season. Lead Wayne Berthelot has been throwing a great rock all year. With Mark Deverell in the vice position and John Campbell tossing second stones, this team seems to be firing on all cylinders. But once again, being near the top is one thing, staying there is another. But, if they can keep this momentum going, they may very well be the team to beat come playoffs time. As for the Boyer crew, here's another squad that always has a good game in them. They may not win all the time, but they can always give a tough game to any team out there. They make the playoffs often and with Jeff Edwards throwing second stones, they could always make their way to the top of the heap. Excellent dark horse in the race to the playoffs.

Others: Team Craig Roberts. It was slow start for this squad and there seemed to be trouble getting some steady players. However, they pulled it together with Craig throwing last and Rick Roberts coming on to play third. This was fortuitous for Craig as he got a steady team and had Rick to provide good support as vice and lend his experience in helping Craig with strategy. This team can only get stronger.

John Hammond: Here's another team that is up there in the standings. They have had a good year and have the potential to win it all. They are focused and intense. Chauchi is a tough customer on the ice and if there is anyone looking for a player for competitive curling, this guy is a prime candidate.

So that's it for this Thursday and I figure I've pushed enough poppies for one week. You must agree, the BRCC Mens League is an excellent league. Great guys, great games, great curling..the best!

Rock On!

The Curling Chronic

LongTime BRCC Friend Passes Away.

2012-01-06T12:18:00.000-05:00

It is with regret that I inform you that long time BRCC friend and Wednesday Afternoon curler, Hilary Kiernan, passed away early this week. Hilary was also active in the Lions Club. If you have ever been to the Riverside on a Friday night, you might have had the good fortune of having Hilary run the Friday Night Trivia Quiz. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his wife (and also long time BRCC pal) Myra Kiernan and his family.

Nancy West New Convenor for Mens Closing

2012-01-06T12:13:00.000-05:00

Yep, you heard it correctly. Nancy West will be taking over as convener of the BRCC Mens Closing. After looking after this event for many years, Dave Mitchell will be stepping back and they were looking for a new convener. Nancy West has graciously stepped forward and will be looking after this premiere BRCC event. Thanks alot Nancy from all of us at the BRCC.

For those of you who do not know her, Nancy is a longtime member of the BRCC. She has served on the board and has always been a helping hand at the club. She )and her husband Brian) organizes Friday night fun nights at the club and also are the conveners for the BRCC Mixed Bonspeil as well.

The Wests are excellent people and great assets to our club. Thanks Nancy (and Brian)...we love you guys!

Rock On!

The Curling Chronic

Retraction! Thursday Mens

2012-01-06T12:06:00.000-05:00

Apparently, a couple of weeks ago, I reported INCORRECTLY that the Lemieux Express won against Team Yvon Valiquette. In fact, the Valiquette crew won this match up so I reported in error. Sorry guys.

Rock On!

The Curling Chronic

Wednesday Mixed

2012-01-06T11:50:00.000-05:00

I am NOT a cat lover BUT, if there was such a cat that would sit and watch curling with me and listen to my rants, then he would be welcome in my home.

So, WELCOME BACK and HAPPY NEW YEAR! It's 2012 and the second half of the season has kicked off. In fact, it kicked off with the Wednesday Mixed. Only two games went off but I imagine things will be back to normal next week.

Ice C: Vola Roberts vs Warren Neufeld. WIN for Neufeld. With Rose conspicuously absent, Warren and his crew managed to pull it together and post the win anyway. Vola was experiencing some curling angst but I'm sure a support group will not be necessary.

Ice D: Glen Austin vs Sandy Millroy. WIN for Millroy. The Millroy rink continues to be undefeated and RED BUM AWARD for the Wednesday Newfie Bullet! Ouch, that one hurt!

So, short but sweet this week for the Wednesday Mixed. The ice is great...real fast! Thanks alot Chauchi and Warren for your continued good work. We appreciate it!

Rock On!

The Curling Chronic

BRCC Pal Playing US East Regional Qualifiers

2012-01-03T11:01:00.000-05:00

By now, you all know long time BRCC pal, Dean Gemmell. His parents are none other than BRCC's Al and Maymar Gemmell. Dean plays lead for Heath McCormick and on Thursday, Jan 5 (@ 2 pm), he'll be playing the first game of the US East Regional Qualifiers in Potomac, Maryland. They sure don't waste any time down there in the US with this competition coming right on the heels of the holidays. But I like the way they roll...gettin' right to the curling.

You can keep an eye on Dean and his crew's progress by checking out the Curling Zone.com. On the right, you will see US Mens East Regional Qualifier. Click on that and you can get the line scores and standings. This squad has made it to the US National Finals before and I fully expect to see them at the Nationals again.

Dean is an excellent advocate of the Roaring Game. He has certainly done his share for US Curling and especially curling in New Jersey. So, have a good one Dean...the BRCC is rootin' for you.

Rock On!

The Curling Chronic

Crisis Averted and the Ice is Ready!

2012-01-03T10:41:00.000-05:00

I guess there IS a use for Pringles containers once the chips are gone! Great patch job. And this is not the only place where a patch job was needed. Turns out that the BRCC had a problem in the plant room that required some attention over the holidays. Thanks alot to Dan Horton who, once again, saved the day! Here's how it all played out.....

After the Boxing Day extravaganza, there was a ton of dirt on the ice. Chauchi, employing the information that he acquired at the Ice Tech 1 course this past summer did a surface melt which brought all the dirt to the surface. This happened on the 27th. They refroze the ice and then did a major scrape on the 28th removing all that dirt. However, on the 29th, there was a problem with an older part in the plant room. Dan Horton came over and spent most of the day there doing a patch job to get the plant up and running successfully. Metal Air came on the 30th and put in a new part. Awesome job Dan...the BRCC thanks you!

So, you might be wondering about this surface melt...and why not a flood. Well, the thought process is, that more water = more ice = slower ice. So, the ice tech teachers think that the surface melt is a perfect way to maintain quick ice speed and get rid of the dirt at the same time. Won't there be LESS ice after this process you might ask....well, no, pebbling will take care of maintaining the amount of ice we now have. Personally, I'm all for any process that will maintain quick ice with lots of curl.

There were some mens games last night and Francois Lemieux was one of the two teams. He reported that the ice was excellent. Very fast and lots of curl so thanks alot Chauchi and all those people who helped out with the ice maintenance.

Rock On!

The Curling Chronic

Junior House News

2012-01-03T10:17:00.001-05:00

Hi and Happy New Year! This is Hayley Horton reaching out to all you BRCC Junior Curlers, Bantams and Little Rockers. I hope Santa was good to you and that you had a great holiday. Check out myself and Julia with our Boxing Day team jackets on! Thanks Connie, we love them!!

We have a team going to the Junior Regionals on January 13 to January 15 in Eliott Lake. Our team is: Hayley Horton (Skip), Taylor McNally (Vice), Julia Horton (Second) and Katie Kennepohl (Lead). We would love to see some BRCC people come out and cheer us sweeping beauties on!

Special thanks to Lucy Ann Trudeau for her time and committment in coaching us. And thanks to Cameco for buying us our cool, team jackets. Yes, that's right, Cameco is buying us our team jackets to wear at the Regionals...what a great and generous company....we appreciate it so much!

In the meantime, the second half of our curling season at the BRCC is beginning so come on out and have some fun.

Hacked out by Hayley Horton.

Tuesday Ladies

2011-12-21T10:43:00.000-05:00

I know what you're thinking. Who are all these people Toots Savard has home for the holidays? Well, that's not her but it looks like these people are enjoying the holidays and I am sure Toots will enjoy her holidays as well. She is a regular Wednesday afternoon curler but they have knocked it off until after the holidays. Things will be winding down at the BRCC for a couple of days after the Mens League plays tomorrow night. And then they will pick it right up again for the Boxing Day Spiel. The schedule is up if you want to check out when you play. In the meantime, the BRCC ladies were out last night for their Christmas Soiree. Anita and Joanna had a great time planned and they had an excellent turnout! They had 4 ends of curling followed by some snacks. Francois Lemieux and Rose Neufeld provided some musical entertainment and it was cool listening to those BRCC belles singing along. Then Santa showed up and distributed some presents to all those ladies that were good. Turns out they were all good so no issues there.

A good time was had by all. Kudos to Anita and Joanna for another great time! And thanks alot to Rose and Francois for the great tunes. And last but certainly not least, thanks alot to Chauchi who mixed up those real fancy drinks. He was certainly busy last night.

The BRCC Belles will be hanging up their shoes until the beginning of January when they'll take to the sheets again and line up to try to knock the Rez Girls off the top of the hill. Nipping at their heels are the Alloways, the Iron Bridge Belles and Team Gemmell. Great first half ladies.

So that's it for me, as this will be my last post until I get back from my holidays. I'll be back in my office on the 29th so I'll hopefully be able to get the results for the Thursday Mens out to you then. In the meantime, I do wish you all a safe and Merry Christmas. I could not stress enough the importance of not drinking and driving...a DUI would certainly kill your Christmas buzz and it sure ain't safe so if you are going to drink, call someone to drive you or support your local cabbie.

Rock On!

The Curling Chronic

Monday Mixed

2011-12-20T15:29:00.000-05:00

I know what you're thinking. Shouldn't Al Moffatt be wearing his curling shoes. And isn't this the wrong time of year for him to be wearing capris? Well, these are not Al Moffatt's feet but he does have some hairy toes which I have pointed out to him in the past. I think Nair for Men would be a good present for him so a note to Yvette Moffatt....if you are still pondering what to get Al for Xmas, well think no more...a quick trip to Mitchell's Pharmacy will solve your dilemma. (And I will be exiting Blind River for the holidays on Thursday coming, hopefully before Al reads this blog!)

The Monday Mixed played their last round of games for this half of the season and will not return until the New Year.

Ice A: Gator Fortin vs Dan McMillan. WIN for Fortin. Always in it for the laughs and a pleasant evening out, the Fortin squad win the "Whatever Happens Happens, Winning Is The Bonus" Award.

Ice B: Malisha Alloway vs John Hammond. WIN for Hammond. This game went the full 8 ends and was a dogfight the whole way. Although the Hammond Almost Family Affair did pull out the win, the Alloway squad stayed with it and win the "We Fought The Good Fight" Award. Excellent young team and these Alloway girls are great curlers. It's too bad they can't play more competitive curling.

Ice C: Glen Austin vs Al Viel. WIN for Austin. Al was left at home last night doing some renovations while Kelly Meeks (home from school for the holidays) filled in and it was a "Red Bum" award for her...just in time for the holidays!

Ice D: Brian West vs Bob Villeneuve. WIN for West. Bob and Anne may not have won their game but they were winners anyway as they got to play a game with their daughter, Shannon, just home from England for the holidays. They win the "Nuclear Family" Award. And as for Anne and Shannon, they win the "We Could Be Sisters" Award.

So that's it for the first half of the season for the Monday Mixed. It's hard to believe that all this time has passed and that it's Xmas already. But there you have it, Time Marches On. So, to all of you, I say have a safe and happy Christmas break. And if you are especially smart, you will not Drink and Drive. Not only do you have to consider your own safety, you must consider the safety of others. And you certainly do not want a DUI interfering with the second half of your curling season!

Rock On!

The Curling Chronic

Thursday Mens

2011-12-20T13:59:00.000-05:00

Propane curling. Not sure I'm a fan. I guess it's a game of all draws. An overthrown takeout might have explosive results. But I guess if you have no curling stones, then propane tanks will have to do.

But at the BRCC, we have actual stones so we never play propane curling, and we still have exciting games without blowing anything up. Just like the Thursday Mens League...always lots of exciting, competitive games. And in the lounge later, it's not quite a blow up, more like a blow out!

Ice A (Monday): Dave Mitchell vs Keith Rouselle. WIN for Mitchell. Despite the up and down start, the Mitchell crew manage to keep with the pack and wing the "Bee Gees..Stayin' Alive" Award.

Ice B: Rick Rouselle vs Stephane Lemieux. WIN for Rouselle. This newly formed Lemieux rink continue on in the growth phase and win the "Chia Pet" Award.

Ice C: Chris Zagar vs Shane Boyer. WIN for Boyer. The Zagar crew continue to attempt to post a win but are enjoying themselves while doing it. They win the "Here For The Beer" Award.

Ice A (Thursday): Chris Atles vs Michel Rivard. WIN for Astles. It's been a long time coming, but the Astles crew manage to post the win and they are prime candidates for the "That's Dedication" Award.

Ice B: Glen Austin vs Al Gemmell. WIN for Gemmell. The Thursday Newfie Bullet derailed by the tough Gemmell rink who have won their way through the season thus far (except for a tie) so they win "Top O' The Heap" Award. This is the team to beat this year for sure.

Ice C: Alain Viel vs Mike Laderoute. WIN for Laderoute. It's been a decent year for this Laderoute rink and they sit near the top of the leaderboard. They win the "We Ain't Too Old For Glory" Award.

Ice D: Yvon Valiquette vs Ben Lemieux. WIN for Lemieux. The Lemieux Express spent alot of this season off the tracks but seem to have managed to get back on the track and start rolling. They win the "Little Train That Could" Award.

Ice A (Late): Bob Villeneuve vs Jim Kendricks. WIN fir Villeneuve. Coming off a loss last week, the Villeneuve crew posted a convincing win over this Kendricks squad and win the "Spanking For Redemption" Award.

Ice B: Brian West vs John Hammond. TIE Game. This Hammond crew have lots of game and continue to stay in the hunt for the top 8 teams. The West crew also would like to be in the top 8 but are less intense about it. In fact, they are not intense at all! They win the "Laid Back Curlers" Award.

Ice C: Dan Berthelot vs Rick Berthelot. WIN for Rick Berthelot. In this battle of the brothers, Rick gained the upper hand and posted the win. Dan and his crew had to take second and win the "Kickin' Pebbles" Award.

Ice D: Craig Roberts vs Francois Lemieux. WIN for Lemieux. That's another win for this Lemieux squad. It's been a stellar season for these guys and they win the "We Still Got It" Award.

So that's how it played out for this week. There is only one week left to this half of the season and then the teams will be jockeying for position to get a playoff spot. There are only 8 spots available and 22 teams. What an interesting second half this promises to be.

I will be away beginning this Thursday so I will not get a chance to post the results for the last week of mens play until the 29th. Stay tuned and I'll get them to you then. Have a good Xmas and DON'T DRINK AND DRIVE.

Rock On!

The Curling Chronic

"President In Motion"

2011-12-20T11:25:00.000-05:00

Woman and Kids in Motion

I know what you're thinking. Is Kristy Blanchet treating these kids to some beer? Or, has she taken on a position as Crossing Guard. Well, it's neither actually. Kristy was part of the Man In Motion tour and she got that coat for doing a leg of the journey.

You've all heard of Rick Hanson, The Man in Motion. Well, it turns out he's got his wheels in motion again and he's been on the road doing a repeat. On Saturday, Dec 17, he rode through Blind River and Kristy was with him for part of the way through town. Awesome memory for our president, and also for the Little Rockers that she took with her!

Kristy is cool like that and she certainly has been an asset to the BRCC. This is just another neat thing she has taken part in.

Kristy got a medal for being a particpant in this run / walk. I chewed on it and sure enough, it's real metal!

Rock On!

The Curling Chronic

Tuesday Ladies

2011-12-14T15:51:00.000-05:00

I know what you're thinking. Is Mark Bender a big fan of the curling team from France? So much so that he would paint his head and hang out at European Curling Tournaments? Well that's not him and I am sure that Vola would not be a fan of the look. But, Mark is a curling fan and he plays in the Mixed at the BRCC. I don't think he is a curling chronic like others (including myself) but he certainly has the potential to become a chronic. He just needs a push in the right direction. And Vola has given him the initial push by having him curl in the Mixed. Getting him hooked on TV curling might be a step in the right direction as well. He can do that this weekend as another Grand Slam event is going off in Kingston. CBC will televise some games this Saturday and Sunday so if Mark has his Xmas shopping done, he can kick back, have a beverage and watch some high end curling...just like so many more of us will do.

Ice A: Anita Moran vs Shirley Lemieux. WIN for Lemieux. After missing out on a game last week, the Lemieux rink were back with a vengence, looking to post a win. And that's just what they did forcing the veteran Moran rink to take a second place finish. The Moran crew have won more than they have lost this season and still hover near the top of the leaderboard. They win the "We're Never Quite Out Of It So Don't Count Us Out" Award. This team will make for an interesting second half.

Ice B: Marg Tivy vs Tammy Lemieux. WIN for Tivy. The Iron Bridge Belles are not the top team in the league but they are right there, nipping at the leader's heels. They win the "Just Waitin' For Our Chance" Award. Here's another crew that will make the second half a real battle to the finish.

Ice C: Beth Laderoute vs Liz Rouselle. WIN for Rouselle. Big night for the Rouselle squad as they were looking like the Rouselle team of old. Perhaps they are on their way back and they win the "Upwardly Mobile" Award. Good job ladies.

Ice D: Christie Hager vs Donelda Cada. WIN for Cada. That's another win for those Rez Girls and they are the top team in the league. It's been quite a road for these gals and over the past 5 years, they have managed to become a force to be reckoned with. They win the "We Paid Our Red Bum Dues And Now We Want The Fruits Of Our Labours" Award.

Ice A (Late): Malisha Alloway vs Christine Owl. WIN for Alloway. The Alloway rink is another squad that continues to rack up the wins and also hover near the top of the leaderboard. They crushed the Rez Girl Newbies last night and therefore win the "Absolutely No Mercy" Award. Watch for these gals in the second half..they have serious game.

Ice B: Maymar Gemmell vs Paula Summers. WIN for Gemmell. The Gemmell crew are also near the top of the leaderboard. After the win, Maymar offered some pointers to the Summers crew to help them down the road. Maymar wins the "We'll Beat Ya, Then We'll Coach Ya" Award. Great job Maymar.

So that's it for another Ladies Night. Are you signed up for the BRCC Ladies Spiel yet? Word is, that there are only a few spots left so don't miss out. Get your team in there ASAP.

Rock On!

The Curling Chronic

Monday Mixed

2011-12-14T14:45:00.000-05:00

I know what you're thinking. How come Richard Olmstead is disguising himself? Does he really feel the need to curl deep undercover?! And where's his ball cap? Well, that's not him. Richard is so well known around the BRCC that n o mask would disguise him. And he's everyone's pal so he would not have to be deep undercover. Richard plays in the Mixed and the Mens Leagues at the BRCC. As well, Richard volunteers alot of time to the club with maintenance jobs and with the ice. He's a great asset to the club and the BRCC is fortunate to have him as a member. He's just one of many volunteers that make it work for the BRCC. That is the very thing that makes the BRCC so successfull....caring members that give their time to make the club work for everyone. Without these people, things would not be so smooth.

Ice A: Bob Villeneuve vs Jerry Jensen. WIN for Jensen. The way Bob puts it, he has lost to Ben Lemieux (plays second for the Jensen rink) three times in the last week in one league or another so Bob wins the "Ben Lemieux-a-phobia" Award. Counselling will be helpful.

Ice B: Al Viel vs Brian West. WIN for West. Al Viel continues to ride the roller coaster in the Monday night Mixed. Not so for the West crew who post the win and capture the "When The West Wind Blows, Hunker Down For The Storm" Award. They also win the "Al Viel's New Shoes Don't Scare Us" Award.

Ice C: Dan McMillan vs Doug Kearns. WIN for McMillan. The Legal Eagle continues to stick with it and although they have not posted a plethora of wins, they do play their hardest each and every week and they win the "You Gotta Have Heart" Award. And heart is something they have plenty of!

So that's how it all played out for this Monday Mixed. There was one open sheet that never saw a game but that's OK, it saw action later for the Mens League. Speaking of the Mens League, got your cheques in for the Mens Closing? Time is not on your side. Call Dave Mitchell if you have not as there is a waiting list for this spiel. Also, the BRCC Mixed is coming up in February. Lots of time to think about getting a team together for this one. Brian and Nancy West are the conveners so you can be guaranteed a good time and a well-organized shin-dig. I know it's a ways off but it is something to think about as time does fly by.

Rock On!

The Curling Chronic

2011-12-13T17:03:00.000-05:00

The Blind River Museum. Nice looking little spot and a great place to go to have a look at some of the history of this cool little town. Turns out, the museum is going to put up a curling club display, showcasing the history of the BRCC. Rose has already got things going (Maymar has been helping her) and has found some things to "lend" and/or donate to the museum to be part of this display. Rose has a poster up at the club and is currently looking for things from the BRCC's past so if you have anything that you would like to put on loan or donate for this cool display, please contact Rose Neufeld.
Rock On!

The Curling Chronic

Thursday Mens

2011-12-13T16:56:00.000-05:00

I know what you're thinking. Did Warren Neufeld go to the Vancouver Olympics? And isn't it a little uncharacteristic of him to be so lively in the stands? And who is that woman standing there with him? Is she hiding behind the flag so Rose doesn't see her?! Well, that isn't Warren so Rose can breathe a sigh of relief and Warren can continue to be scandal-free. This guy in the picture is, however, a big curling fan and so is Warren. And not only is Warren a huge fan, but he is also a good ice guy. And he's no slouch as a curler either. Warren plays in the Mixed league and the Mens. He may not win every game but he has dealt out his fair share of spankings and he can make shots.

Warren has been a mainstay of the BRCC for many years now. He has done so much to help our little club that he sets the bar pretty high for those that want to help out the club. The BRCC owes Warren a debt of gratitude for all he has done, so if you see him around, give him a pat on the back and say thanks because he is part of the reason things are so good at our club.

Ice A (Monday): Rick Rouselle vs Michel Rivard. WIN for Rouselle. It's been a tough start for the Rivard rink but they do have some real good games nonetheless. They win the "Waitin' For The Curling Epiphany" Award. All things come to those who wait.

Ice B: Dan Berthelot vs Shane Boyer. NO INTEL. Rather than hazard a guess (and be wrong), I would rather just say I don't know...this one could have gone either way. Although it was not the start that they had last year, the Berthelot rink has game and they are always poised to strike. They win the "Lookin' For Top Eight Finish" Award. They may not have to look too far!

Ice C: Craig Roberts vs Dave Mitchell. WIN for Mitchell. It's been a tough season for this veteran Mitchell crew but tonight they ended up posting the win. They win the "Let's All Give Thanks" Award. What a group hug that must have been after that one!

Ice A (Thursday): Keith Rouselle vs Chris Astles. WIN for Rouselle. In a come from behind effort, the Rouselle crew managed to score a big 4 in the last to post the win. They win the "It's Never Over Till The Last Sup Of Beer Is Gone" Award.

Ice B: Chris Zagar vs Jim Kendrick. WIN for Kendrick. It has not been the stellar year that the Zagar rink were looking for but they do have fun out there. They win the "Lookin' For Tom Galloway" Award. Perhaps they can convince the big guy to break away from the domestic scene just for Thursday nights and start curling again.

Ice C: Yvon Valiquette vs Stephane Lemieux. WIN for Valiquette. With John Campbell absent, this was a convincing win for this Valiquette crew who are having a pretty good year thus far. They win the "We Might Give John His Pink Slip" Award.

Ice D: Glen Austin vs John Hammond. WIN for Hammond. In a barn burner that came down to the last rock, the Hammond crew played their hearts out and secured the win. They win the "Intensity Is Everything" Award. Awesome job guys...the Newfie Bullet might have been derailed but that was a derailment that was easy to take.

Ice A (Late): Alain Viel vs Francois Lemieux. WIN for Viel. It may have been a loss for the Lemieux rink but it has still been a great year. As for Al Viel, he wins the "Hey Look At My Shiney New Shoes" Award. Good thing he won, it would be terrible to lose your first game with new shoes...hard to wash the taint off them!

Ice B: Mike Laderoute vs Brian West. WIN for Laderoute. Wow, the great year continues for this Laderoute rink. They certainly have piled up the wins and that's why they get the "Goosy, Goosy, Gander" Award. You can't go wrong when you have a Goose on your side.

Ice C: Bob Villeneuve vs Ben Lemieux. WIN for Lemieux. It's been a tough roll for the veteran Lemieux rink thus far this season but they're back beating their chests again now after knocking off the tough Villeneuve rink so for them, it's the "We Got Nowhere To Go But Up!" Award.

Ice D: Al Gemmell vs Rick Berthelot. WIN for Gemmell. It sure has been one heck of a year for this Gemmell rink who continue to win their way through. Al has really let his hair down this season and it has paid off and he wins the "I Ain't Cuttin' It...Look What It Did To Sampson" Award. Any Delilahs out there?

So that's how it played out on this past Thursday Mens. Christmas is fast approaching and before long, we'll be into the second half of the season. Don't forget, it's the top 8 teams that make the playoffs for the Club Championship and by the looks of it, there are an awful lot of teams that are in a position to secure a playoff spot. It sure will be interesting to see this play out!

Rock On!

The Curling Chronic

Wednesday Night Mixed

2011-12-08T13:50:00.001-05:00

I know what you're thinking. Gerrard Rainville is really into this game of jug curling. And J P Martin does not trust the ice as much and is hanging nearer the shore. Well that is not Gerrard and it is not J P either but hey, that jug curling looks like it could be lots of fun. Alot of winter cottagers get into this kind of thing...they shovel off a playing surface and then get out the jugs. No doubt, it would make for a great family activity or when a bunch of pals get together. In fact, to take it a step further, I could see this as a great fund raiser activity. I think lots of people would like to partake in an afternoon of this. Of course, lots of people like to curl with regular rocks inside the club as well. Like the people in the Wednesday Night Mixed. They enjoy good games and hanging with good people....weekly fare at the BRCC!

Ice A: Sandy Milroy vs Tom St Jules. WIN for Milroy. Despite Big Daddy's best efforts, they could not win against this tough Milroy crew. So naturally, the Milroy rink are the recipients of the "The Dynasty Continues" Award.

Ice B: Andrew Roberts vs Glen Austin. WIN for Roberts. Tough night for the Wednesday Newfie Bullet as they are forced to take their first loss. The newly formed Roberts crew played lights out to secure the win and they win the "The Little Train That Could" Award. MVP...would have to be Tasha Hallet who made some spectacular draws and made it easier for her skipper to close the ends (not to take away from the rest of the team....they ALL played well).

Ice C: Mike Laderoute vs Francois Lemieux. NO INTEL. Although this game went off right beside me, I do not know the outcome because I was busy having curling struggles of my own. And they were done in 6 ends which was their preference from the outset I think. But both these teams are good and this match could have gone either way. Mike Laderoute has really had a good year and has been playing some real good curling. And that is quite an accomplishment seeing that he has had knee surgery and despite all the setbacks, he is still "rockin' on" so he wins the "No Stick Curlin' For Me, Because I'm The Bionic Knee!" Award.

Ice D: Rick Berthelot vs Warren Neufeld. WIN for Berthelot. I managed to see a couple of shots in this game and it looked to me like the Berthelot crew was in control but the Neufeld crew was making a comeback and were two down, without, in the last end. Warren was sitting two and Murray Fullerton had one last rock to throw. Ultimately, Murray made his shot to secure the win but the Neufelds' comeback had him chewin' his fingernails. Murray wins the "Globetrottin' Curler" Award. He also wins the "BRCC Blog Loyalist" Award because regardless of where he is, he's always checking the blog to see what's happening with the BRCC. Of course, Murray will have to share this award with the Gemmells!

So that's how it went on this Wednesday Night Mixed. Some upsets and some breakthroughs, but one thing is for sure...everyone enjoyed themselves and manged to have a good game. That's what you yield from good ice conditions. However, it appears that it will be soon time for a flood as over time, the ice will start to do wacky things. Nothing to do with he way the ice is maintained...just a function of ice itself. But I am thinking that this flood will not come until after the Boxing Day Spiel. There is only a couple of weeks left before the first half of the season is over so when January comes and a new flood goes on, we'll be starting out fresh again. Here's another opportunity to get your volunteer hours in...just check with Chauchi to see when he plans to flood.

Rock On!

The Curling Chronic

Tuesday Ladies

2011-12-08T12:46:00.000-05:00

I know what you're thinking. When did Rose Neufeld become a hardcore rocker, and what's up with the piercing? Well that's not Rose. Rose is a hardcore curler and I am sure that her preferred musical genre would not necessitate this kind of get up! And I am positive that you would have a better chance of getting hit by lightning (twice!) than Rose getting a piercing! Rose curls in the Tuesday Ladies League as well as the Wednesday Night Mixed. Her game did not go off on Tuesday night (much to her chagrin) but all the others did. Kayla Fairbrother got to the club early, noticed an empty sheet and got on the phone to her team and the Iron Bridge Belles (They had the late game) and got everyone there early and instead of starting at 8:30 pm, this game started at 7:30 pm so kudos to Kayla for getting everyone on the go early. I'm sure the Iron Bridge Belles were appreciative for the early ride home.

Ice A: Paula Summers vs Tammy Lemieux. WIN for Lemieux. In this come from behind victory, this Lemieux rink has broken the hex and have posted the "W". They win the "Halleluja" Award!

Ice C: Maymar Gemmell vs Denelda Cada. WIN for Cada. The Rez Girls are now the top team in the league! What a great season it's been for these ladies...they have improved year after year and a team to beat. They win the "We Have Arrived"Award. Kudos ladies!

Ice D: Malisha Alloway vs Liz Rouselle. WIN for Alloway. Tough night for the Rouselle rink who are still looking for firm footing this season. They'll be winning the "Give Us Some Red Bull, We Need Wings To Get Out Of This Abyss" Award.

Ice A (Late): Beth Laderoute vs Anita Moran. WIN for Moran. The Moran rink had it together for this week's match and Anita wins the "I Like Winning On My Birthday" Award. Of course she does, ...Happy Birthday Anita.

Ice B: Marg Tivy vs Christie Hager. TIE GAME. The Iron Bridge Belles got up early but the Hager squad managed to string some shots together and secure a tie. The Tivy rink are still near the top of the pile, a couple of wins out of first but still right there. They win the "Look Out Rez Girls, We Be Comin'" Award. I'll be keeping an eye out for that match up later in the second half of the season.

So that's how it all played out for this Tuesday Night Ladies League. This league is great this year with lots of teams bunched up near the top of the board. It is really going to make for an interesting second half. In the meantime, the Ladies Xmas party is coming up soon and that will be a blast. Francois Lemieux will be there singing a few tunes with some of these BRCC belles singing along. Also, there is word that Santa will be visiting (weather and reindeer permitting).

Rock On!

The Curling Chronic

Monday Night Mixed

2011-12-06T13:33:00.000-05:00

I know what you're thinking. When did Christa Murdoch start volunteering at running marathons? And why is she sad that this guy is about to win? Well, that's not her. Christa is more into curling than running. She plays in the Wednesday Night Mixed and has been a member of the Wednesday Newfie Bullet for the last few years. And there are lots of teams at the BRCC that have stayed together for several years. And then some other teams like to mix it up. Either way, it's cool. That's the social beauty about curling...people can get together as a group and play a game together every week and then get caught up after the game. The people in the Monday Night Mixed do it all the time.

Ice A: John Hammond vs Al Viel. WIN for Hammond. This Hammond crew continues to be a force to be reckoned with. They win the "Eat Your Wheaties Before You Tackle Us!" Award.

Ice B: Glen Austin vs Dan McMillan. Tie Game. This McMillan group is also having a good season winning all their games except 1 tie. They also sit at the top of the leaderboard and win the "We Eat Our Wheaties All The Time...Bring It On!" Award. Hammond vs McMillan...watch for this match up!

Ice C: Jerry Jensen vs Brian West. WIN for West. With Brain and Nancy absent, Ken McLeod was at the helm and led his crew to the victory. He wins the "I Ain't Just A Lumber Guy" Award. That's for sure, Kenny can shoot with the best of them.

Ice D: Malisha Alloway vs Doug Kearns. WIN for Alloway. The Alloway rink continues to be a tough customer as the Legal Eagle found out last night. Don't let their meek and mild ways fool you, they out there to deal out a beating whenever the opportunity comes along and that's why they win the "It's The Quiet Ones You Need To Watch Out For" Award.

So that wraps up another Monday Night Mixed. It won't be long and it will be Xmas. I noticed that the poster is starting to fill up for the Boxing Day Spiel. Better get your name up there. Don't miss out on this Boxing Day madness. Lots of fun and a great spaghetti supper. And don't forget the dance which is always jam packed. Cheapest Boxing Day event on the go and a real hoot!

Rock On!

The Curling Chronic

Thursday Mens

2011-12-06T13:08:00.000-05:00

I know what you're thinking. What's Natasha Hallett doing playing curling at an arena......and why is she sweeping with Peter Stos' son, Nicholas? Well, that's not her and I don't know who that guy is either. Natasha is a BRCC newbie who plays in the Wednesday Night Mixed with Andrew Roberts. I don't think she has had the opportunity to experience arena ice yet in her short curling career, but then again, there are many of us in the same boat. But who cares?!.....the ice at the BRCC is excellent. It's fast and has lots of curl so our curling experience is enhanced every time we walk onto that ice. And to further make our curling night a great experience is the quality of games at the BRCC Thursday Mens League. There are alot of good teams in this league and there are many real, good games that get played there on a weekly basis. Last Thursday was no exception!

Ice A (Monday): Chris Zagar vs Ben Lemieux. WIN for Lemieux. The Lemieux Express posts a win after a somewhat rocky start and they win the "We Do Our Best Work Under Pressure" Award.

Ice B: Rick Berthelot vs John Hammond. TIE GAME. This Hammond squad is a tough nut to crack and their record so far this season is impressive. They win the "We Plan To Stay With The Pack" Award....and thus far that is just what they have done.

Ice C: Mike Laderoute vs Glen Austin. WIN for Austin. Just barely a win for the Thursday Newfie Bullet...this game was more of a basketball game than a curling game if you went by the score. This game also saw the Laderoute crew scoring a six ender which made the Newfie Bullet crew win the "Fear and Loathing At The BRCC" Award. Whew...almost a support group for that one.

Ice D: (Make Up Game): Keith Rouselle vs Jim Kendrick. Tie Game. The Molson Exers have had a somewhat mediocre start and although not posting the win, they are not posting the loss so they get the "We'll Take It!" Award.

Ice A:(Thursday): Al Viel vs Dave Mitchell. WIN for Viel. The veteran Mitchell squad have found themselves having a bit of a seesaw season thus far and so they win the "Someone Git Me Some Gravol"Award. That up and down thing is a killer!

Ice B: Craig Roberts vs Keith Rouselle. WIN for Rouselle. The Molson Exers scoop a convincing win here over the Roberts rink. With things looking up for them, this Rouselle rink win the "We Be Struttin' Our Stuff" Award. Hopefully the streak can continue.

Ice C: Chris Astles vs Rick Rouselle. TIE GAME. This game was tight the whole way through although having a slow start, the Astles crew stayed with it and never allowed the Rouselle rink to break away. They win the "Never Say Never" Award.

Ice D: Brian West vs Francois Lemieux. WIN for Lemieux. The Lemieux rink continues to have an excellent season and hovers around the top of the leaderboard. If you recall, Frank is a previous club champion and the way this season is shaping up. He could be a contender again so he wins the "I'm Looking For The Summit Again..Just Like Randy Ferby".

Ice A: (Late): Yvon Valliquette vs Michel Rivard. WIN for Valliquette. This Valliquette squad are somewhere around the middle of the pack on the leaderboard. They can have real good games and when they do, they are tough to get by. They win the "Hit 'N Miss" Award.

Ice B: Bob Villeneuve vs Stephane Lemieux. Tie Game. This was a close game all the way through with the Lemieux rink having an especially good game. Ryan Hager made some great shots in this game to help out his skipper and he wins the "I Ain't Just Another Golfer Who Can Curl" Award. Somebody should be scouting this guy for competitive curling....and buying him curling pants!

Ice C: Dan Berthelot vs Jim Kendrick. Tie Game. That's two tie games in a row for this Kendrick crew and they win the "We're Happy To Fly Under The Radar" Award.

Ice D: Al Gemmell vs Shane Boyer. WIN for Gemmell. This Gemmell squad is also having a great season and interestingly enough, Al has missed the last three games yet his winning streak continues. He wins the "I May Not Have Been There, But I'm Always There In Spirit" Award. Eerie stuff!

So there was an interesting week in the Thursday Mens. lots of good games and here's a new record, 5 tie games in 1 week! Wow, not only does that illustrate how close the games were, but also is indicative as to how many did not want to play it out. Is it because they didn't want to risk the loss or because they were in a rush to get to the lounge?

Rock On!

The Curling Chronic

JUNIOR HOUSE NEWS

2011-12-06T09:30:00.002-05:00

Hi This is Hayley Horton reaching out to you Juniors, Bantams and Little Rockers. Last weekend, two teams consisting of Bantams and Little Rockers from the BRCC went to Espanola to curl in their annual bonspiel. They all played great and everyone had fun in this two day event. The teams consisted of: Martinique Lemieux, Destiny Jacques, Creegan Melmoth, Athena Moffatt and Bella Blanchet. Because this was a 5 person team, they took turns sitting out for 3 ends so everyone got a chance to play. This team came runners up in the B Event even though they only lost 1 game.....not sure how that draw was set up. The second team was Carlie Geoffroy, Hannah May, Jacob May and Dawson Kluding.

Congratulations everyone! And thanks to Al Moffatt and Kim Jacques for helping Krsty and Tammy coach on Saturday.

Hacked out by Hayley Horton and Taylor McNally

Wednesday Mixed

2011-12-01T17:04:00.000-05:00

I know what you're thinking. Since when did Yvon Valiquette become a baseball fan, and when did he acquire the wig fetish? Well, that's not him although Yvon might be a baseball fan...it's hard to say. One thing is for sure, he's a curling fan and plays with a veteran squad in the BRCC Men's League.

There are also veteran squads that play in the Mixed league as well. Just like the Wednesday Night Mixed where there are teams that have thus far gone undefeated, other teams that wish they were undefeated, and then other teams that could care less about being defeated but enjoy the night out and hanging with other curling people. It's a real melting pot to say the least but one thing is for sure, curling is tops at the BRCC.

Ice A: Mike Laderoute vs Vola Roberts. WIN for Laderoute. The Bionic Knee is still on a roll. After losing just one game at the season start, it's been win all the way through since and that's why they win the "We're Still Kickin' It" Award. As for the Roberts crew, they get the "We're Still Lookin' To Kick It" Award.

Ice B: Tom St Jules vs Rick Berthelot. NO INTEL Word is this match was a close one that was most likely over in 6 ends as most of these people like the 6 - end mixed games. Rick has had an interesting change. In fact, he has done something that I think is incredibly unique. In the beginning, Rick went from a tuck delivery to a flatfoot slide (this happened a few years ago) and just this year, went from a right hand delivery to a left hand delivery. Truly incredible and that is why he wins the "Mr.Ambidexterity" Award.

Ice C: Andrew Roberts vs Sandy Milroy. WIN for Milroy. It's bee n a heck of a good season for Sandy Milroy. He has a great season in the Mens League with Francois Lemieux in the Third position...and in the Skip position here in the Wednesday Night Mixed. In fact, the Milroy Four are undefeated and win the "We're Just Waitin' For Our Ride On The Wednesday Newfie Bullet" Award.....but they won't get that award until Jan 5. Hopefully they can hang on! They take a stroll through Big Daddyville before that and you never know what can happen there!

Ice D: Ryan Hager vs Danny Horton. NO INTEL This was supposedly another tight match that could have gone either way. Both these teams rotate the skip position. For the Horton rink, it could be Dan Horton OR Don Timmermans. For the Hager crew, it could be Ryan OR Christie. So both of these squads win the "Merry Go Round" Award. They also are dead ringers for the "Cabinet Shuffle" Award. Perhaps these people belong in politics!

So that's how it was this past Wednesday. Curlers played their games and clinked their glasses afterward. Chauchi turned 28, cleaned some ice, cleaned some glasses, served some beverages and wiped some tables. Now there's a guy who knows how to party! It's our good fortune to have an employee like Chauchi...the club is in A-1 shape and we are all curling on A-1 ice. I'm stoked over how good the ice is to play on....and everyone thinks so!

Dec 1 is here. Do you have your cheque in for the Mens Closing? Don't miss out on the premiere BRCC event of the year. March is a long way away but there is a waiting list so don't delay! Get your cheque in ASAP!

Rock On!

The Curling Chronic

JUNIORS' HOUSE News From the Juniors

2011-12-01T09:48:00.000-05:00

Hi, this is Hayley Horton and this is a brand new "Blog for Juniors". We call it Junior's House....and it's for all juniors, bantams and little rockers because you need to be informed too!

This year has been a blast. Kristy Blanchet is the leader of the Little Rocker Crew and Tammy Lemieux is coach for the Bantams and Juniors. She gets help from Lucy Ann Trudeau, Christie Hager, Mrs. Kirby and Donna Lediett (to be confirmed). Thanks for all the great participation. Everyone sees an improvement each and every week! We have been having so much fun playing games and learning new techniques and skills.

The weekend of the 3rd and 4th of December will have several teams of BRCC junior curlers competing in Espanola at their Junior Bonspiel. C'mon out and cheer them on! Good luck BRCC juniors!

Giv'er Blind River.

This is the first posting for the BRCC Young Curlers ,but it won't be the last so stay tuned in and I'll try keep you in the Junior Curling Loop!

Hacked Out By: Hayley Horton (with help from Katie Kenenepohl and Taylor McNally)

Happy Birthcay Chauchi!

2011-11-30T17:05:00.000-05:00

Well, here you go Chauchi. This one is all for you! Chauchi is 28 today and spending his big day with the Wednesday Night Mixed. If you see him, wish him a Happy Birthday from ALL of his friends at the BRCC. Have a great day Chauch and thanks for all you do!

Rock On!

The Curling Chronic

Tuesday Ladies

2011-11-30T16:51:00.000-05:00

I know what you're thinking. Did Keith Rouselle start taking dancing lessons during Movember? You'll have to double click this photo to really appreciate the moustache. But that's not really Keith and Carrie wouldn't be too happy with him cutting a rug with a different gal when he so seldom cuts a rug with her. Our Keith Rouselle would not be caught at dancing lessons, he prefers curling and he is a regular in the BRCC Mens League. There's lots of regulars at the BRCC...like 220 of them. For a small town, the BRCC enjoys an excellent membership and this is the very thing that makes our club so strong. So, it is important to ensure that curling remains fun for all. Good games and good people, that what makes it all happen for the BRCC. And if you don't believe me, check out the BRCC belles on a Tuesday night. They get out there and mix it up every Tuesday night and have fun while they are doing it. And Anita with the help of Joanna keep it fun and fresh. They plan special nights for these ladies and they fundraise to help pay for these cool nights. They have a 50 / 50 coin toss (sort of like minute to win it) which helps provide some funds and they have draws as well. The latest draw they have going is for a Keurig. If you don't own one and like coffee, they are the beginning and the end. I own one and I love it. You want to try to own one?...then but some tickets for this draw. It's being drawn at the Ladies Xmas Banquet so get your tickets ASAP! Not only do you get a chance to win a cool prize, but it helps our BRCC belles as well.

Ice A: Christie Hager vs Anita Moran. WIN for Moran. This veteran Moran crew may not win every game but they win alot of the time and they have good games. As for the Hager squad, it was a tough night and by my stats, are batting .500 for the season thus far and for this reason, the win the "Sine Curve" Award. (If you don't get this one, you should not have slept through geometry!)

Ice B: Liz Rouselle vs Tammy Lemieux. WIN for Rouselle. After a real tough start, the Rouselle squad is showing signs that they may be getting some game going on. They'll have to get the "Who Woke Up The Sleeping Giant" Award. Hopefully, this is one giant that is not having apnea issues!

Ice C: Malisha Alloway vs Paula Summers. NO INTEL. I did not get to see what the outcome of this match up was. The normally tough Alloway squad could have easily pulled this one out but the Summers rink is the surprise of the season and have dealt out their own spankings thus far and that's why they are so deserving of the "We Can Pull A Rabbit Out Of A Hat Anytime" Award. Only goes to show, you never know when curling is going to happen.

Ice D: Beth Laderoute vs Marg Tivy. WIN for Tivy. Coming off a loss last week, the Iron Bridge belles were certainly not heading back to Iron Bridge without a first place ribbon tonight. So, for that reason, they win the "Head Hunters" Award.....because you know, Hell hath no fury like an Iron Bridge curler scorned.

Ice B (Late): Maymar Gemmell vs Shirley Lemieux. WIN for Gemmell. Once again, the Gemmell squad has secured the win and are now at the top of the leaderboard. As for the Lemieux squad, it was a second place finish but with Rose Neufeld on this team, they will always be winners. Rose wins the "You Missed That Shot But You Had The Right Idea" Award. Her positve reinforcement technique would rival Dr Phil's!

Ice C: Denelda Cada vs Christine Owl. WIN for Cada. That's another win for the Rez Girls and that puts them solidly into second place right on the heels of the Gemmell rink. These girls have come such a long way and always sit near the top of the leaderboard. They win the "We're Buckin' For First So Buckle Up And Get Ready For The Ride" Award.

So that's how it turned out for this Tuesday night ladies. And speaking of ladies, have you signed up for the BRCC Addams Family Murder Mystery Ladies Spiel. The poster is up downstairs if you are looking for it. I'm going to bug them to move it upstairs to a location where it might be a bit more prominent. In the meantime, get your team in there because you do not want to miss out. These ladies spiels are always an uproarious good time and you can be sure that this one will not disappoint.

Rock On!

The Curling Chronic

Monday Mixed

2011-11-30T15:39:00.000-05:00

I know what you're thinking. Where did they make the Dan McMillan Bobble-Head Curler and where can you pick one up for the dash of your car? Well, that's not him but he does have well-groomed hair like Dan. And I'm not sure where you can find bobble - head curlers for your very own. But if you are looking for smiling curlers with just regular heads, then head to the BRCC and you'll find them there 4 nights a week. And it all starts with the Monday Night Mixed.

Ice A: Al Viel vs Bob Villeneuve. WIN for Villeneuve. I was watching Bob and Terry interact during this game and they have played together for so long, that they communicate extremely well and this is part of the reason why they are such formidable opponents. Of course, factor in their skill level and that makes them an even tougher duo to deal with. So for this reason, they win the "Melding Of The Minds" Award. Well, you know what they say, "Great minds think alike......

Ice B: Gator Fortin vs Glen Austin. WIN for Fortin. And what a trouncing it was, the Monday Newfie Bullet is still reelin' from that travesty and winners of the "I Thought Canings Were Illegal" Award.

Ice C: Doug Kearns vs John Hammond. WIN for Hammond. The Hammond Almost Family Affair continue to terrorize the Monday Night Mixed League. I was watching portions of their game and this squad was focused on the game and dealin' out the hurtin'. They get the "Rock Em, Sock Em" Award because they are bowling em all over, week after week.

Ice D: Jerry Jensen vs Dan McMillan. WIN for Jensen. It looked to me that the Jensen crew was controlling this match right out of the gate and in the end, the McMillan squad could not contain the onslaught and ultimately won the "Let's Git To The Bar Instead" Award.

So there's another week started off. I noticed our good friend Wayne Spence at the club putting up the Boxing Day Bonspiel Poster. This BRCC tradition continues and here's your chance to get your team in. It's cheap to play and the spaghetti supper is awesome as is the dance later. So, if you are looking to have some real good family fun on Boxing Day, this is the way to do it.

Rock On!

The Curling Chronic

Thursday Night Mens

2011-11-28T15:05:00.000-05:00

I know what you're thinking. When did Carlos Santana start curling? Well, that's not him, that's Andrew Roberts and that's not a guitar he's holding, that's a curling broom because Andrew is a BRCC curler who curls in the Wednesday Mixed and the Thursday Mens.

On Thursday nights, Andrew plays on 1 of 22 teams that comprise this competitive mens league. This league is so successful that the entire draw must be played on 2 nights instead of 1. This is a good problem for a curling club to have. Not really a problem, of course, but most men like the Thursday game because most of their pals are out that night. But 6 teams also play on Monday night late. For some guys, that means a double header because they also play in the Monday Mixed. Me, I don't mind the odd double header and I'm not alone. There are lots of curling chronics in the BRCC who feel the same way. And those who don't really do cartwheels over playing two games back to back take solace in the fact that it is only every now and then. (Unless you are the Al Viel rink who have played 5 consecutive double headers....if they weren't curling chronics to start with, they certainly are now!).

Ice B (Monday): Al Viel vs Craig Roberts. WIN for Roberts. Right out of the gate, the Roberts crew took control of this match and did not let up. One of those though nights for the Viel crew who win the "We're Still Lookin' For A Pulse" Award.

Ice C: Dan Berthelot vs Stephane Lemieux. WIN for Berthelot. After coming off their first win, the Lemieux crew have been forced to take second place again and therefore win the "Back To Reality" Award as well as the Burst Bubble" Award.

Ice D: Brian West vs Keith Rouselle. WIN for West. It's been a Roller Coaster of a season for the Molson Exers so far but they show very little signs of stress over this. They are prime candidates for the "Now That Hunting Is Over Perhaps We Will Focus More" Award.

Ice A (Thursday): Shane Boyer vs Mike Laderoute. WIN for Boyer. After coming off a loss, the Boyer crew was looking for redemption and found it by handing the Bionic Knee and company their first loss. It's been a heck of a season thus far for the Laderoute rink but now they will have to contend with the "Look Out Boys, We Might Be Goin' Through A Worm Hole" Award. Only time will tell.

Ice B: Rick Berthelot vs Francois Lemieux. WIN for Lemieux. Francois and his squad is another team that is having one heck of a season and they are the proud recipients of the "I Play Curling Like I Play Pool, One Loonie At A Time" Award.

Ice C: John Hammond vs Jim Kendrick. Win for Kendrick. Chauchi was quoted as saying "It was brutal!" and so this Hammond crew will have to accept the "We're Still Reelin' Over That Hammerin'" Award.

Ice D: Bob Villeneuve vs Rick Rouselle. WIN for Villeneuve. It's been a typical season thus far for this veteran Villeneuve squad as they continue to hover around the top of the leaderboard. They are still the winners of the "C'mon And Take Your Best Shot" Award. But you know what they say, "The bigger they are...."

Ice A (late): Al Gemmell vs Ben Lemieux. WIN for Gemmell. Wow, it continues to be a struggle for the normally tough Lemieux Express. You can expect Patti Page to show up personally to present this crew with the "Please Help Me I'm Fallin'" Award.

Ice B: Chris Astles vs Yvon Valiquette. WIN for Valiquette. After coming off a tough loss last week with Mark Deverell at the helm, this crew was happy to secure the win for this week. Yvon wanted to present his vice with the "You Stick To The Doctorin', And I'll Stick To The Skippin'" Award.

Ice C: Glen Austin vs Dave Mitchell. WIN for Austin. After coming off a loss to Francois Lemieux last week, the Newfie Bullet took absolute joy in handing the veteran Mitchel squad the "Red Bum" Award for this week. But that should be no problem for Dave, he owns a drug store where Aloe Vera abounds!

Ice D: Chris Zagar vs Michel Rivard. WIN for Rivard. Tough night for the Zagar crew but these guys still enjoy their night out. Tim Purich is a BRCC newbie this year and has hooked up with this crew. He wins the "Just A New Dad Gittin' Out With The Guys" Award.

So another Thursday mens in the record books and a new week starting up again tonight. It won't be long and the Christmas season will be upon us.....dare I say. The BRCC has lots of good curling stuff for you to give to your significant other. So if you are looking to make someone happy, perhaps a new broom might be just the thing, or perhaps a new pair of shoes. Gloves and grippers make excellent stocking stuffers. The BRCC got it all and at excellent prices so check it out. You know what else makes a good stocking stuffer?, BRCC pins and we have loads of those. So come buy some gear and help out the club while helping out your significant other at the same time!

Rock On!

The Curling Chronic

BRCC Says So Long To Longtime Pal

2011-11-25T09:35:00.000-05:00

This is not the greatest picture but it was the best that I could find. In case any of you didn't know, the guy sitting down receiving an award is Curly Everitt. Sadly, Curly passed away last week (Thursday) leaving behind alot of people who will miss him.

Curly was a long time friend of the BRCC...he volunteered his time for many, many years helping with the ice and serving as a board member. He was not only a great volunteer for the curling club, he gave his time and energy to many organizations in Blind River. Curly epitomized the expression, "community-minded" because for sure that would describe him well.

Curly was a huge fan of curling. He was a regular at the Brier, regardless of where it was being held. Every Brier that I have attended, I've run into Curly and his wife, (as well as Vern and Betty Peterson).

Curly's passing is a great loss for Blind River and on behalf of the BRCC, I would like to extend our condolences and our sincere best wishes to Curly's family.

Rock on Curly!

The Curling Chronic

Wednesday Night Mixed

2011-11-24T14:36:00.000-05:00

I know what you're thinking. Since when is Lisa Horton a US curling fan? Well, that's not her, it's some other curling fan. Lisa is a fan of Canadian curlers for sure...and she is a big curling fan in general. And she is back curling at the BRCC this season. She plays on a team in the Tuesday Ladies and she plays on a team on the Wednesday Mixed. Welcome back Lisa! She's just one of many curlers in the Wednesday Mixed and they were all out last night to battle it out, curling style.

Ice A: Mike Laderoute vs Warren Neufeld. WIN for Neufeld. It's been quite a streak for the Bionic Knee and his band of merry curlers but last night, they had to take second place so they get the "It's Just A Temporary Set Back...Hold Off On The Support Group" Award.

Ice B: Danny Horton vs Sandy Milroy. WIN for Milroy. This Milroy crew is also on a big roll with no losses so far this season. As for the Horton rink, they get the "Thank Heavens There's Beer After" Award. Lots of season left yet guys!

Ice C: Rick Berthelot vs Ryan Hager. NO INTEL I'm not sure who actually won this game but it was close the whole way. This is the first time Rick has had his full squad for three weeks. With Murray and Shirley Ann just getting back, they qualify for the "Prodigal Curlers" Award. I guess now they will be showered with wins.

Ice D: Glen Austin vs Mark Bender. WIN for Austin. The Wednesday Newfie Bullet continues onward down the tracks. It should be noted here, however, that Mark Bender played a fantastic game. He made some phenomenal shots and brought the game down to the 8th end last shot where he gracefully accepted second place. He wins the "I Just Had The Game Of My Life" Award. I should also mention that his entire team played well!

So that's how it was on this Wednesday night of curling. The ice continues to be great and the curling is excellent as a result. I cannot stress enough how important fast ice is. It brings all calibers of curlers into the game and makes for some great ends of curling. And in the end, that's what it is all about, having a fun game which adds up to having fun with curling in general.

Rock on!

The Curling Chronic

Tuesday Ladies

2011-11-23T16:38:00.000-05:00

I know what you're thinking. Since when is Anita Moran's dad a Saskatchewan curling fan? Well, that's not him, but Mr. Althoff IS a huge curling fan. I have sat with him many times while he comes to watch Anita's games. He is a presence during the Ladies Spiel and his shot by shot analysis is very interesting. I'm not the only guy who like to commentate, Mr Althoff has a flair for this himself! And I bet he'll be there for the Adams Family Murder Mystery Spiel coming to the BRCC on January 27 - January 29. You won't want to miss this one so if you are not signed up, make it a point to get your team in there for this guaranteed good time!

Ice A: Marg Tvy vs Donelda Cada. WIN for Cada. Big win for the Rez Girls who send the Iron Bridge Belles back to the bridge rubbing their behinds. Those Iron Bridgers are usually a tough team to get by but it was a tough night for them instead. They win the "Long, Quiet Drive Home" Award.

Ice B: Anita Moran vs Liz Rouselle. WIN for Moran. This looked like it might be over early but the tough Rouselle rink rallied and sat with three in the house in the last end. This would have been enough to tie the game but Anita, forced to make a full eight draw in the last did not miss and secured the win and because of this, she wins the "Just Foolin' With You Head" Award.

Ice C: Shirley Lemieux vs Malisha Alloway. WIN for Lemieux. With Shirley absent, her team still secured a come from behind win. The Alloway squad was up 2 in 6, gave up 2 in 7 and gave up another steal of 1 in the last to secure second place. Textbook win for the Lemieux squad who secure the "Don't Call Us The Older Gals, We're The Experienced Gals!" Award.

Ice D: Maymar Gemmell vs Tammy Lemieux. WIN for Gemmell. The winning streak continues for the very tough Gemmell crew and that's why they are prime candidates for the "Excuse Us While We Beat Our Chests" Award.

Ice B (Late): Paula Summers vs Christie Hager. WIN for Hager. That's two in a row for the Hager squad so it looks like they have found their groove and they win the "We Have Arrived" Award.

Ice D: Christine Owl vs Beth Laderoute. WIN for Laderoute. The Rez Girls Newbies are still pluggin' away at it and looking to find an even keel. I do notice that they are determined to make a game of it and they do score on alot of ends so for them it's the "Heads Down And Full Speed Ahead" Award. Keep it goin' ladies!

So that was it for the Tuesday ladies. There were some good games last night, some good close finishes. For those of you who have not watched the BRCC ladies battle it out, it is actually pretty entertaining. Excellent fun for me when I commentate a game and the beauty to it is, you never know what is going to happen from one end to the next. But don't take my word for it, check it out for yourself. And by the way, they will most likely be looking for volunteers to help with the BRCC Ladies Spiel coming up. This is a good chance to get your volunteer hours in and help our ladies at the same time. And rightly so, when considering how much help our ladies are during the Mens Closing.

Monday Mixed

2011-11-23T16:10:00.000-05:00

I know what you're thinking. Is this why we haven't seen Richard Woods around the BRCC this year, because he has gone into human curling. Well, that's not him and this is something that I'm sure Richard would probably not be into. I think he would prefer curling in the standing position and being the guy who carries the broom as opposed to being the rock. I'm sure most curlers would subscribe to this ideology. I can't see any Monday night Mixed curlers wanting to be the rock..let alone curling in speedos. They like to be fully dressed and in the vertical position.

Ice A: Gator Fortin vs Jerry Jensen. NO INTEL. This was a close game when I looked over there but unfortunately they had shook hands and sauntered off the ice before I could find out who was the winner. Ben Lemieux managed to come out of hiding and attend a game. It's been a couple of busy weeks for Ben and he has been conspicuously absent, but it was nice to see him back around the club. Undoubtedly, Ben is the winner of the "Domesticated Spouse" Award.

Ice B: Bob Villeneuve vs Doug Kearns. WIN for Villeneuve. Bob is back but Terry remains at the helm. Terry has been doing such a bang up job that Bob will have to earn his way back to the last stones. As for our Legal Eagle and company, a tough night and as much as it pains me to say so, "Red Bum" Award!

Ice C: Glen Austin vs Malisha Alloway. WIN for Austin. The Monday Newfie Bullet gives the Alloway crew a bumpy Monday night ride and in the end, were the recipients of the "I've Just Been Spanked By A Newfie" Award.

Ice D: John Hammond vs Brian West. WIN for Hammond. The Hammond Almost Family Affair are a tough crew. They win alot of games because they are a team of curling chronics. John wins the "Of Course I've Got An Edge, My Kid Is The Ice Guy" Award. And Lucy Ann, she wins the "Of Course I've Got An Edge, I Live At The Curling Club" Award.

So that's how it all worked out for this week at the Monday Night Mixed. In other mixed news, it was Team Saskatchewan that won the Canadian mixed at the Sudbury Curlers last Saturday, beating Alberta in an extra end. I was heading to Barrie on Friday evening listening to CBC radio. They were talking about the Canadian Mixed and they were interviewing Tim Phillips who was saying how much of an economic boost this championship was for the Sudbury Curling Club. He went on to say that the economic plight for many curling clubs across Canada was grim. I could not help but think to myself, "Think for yourself, buddy,..the BRCC is doing great! Thanks to our excellent membership, our terrific board, our generous volunteers, and the organizations that donate to our club...we have the curling world by the tail. I could not be any prouder to be a part of such an excellent organization. Regardless of what is going on around us, the BRCC is cookin' with gas!

Rock On!

The Curling Chronic

Adams Family Ladies Spiel @ BRCC

2011-11-21T17:07:00.001-05:00

They're creepy and their kooky, mysterious and spooky, they're all together Ooky......not the BRCC ladies,.....the Adams Family! And that's the theme of this years BRCC Ladies Spiel (Adams Family Murder Mystery)...so on January 27 - Jan 29th, 2012...make a point of coming out to the BRCC and having a spooky, kooky time with the BRCC belles.

Sound like a good time? You bet it is! I have not attended a BRCC Ladies Spiel that was not a good time. You'll get 3 games of curling guaranteed and don't forget the famous Friday night Shooter Bar. But that's not all. You'll also get the Saturday Night catered supper only this year it's a Dinner Theatre. Dress up as your favorite Adams Family character and enjoy a compelling, interactive dinner show / mystery where you will help determine "Who Among Us Is Guilty?"

Music and dancing on both Friday and Saturday night! There will be lots of prizes, food and fun for all!

And how much does it cost for this excellent weekend of fun and curling. It's still $180.00 per team. But don't wait because the limit is the first paid 24 teams so don't miss out. The poster is up at the club so you can go, sign up and pay there...or call Lorraine Liss @ 705-356-0850 (lorraineliss@gmail.com).

The BRCC ladies sure know how to have fun and they are particularly good at puttin' on a shindig so get your team in there...for sure you will not regret it!

Rock On!

The Curling Chronic

Thursday Mens

2011-11-21T16:17:00.000-05:00

I know what you're thinking. When did Francois Lemieux lose all that weight? And where's his Bionic Boot? And what's up with the mismatched tie...shouldn't Shirley be laying out his clothes in the morning? Well, these would all be legitimate queries if this was Francois, but it's not. It's just some other guy who has won lots of tournaments but has no fashion sense. I'm sure Francois can dress better than that!

Francois has done his share of winning this year as well. His mixed team has posted some wins and his mens team is on a roll! And he's not the only one having a good year. There are lots of mens teams on a roll this year and if they don't connect on the ice, they get on a roll in the lounge later. Either way, it's win, win!

Ice B (Monday): Al Gemmell vs Jim Kendrick WIN for Gemmell. The streak continues for Al Gemmell and his crew. Al has managed to come back this year and tear up the league. Not too shabby for sure. Tough night for the Kendricks squad who are prime candidates for the "Somebody Throw Us A Rope!" Award.

Ice C: Chris Zagar vs Stephane Lemieux. WIN for Lemieux. So, finally Stephane and his newly formed squad have broken through and have posted the win. Awesome job guys. They are the proud recipients of the "Guess We Won't Be Needing That Support Group Afterall" Award.

Ice B(Thursday): Dan Berthelot vs Ben Lemieux. WIN for Lemieux. With Ben absent, the veteran crew has posted the win with a come from behind push that secured the win in the last end and with that, have secured the "Back In The Saddle Again" Award.

Ice C: Bob Villeneuve vs Michel Rivard. WIN for Villeneuve. With Terry Fryer continuing at the helm, this squad is still posting the wins. With all this success during Bob's hiatus, I'm hoping there won't be a "Fletcher Christian" Award upon his return!

Ice D: Brian West vs Dave Mitchell. WIN for Mitchell. Just barely, as the West crew brought this down to the final rocks of the game. And although very close to taking this game away from Gator, Westy could not pull it out in the end and therefore will NOT win the "Choot Em!" Award. (You need to be a Swamp People fan to get that one!)

Ice A (Late): Rick Berthelot vs Mike Laderoute. WIN for Laderoute. The Bionic Knee is unbeaten this season! This crew is stoked! After such an incredible run, the targets on their backs may be growing and that's why they win the "We Ain't Flyin' Under The Radar No More" Award.

Ice B: Yvon Valiquette vs Rick Rouselle. WIN for Rouselle. Tough night for the Valiquette squad. With Yvon absent, Mark Deverell was at the helm and will have to accept the "Red Bum" Award in Yvon's stead. But that's OK, he's a Dr and probably knows some good salves to promote a speedy recovery.

Ice C: Shane Boyer vs John Hammond. WIN for Hammond. It's been another good season for John Hammond and his squad. As for Shane and his crew, it's been a bit of a roller coaster and they win the "Give Us Some Gravol!" Award.

Ice D: Glen Austin vs Francois Lemieux. WIN for Lemieux. As I said earlier, Francois is having a great year. With some excellent ending -saving shots, Frank and his squad managed secure a good win and win the "Bring Em On!" Award.

So there's another Thursday into the record books. This is a different kind of year and there are some new teams dominating the top of the leader board. This will make for some real interesting curling for the remainder of this half. There's still 5 games left so anything can happen!

Rock On!

The Curling Chronic

Wednesday Mixed

2011-11-17T11:35:00.001-05:00

I know what you're thinking. What's John Campbell (front row) doing with these Barcelona Soccer fans? Isn't he a curling guy? And how come Rob Henderson is with him? (Center). Maybe they went there to attend some Financial Pow Wow and decided to check out a game. Well, actually, that's not them. They're hardcore curling fans and if this was really them, then we could use them in the stands at a Brier or a Worlds. In the meantime, they spend their time at the BRCC and we're glad to have them. BRCC enjoys a healthy membership and that is the paradigm for a successful curling club. That's why it is important for all our members to advocate curling. It's good for the club and good for the Roaring Game in general. There was some roaring going on last night in the Wednesday night mixed. Once again, the sheets were full and everyone was wearing a smile. Some bums were red and others were not.

Ice A: Ryan Hager vs Andrew Roberts. WIN for Hager. Well, that's it then...the Hager rink have broken through and are now posing wins. So, they win the "Let The Bells Ring Out And Let The Birdies Fly" Award. And as for Andrew Roberts, he's hoping NOT to win the "Mutiny On The Bounty" Award.

Ice B: Tom St Jules vs Frank Lemieux. WIN for St Jules. The Bionic Boot comes up short of the mark and has to accept second place. As for Big Daddy, he's a dead ringer for the "I Told Ya, I'm No Slouch" Award.

Ice C: Glen Austin vs Dan Horton. WIN for Austin. Tough night for the Horton Crew as they had a bumpy ride on the Wednesday Newfie Bullet. They are the recipients of the "We Shoulda' Wore Our Seatbelts" Award. They also win the "That's What We Get For Travelling Economy" Award as well.

Ice D: Warren Neufeld vs Mike Laderoute. Game Cancelled but a bunch of spares showed up and they managed to make a game of it anyway. And they all win the "Honorary Curling Chronics" Award. Welcome to the fold!

So that's how it was on this Wednesday night. I enjoy the BRCC Mixed League. The games are always fun and the participants are excellent. And do you know what else is excellent? THE ICE!!! Hats off to Chauchi and the ice crew. The ice is fast and has lots of curl. I am lovin' it...and I'm not the only one. I have heard nothing but good things from the members. This is first rate ice for a club that curls in a half sewer pipe. And it makes it especially good for new members that do not have to heave an overhand throw for their first rock. Fast ice allows for lots of draws and lots of rocks in play. Players are into the game more and that only makes the experience top notch which keeps our little club top notch!

Rock On!

The Curling Chronic

Tuesday Ladies

2011-11-17T10:31:00.001-05:00

I know what you're thinking. When did Paula Summers become a Swedish curling fan? (Lower left). Well, that's not her, but she enough of a globetrotter that it could have been! We were in Vegas in early Oct and we were walking down the strip and who should we walk into?, why Bob and Paula Summers. So I guess to have Paula Summers somewhere in Sweden hanging out with a bunch of Swedes at a curling match is not that much of a stretch afterall! Paula curls in the BRCC ladies league where her and her new team have made quite a splash....they sure ain't no pushovers! They were out last Tuesday battling it out with some other Blind River belles.

Ice A: Christine Owl vs Liz Rouselle. WIN for Rouselle. No big surprise here as the veteran Rouselle team has been a tough team for several years now. And the Rez Girls Newbies are still in their curling infancy. They'll come into their own in time but for now are still holding on to the "Paddled Bums" Award.

Ice B: Denelda Cada vs Paula Summers. WIN for Cada. The veteran Rez Girls continue to make their mark in the league, posting another win. They win the "We Miss Annie But Lucy Ann's Good Too!" Award.

Ice C: Tammy Lemieux vs Christie Hager. WIN for Hager. Tough night for the Lemieux squad and they win the "We Be Sharin' Stephane's Noxema" Award.

Ice D: Shirley Lemieux vs Beth Laderoute. WIN for Lemieux. In a close match, the Lemieux rink held on to post the win. Shirley wins the "Librarians Spank Em Quietly" Award.

Ice B(Late): Anita Moran vs Malisha Alloway. WIN for Moran. This was the only late game and both teams went with 3 players. Joanna was conspicuously absent as she was short a babysitter but she does win the "Ill Be Keepin' My Old Man Home From Now On" Award.

So that's how it was on this past Tuesday night. One game never got played (Maymay Gemmell vs Marg Tivy). I was looking forward to this match up and I am hoping that they will get to play it at another date.

The Canadian Mixed is still going on in Sudbury. Alberta is at the top of the leaderboard with New Brunswick (Sylvie Robichaud) in second. There are presently 5 teams in third position and Northern Ontario is one of them....so today is a big day for those 5 teams. PEI and BC are tied for fourth right now but they are both in a "must win" situation from here on in. My Newfie pals managed to win a couple of games which I am sure made them happy and the Nunavut team managed a win as well. So, if you want to have a fun weekend, check out the Friday and Saturday games at the Sudbury curlers.

Rock On!

The Curling Chronic

Monday Night Mixed

2011-11-15T18:56:00.000-05:00

I know what you're thinking. How come Kristy Blanchet is a fan of Swedish Curling? Well, that's not her but it is a curling fan all right. I wonder if she's the president at her club? Either way, they sure share the same passion for fashion.

This is Kristy's first year as president of the BRCC. She takes her job seriously and she puts in alot of time making our club as good as she can. And she has a good board backing her up. As I mentioned in an earlier blog, this board has made quite a few noticeable improvements to the club in the short time they have been there. They cannot do it all themselves however. They need your help throughout the season. Volunteers are the very thing that makes our club so successful...so offer your help. Offer your ideas...offer what you can. If everyone offers something, it can all only improve.

Ice A: Brian West vs Malisha Alloway. WIN for West. Westy's got serious game these days. I'm sure this is partially due to that new figure he has been sporting for some time now. He's a sure fire hit for the "Fit To Curl" award.

Ice B: Jerry Jensen vs John Hammond. WIN for Hammond. It's been a tough go for our Benny Lemieux this year but all slow starts always end off with strong finishes. I'm sure that's coming but for now he wins the "Someone Stole My MoJo" Award.

Ice C: Dan McMillan vs Bob Villeneuve. WIN for Villeneuve. With Terry Fryer at the helm, and a strong team showing, Bob has been posting wins in both the Mixed and the Mens. Terry is a prime candidate for the "I Guess We Don't Need Bob Afterall" Award.

Ice D: Gator Fortin vs Al Viel. WIN for Viel. Al Viel's winning streak continues. His year has been stellar thus far. He wins the "Future's So Bright, I Gotta Wear Shades" Award. Of course Cory Hart fizzled out after awhile, but that don't mean nothin' Al. Don't let this get into your head!

So that was it for a Monday night. The curling still continues at the Sudbury Curling Club. Check it out!

Danny Lamoreux was at the BRCC last evening spreading some curling cheer. Hopefully some of his ideas will take hold and improve out already cool little club.

Rock On!

The Curling Chronic

Canadian Mixed Curling Championships in Sudbury

2011-11-14T16:47:00.001-05:00

Meet Team Newfoundland. A wonderful bunch of people that I met last weekend at the Sudbury Curling Club. At this juncture, they have yet to win a game but if they gave points for niceness, then they would be at the top of the leader board.

But they weren't the only people we met last weekend at the Canadian Mixed. We met curlers from every province and territory. Some I recognized from other events, some I did not. That didn't matter, there was good curling going anyway.
Sudbury Curlers is not the biggest venue to house such a competition but they did the best they could and I enjoyed watching the games on Saturday and Sunday thoroughly. We rooted for the Newfies best we could and also for the Northern Ontario team which is presently 3 - 2. (Mike Assad is the skip)

Rachael Homan and her pal, Alison Kreviazuk (Scotties 2010) were there and are also 3 -2. I'm sure they were expecting a better result and that may come as there is lots of curling to come yet.
And what do you know! Maymar and Al Gemmell were there...shocker I know! It was awesome to see them...a curling event is never complete without some Blind River folk rootin' and tootin'. (And yes, I was tootin', they had pea soup there yesterday!)

The big surprise? Sylvie Robichaud and her New Brunswick crew. Sylvie is looking to pull off a Shannon Kleibrink and be the second woman to win a Canadian Mixed in the skip position. And she just might do it as they now sit at 5 - 1. Impressive looking squad for sure.

PEI is also looking pretty good, sitting at 4 - 2 as I type this. Little Erin Carmody is there with her brother, playing vice and second, respectively, for Brett Gallant. You'll remember Erin Carmody from the Scotties 2009 when she won the hearts of the crowd (TV fans too I'm sure!) but lost the final to Jennifer Jones. Brett Gallant lost the World Juniors final last year but wow, heck of a nice young curler. I'm hoping we'll be seeing him in the Brier for PEI this year as I, among others, have been suffering from Rod MacDonalditis for the past several years!

I sat and chatted with the Nunavut team for a while. Very nice people...and why not, the vice is a Newfie! At present, they have yet to win a game but given the difficulty for them to find competition in their neck of the woods, I would say they are doing just fine and it sure is good to see them there. As for winning, they are having "none-of-it"....sorry for the cliche.

Also, I ran into my old pals (and BRCC pals) from the Sudbury Curlers, Vicky Barrett, Margaret McLaughlin and Brenda Harrow. You might remember them as the Northern Ontario Senior Ladies representatives and frequenters of the BRCC. These ladies are wonderful people and I was pleased to hear
that they were making another run this year after coming off a 1 year hiatus. So all the best ladies! I had the good fortune of hanging out with them Saturday night for a couple of hours while "Chicks With Picks" (yes!...live entertainment) banged out a few tunes. I also ran into long time BRCC pal (and my pal), Lloyd Bigras, (Lloyd of the Rings)...many of you might remember him from the Men's Closing of which he is a regular. If you don't remember his curling, you will definitely remember his unique dance style. Love this guy!

This was my first Canadian Mixed and you know what, it won't be my last. Oh sure, it ain't the Brier but you know what, it don't have to be! As long as there are curling people to hang out with and games to watch, then life is good! And you don't have to be a curling chronic to feel this way. Curling people are the best! And if you want to see what I mean, check out the Sudbury Curling Club this week because the competition is going on until Saturday, November 19. The tickets to get in are cheap and the fun is guaranteed. There is some cool entertainment happening there this Friday night, Johnny Aho. My buddy has seen his guy a few times and he says the Sudbury Curlers will rock for sure. So check it out....you will not regret it!

Rock On!

The Curling Chronic

Thursday Mens

2011-11-14T15:15:00.000-05:00

I know what you're thinking. How come Lloyd Wilton and Murray Fullerton (sorry Murray...I know that's 2 but I could not resist) are looking so glum? Well, that's not them, just some other curling fans whose teams are obviously not winning. And that's the thing that makes curling like every other game.Someone MUST come second and I can say with all certainty that at the BRCC Thursday Mens last week, there were just as many teams that came first as came second!

Ice B (Monday): John Hammond vs Ben Lemieux. WIN for Hammond. Well, the the rough ride on the tracks continues for the veteran Lemieux Express but no need for alarm, there is lots of season left yet. In the meantime, they win the "Slip, Slidin' Away" Award. Sorry guys, but it is a great tune!

Ice C: Alain Viel vs Chris Astles. WIN for Viel. The streak continues for the tough Viel squad. And they win the "I Can't Believe We Have 5 Consecutive Monday Night Games!" Award. I guess that means they also win the "We Love Grey's Anatomy" Award as well.

Ice D: Bob Villeneuve vs Yvon Valiquette. WIN for Villeneuve. I have heard rumours that Yvon quipped that he was moving to Elliott Lake to curl which would indicate a loss. Naturally, this Valiquette crew win the "Group Hug" Award. And from what I hear, I think they also qualify for the "Red Bum" Award.

Ice A (Thursday): Shane Boyer vs Francois Lemieux. WIN for Boyer. Coming off a loss last week, the Boyer rink was looking for redemption and it looks like they found it with the Bionic Boot. Looks like Frank will get the "Back To The Pool Shot Curling Manual" Award for this week.

Ice B: Chris Zagar vs Rick Rouselle. WIN for Rouselle. Tough one for Zagar et al. With Chris growing that pencil thin moustache (Movember @ Cameco!), he is a sure fire winner of the "I Look Like Gomez Adams" Award.

Ice C: Glen Austin vs Keith Rouselle. WIN for Austin. The Molson Exers had a slow start to this game but picked up the momentum and made it close so they win the "We'll Scratch and Claw Our Way Back In" Award. Indeed, this makes them prime candidates for the "Dirty Nails" Award.

Ice D: Al Gemmell vs Stephane Lemieux. WIN for Gemmell. Steph is also part of this Cameco Movember sporting that gaucho-looking moustache. Hands-down winner of the "Follically-Challenged Comenchero" Award.

Ice A (Late): Rick Berthelot vs Dave Mitchell. WIN for Mitchell. So, after what had the potential to be a slow start, the Mitchell crew have racked up 2 wins in a row and have secured the "We Ain't On No Roller Coaster" Award. No indeed, they are right up there with the pack at the top of the leaderboard.

Ice C: Jim Kendrick vs Mike Laderoute. WIN for Laderoute. The Bionic Knee and his band of merry men have been on some roll. This is three in a row for these guys. Tough loss for Jim Kendrick who lost this game on his last shot. He gets the "I Had It But I Gave It Away" Award.

Ice D: Brian West vs Craig Roberts. WIN for West. It's been a tough season for Craig Roberts who has had personnel issues to straighten out and get his team straightened away. Coupled with this, he has had to find his way forward as this is his first year at the helm and has landed smack dab in the middle of the learning curve. Nonetheless, this is how to improve your game and he is well on his way. He's a prime candidate for the "Walk To The Light!" Award. Won't be long now and Craig will be dealing out some red bums of his own.

And another Thursday Mens is done. November is creeping by and before we know it, cheques will have to be in for the Mens Closing. Get them in by December 1 to secure your spot!

Rock On!

The Curling Chronic!

Wednesday Night Mixed

2011-11-10T14:06:00.001-05:00

I know what you're thinking. When did Rob Henderson become a Swedish curling fan? Well, that's not him. Rob is a Canadian curling fan all the way. And look to this guy's left. I bet you're wondering when Shelly Shackleton and Salli Watson went to a World Curling Championship? Well, that's not them either. (And if it was, I would have to wonder where Mary Shamas was!) These are just a bunch of curling fans out enjoying the Roaring Game. I've been a spectator at all kinds of sporting events but I can honestly say, the most fun I have had is when I am in the stands at a curling event. And I'm not alone...there is a veritable plethora of curling fans who feel the same way. It's almost as much fun as playing the game. Ask the people who curled last night in the Wednesday Night Mixed...I bet they will tell you that they had a fun evening. And throw in a little exercise with that...evening complete!

Ice A: Rick Berthelot vs Andrew Roberts. WIN for Berthelot. Still a rocky start for the Roberts squad but are poised to break through any time now. That's why they win the "We Do Our Best Work In A Deficit Situation" Award.

Ice B: Warren Neufeld vs Vola Roberts. WIN for Neufeld. Just coming off a big win last week, Vola and her crew were forced to choke down this big pill this week with a second place finish. That's why they will have to be happy with the "Emotional Roller Coaster" Award. Also, they are prime candidates for the "Where's The Prozac" Award.

Ice C: Tom St Jules vs Mike Laderoute. WIN for Laderoute. Another win for this Laderoute rink! Mike (the Bionic Knee) is having one heck of a year in ALL the leagues he is playing in. He is the big winner of the "Curler On Steroids" Award. Of course, winners of this award MUST accept the "Pee Test" Award as well.

Ice D: Frank Lemieux vs Sandy Milroy. WIN for Milroy. A great year for Sandy Milroy in all the leagues he has played in as well. Both his mixed team and his men's teams are doing well. He finally wins the coveted "Chemical Equilibrium" Award.

The Canadian Mixed Curling Championships in Sudbury is coming hard and fast, starting up on Saturday, Nov 12 and going through to Saturday, Nov 19. Looking for a fun weekend, then check out some high end mixed curling. All the provinces will be there and Sudbury curling fans sure know how to put on a good time. And with the way that Blind River Curling fans are, you'll be a welcome addition to the mix. And if you are reading this and are not from Blind River, that's OK too...get on out there and join in the fun!

Rock On!

The Curling Chronic

Tuesday Ladies

2011-11-09T14:18:00.000-05:00

I know what you're thinking. Who invited Team Canada to play in the BRCC Tuesday Ladies? That's not them, that's Lou bock chatting with BRCC Newbie Tasha Hallett (sparing for Debbie Tonelli) as Denise Hutchings holds the broom and long time BRCC pal, Linda Rainville, is making her way down the ice to shoot. The Iron Bridge Belles were out again trying to make the commute pay off. Being the tough team that they are, this was no doubt a barnburner.

Another busy night as the BRCC belles battle it out on the ice. All the sheets were full and the competition was fierce.

Ice A; Denelda Cada va Beth Laderoute. WIN for Cada. The Rez girls posting their second win in as many weeks and they win the "We'll Take Em As They Come" Award.

Ice B: Malisha Alloway vs Christie Haggar. WIN for Alloway. The Alloway Juniors are 2 for 3 so far this season and tonight they win the "Ready To Spank Our Elders At the Drop Of A Hat" Award. As for the tough looking Haggar crew, well, it's the "Head Scratcher" Award for them. Me, I'm scratchin' my head as well.

Ice C: Marg Tivy vs Anita Moran. WIN for Tivy. That's three in a row for the Iron Bridge Belles and they win the "Free Deer Meat For All!" Award. They also win the "Who Can Knock Us Off The Hill" Award.

Ice D: Maymar Gemmell vs Christine Owl. WIN for Gemmell.That's also three in a row for this tough Gemmell crew. They win the "We'll Beat Em, Then We'll Coach Em" Award. As well, they win the "We Be On The Top Of The Hill Too" Award. Big game next week when this Gemmell squad meets the Iron Bridge Belles. That's when the sparks will fly! I hope our little Quonset hut can handle the cataclysm!...Stay tuned for that outcome.

Ice A (Late): Shirley Lemieux vs Tammy Lemieux. WIN for Shirley Lemieux. Shirley et al are now 2 for 3 so far this season. Shirley wins the "Daughter-In-Law Or Not, I Be Kickin' Your Backside" Award.

Ice B: Liz Rouselle vs Paula Summers. Win for Rouselle. It's been a rocky start for the Rouselle crew but they managed to post the win tonight. They win the "Our Chats With Dr Phil Are Paying Off!" Award.

It's still early in the season but the leaderboard is bunched up in and around the top. There is still lots of time for those slow-starting teams to gain some momentum and make a push to the top...similarly, there's always lots of room for teams to take a tumble. But in the end, it's all for fun and the bast to be hoped for is a good game.

Rock On!

The Curling Chronic

Monday Mixed

2011-11-08T16:44:00.000-05:00

I know what you're thinking. When did Murray Fullerton get waxed? Well, it's not him, it's some guy that seems to have alot of time on his hands! I consider myself a curling superfan, however I do have my boundaries and this guy is way past that. In fact, I cannot see his presence being anything near a motivational tool other than to speed it up, get the game done and get the heck out of there!

The Monday Night Mixed had all the sheets full again last night and there were some real good games. Some played 6 ends by choice. Not everyone is a fan of the 6 end game but others prefer it. I guess it's something you can all agree to before the game. Me, I lean toward the 8 end game but that's how we curling chronics roll!

Ice A: Doug Kearns vs Dan McMillan. WIN for McMillan. The Legal Eagle and his squad played their hearts out as they do every week but could not overcome the tough McMillan rink who posted the win. So it's the "Back To The Drawing Board" Award for the Kearns crew and I just know they want to give Robert Ambeault the "Boycott Council Meetings" Award for upcoming weeks.

Ice B: Glen Austin vs Brian West. TIE GAME. With both teams making lots of shots, there was no other result that could have come from this match up. Christine Owl wins the "Shiny New Shoes" Award. Her game improved 10-fold with her leaving the running shoes at home and brandishing a pair of Ashams. So, she also wins the "Hey, Look At Me, I Can Curl!" Award as well. Awesome Christine.....keep it up!

Ice C: Al Viel vs Malisha Alloway. WIN for Viel. This looked like a fun game game. The Alloway Family Affair were all out there with new curling hoodies (signed by some players from the WCT) and tails. They may not have won but they were enjoying themselves which was awesome to watch. They are the winners of the "Waltons Award".

Ice D: Jerry Jensen vs Bob Villeneuve. WIN for Jensen. Jerry and his squad continue to stack up the wins. Tough night for the Villeneuve rink but Terry is due for the "I Sure Ain't No Bob" Award. (I just know Bob would have wanted him to have it!)

So that how it all played out for this Monday Night Mixed. Once again, all the sheets were full and the enthusiasm was unmistakable. I couldn't help but reflect on how well our cool little club is doing. If you look at all the renovations that have been done and the small but noticeable enhancements that have popped up around the lounge, you can't help but think that this Board is doing us proud. Certainly their hearts and heads are in the right place and we should be thankful. So kudos to our board for doing such a great job, your efforts are appreciated.

Rock On!

The Curling Chronic

Howard Wins World Cup of Curling in the Soo

2011-11-07T16:12:00.000-05:00

I know what you're thinking. I thought there were only men in the World Cup of Curling held in the Soo just this past weekend. And you would be right but Howard wasn't the only star of this event. Here's another star, BRCC little rocker, Athena Moffatt. Daughter of BRCC's Al and Yvette Moffatt and my niece (I'm proud to say!), Athena was one of 4 finalists in the Capital One Junior Draw to the Button held on Saturday at the begiining of the Noon Quarter Final matches. What an incredibly charged moment as Athena, throwing first, tossed one to the tee line, just biting the four foot. Maymar was standing next to me, and I think I could hear her heart pounding, (or maybe that was my own heart) as we waited for the other three curlers to shoot. As it was, a young fellow from Thessalon beat her by just 4 inches and claimed the $1000.00 prize. But Athena did not walk away empty-handed. Far from it, she won a 2 year curling membership at the BRCC, a Capital One Grand Slam Curling Jacket (autographed by ALL the players), a pair of Goldline Curling Shoes, a Goldline Curling Broom and a Gripper for her new shoes. And not only that, she won the hearts of every Blind River person that were there cheering her on. And I will go on to say this...she may not have won but she sure had the biggest and loudest cheering section in the joint! Well done Athena, the BRCC is sure proud of you!

And so it was, Howard stayed on the hill. Despite a solid run, Epping could not knock this veteran crew off the summit. Great run for Sweden's Nicholas Edin who made it to the Semi Finals but lost to Howard. And a heck of a nice young fellow. I had an opportunity to speak to him and got the scoop on what's going on in European Curling. I did not get a chance to speak to Thomas Ulsrud but I did manage to notice that Torger Nergard gives great table dances.

And after watching that Saturday afternoon quarter final between Epping and my beloved Gushue, I choked down that bitter bile when he gave up 3 in the 7th which was ultimately his undoing. Once again, I was determined to end our 8 year relationship (he keeps breaking my heart) but after speaking to him that night, I decided you just can't throw away that many years and so it will be that I am once again a devout Gushue fan. Was there ever any doubt? Get a bit of experience under the belts of that new front end he's sporting, I think they should be OK. After all, he did win in Switzerland earlier this year and he went 4 - 1 in this event. He can build on that. And how can I sum up a Saturday evening spent around Gushue? Well, he ain't much of a dancer but what the heck, it's the curling that matters!

A highlight of the weekend? I ran into Peja Lindholme, Swedish and World Champion. I was always a fan and a heck of a nice guy. I thought he was there to coach Edin, but not so. He's the Swedish National coach. I want that job...where do I sign?

Another realization? Resby Coutts (Pens "The Curler") was wrong. I met him at a Curling Symposium and he is the guy that inspired me to start blogging about curling in the beginning. Resby had predicted that the union of Ryan Fry and Brad Gushue would not endure the test of time. Well, it has and there is some good chemistry between the two. Ryan has been living in Newfoundland for a few years now. If he's not careful, he will have been there long enough to acquire an accent and then there will be no turning back. I bet he has already kissed a cod!

And, I saw Ferby. They did not have the showing they wanted. They lost a tie breaker to Edin in an extra end. I did not lament even though a Canadian team was losing to a European crew. He was hurtful to my Gushue last year and I will never be able to cheer for him again! New front end here as well, and they will have to get some experience under their belts to be able to get out of that province.

Martin lost to Edin in the Friday evening draw. I think alot of people were surprised. It was a close game and went to an extra end. Martin's last shot was a draw to the teeline just biting the 4 foot. I looked at Annie and said OMG, Shades of Pat Simmons (Fellow curling chronics will remember that Friday night 1 - 2 game at the brier three years ago when Martin did the same thing...Simmons elected to take out instead of drawing...his rock rolled too far and Simmons lost). Edin elected to take out but he threw a quiet number that was right on the money and sent the Martin crew in their Goldline Parachute pants (I just bought a pair) packing. Martin still went 4 - 1 but eventually was ousted by Epping in another crowd shocker that saw Epping make his way to the final.

All in all, the Slam was a good time. Some real good curling....not exactly the same as a brier but I did notice alot of interaction between the players and the fans. Maymar mentioned this as well and she sure got it right when she said to me that in no other sport will you find players interacting with the fans like this. And i guarantee you, Blind River was well represented, both at the games and in the Slam Saloon! If nothing else, alot of fans and players alike know that Blind River is on the map!

I hope to see other big events coming to our neck of the woods. I found it particularly encouraging to see new curlers (from the BRCC) hanging around and watching games and hanging out with the players. They were having a great time and getting high on curling all at the same time......and that is the essence of advocating our great sport of curling.

Rock On!

The Curling Chronic

Thursday Mens

2011-11-07T15:15:00.001-05:00

Madeleine Dupont. What happened to her at the World's last year? We all missed her but who knows, maybe she'll be back this year. Crazy how men really are. I would venture a guess that this Dupont sister was a relative obscurity in the general curling world but after the publication of a curling calendar and one exposed breast, she was an overnight sensation. Well, I guess that expalins why we are all are part of "Kingdom Animalia". Meanwhile, in the Thursday Men's, there were some teams looking to become sensations themselves. Not sure if it happened, but there were some sensational shots made at any rate.

Ice B (Monday): Rick Berthelot vs Brian Tonelli. WIN for Berthelot. It's been a tough start for this Tonelli squad. Brian is on the sidelines and Criag Roberts has taken the helm. Problem is, he has had attendance issues to deal with for the past couple of weeks but I think they might disappear with the addition of Rick Roberts to this rink. But they will still have to be the recipients of the "Hello...Is Anyone There?" Award.

Ice C: Francois Lemieux vs Ben Lemieux. WIN for Francois. The Bionic Boot continues his winning streak. The veteran (Ben) Lemieux Express remains off the tracks for another week. While Ben was away on trick or Treating duties, Robin St Jules took the helm and wins the "I Sure Ain't No Ben" Award. By the way, this award was donated by Bob Villeneuve.

Ice D: Glen Austin vs Alain Viel. WIN for Viel. Although it pains me to say it, the Newfie Bullet wins the "Got Any Noxema Left Steph"" Award. Enough said!

Ice A (Thursday): Al Gemmell vs Rick Rouselle. TIE GAME. Just barely avoiding the jaws of defeat, the Gemmell rink happily takes the tie. Ed Chiblow is the new lead on this squad and in the tradition of that movie with Helen Hunt and Jack Nicholson, is the recipient of the "Al Makes Me Want To Be A Better Curler" Award.

Ice B: Shane Boyer vs Keith Rouselle. WIN for Rouselle. The Molson Exers still fightin the good fight and on the plus side of the board. With Keith's recent move, he might give Al Gemmell a run for his money for the "Algoma Mills Curler of the Year" award.

Ice C: Dan Berthelot vs Yvon Valiquette. WIN for Valiquette. The Bionic Hip and company are upended by the veteran Valiquette rink who must have been feeling the love for this game and win the "Group Kissy-Face" Award.

Ice D: John Hammond vs Michel Rivard. WIN for Hammond. Another good season shaping up for the Hammond squad who played three this week. They win the "Take As Much Time As You Need Dad!" Award. (Just kidding John, Chauchi needed a tissue several times).

Ice A (Late): Mike Laderoute vs Stephane Lemieux. WIN for Laderoute. Another win for the Laderoute squad who have been perfect so far this season. As for Steph, he'll have to be happy with the "Thank Heavens Mitchells Have Noxema On Sale!" Award. That's OK boys, the swelling goes down by January.

Ice B: Chris Zaggar vs Bob Villeneuve. WIN for Villeneuve. Coming off a tough loss last week, the Villeneuve crew rebounded back with a win over the Zaggar squad. With Bob absent for this match, Terry et al will have to accept the "Big Bully" Award by themselves.

Ice C: Chris Astles vs Brian West. WIN for West. After a rocky start, this West rink has broken through and posted the win. I'm sure the lounge was alive following this match and Westy et al win the "We Might Have Won But Don't Expect This Every Week" Award.

Ice D: Jim Kendrick vs Dave Mitchell. WIN for Mitchell. After coming off a loss last week, Dave was looking for redemption and found it by handing the Kendricks rink second place. With renovations on-going, Dave wins the "Shortest Work Commute" Award which has nothing to do with curling but keeps him well-rested for his games.

So that was it for another Thursday. Lots of games and NO cancellations. The season is in full swing now. December 1 is coming hard and fast so it might be time to think about getting your cheques in for the Men's Closing.

Rock On!

The Curling Chronic

Wednesday Mixed

2011-11-03T11:06:00.001-04:00

Three vice's holding the broom for their skip and calling the line. That's Christine Denis on the far end, Janine Timmermans in the blue vest and Mark Bender closest. Rick Berthelot looks on and this game was a barnburner that came down to the last shot. Just one of 4 games that went off last night where I noticed a couple teams making a cabinet shuffle in the Wednesday night Mixed.

Ice A: Glen Austin vs Tom St Jules. WIN for Austin as the Wednesday Newfie Bullet steams down the tracks. Tough night for Big Daddy and his crew. Big Daddy wins the "How Many Low Percentage Shots Do I Have To Throw?" Award.

Ice B: Dan Horton vs Ryan Haggar. Here's your first "cabinet shuffle", with Christie taking the helm and throwing last. This was a tight one right up until the 7th end when the bottom dropped out of 'er for the Haggar crew. Christie wins the "I Don't Care, I'm Skippin' Next Week Too!" Award. This squad has had a rocky start but they are a solid team and I fully expect them to gain momentum as the season progresses.

Ice C: Vola Roberts vs Rick Berthelot. WIN for Roberts. This was the Game of the Night! This was the second "cabinet shuffle" with Vola taking control of last shot. It went back and forth the whole way through, where it came down to the last shot of the game which had Vola having to draw against one to win the game. And sure enough, she drew perfectly and secured the win! Awesome finish! And Vola is the proud recipient of the "I Be Wearin' The Pants On This Team Now" Award.

Ice D: Andrew Roberts vs Sandy Milroy. WIN for Milroy. Solid win for the Milroy crew and a tough one for the newly formed Roberts squad. But it's early in the season yet and I expect that Andrew Roberts rink will pull it together and start dealing out some spankings of their own. Andrew wins the Howard Beale Award..."I'm Mad As Hell And I'm Not Going To Take It Anymore". (I know not everyone will get this so you'll have to google Howard Beale.....I think I just dated myself with this joke!)

So that's how it was on this Wednesday Night. Regardless of the wins or losses, everyone was out there enjoying a game of curling and enjoying some camaraderie in the lounge following the game. That's the beauty of curling at the BRCC....it's all about the good time.

Rock On!

The Curling Chronic

Tuesday Ladies

2011-11-02T12:50:00.000-04:00

Human curling. Looks kind of like fun but wow, must be cold. And to think of all the fudge marks...an ice makers worst nightmare. And not really ideal for womens curling for a plethora of reasons. Nonetheless, a funny picture!

The BRCC belles were at it again last night, all the sheets were full and there were some surprises to boot.

Ice A: Tammy Lemieux vs Christine Owl. WIN for Owl! Big win for the Rez Girls Newbies! In only their second game out, these ladies have captured their first win and for this reason win the "We Be Jammin" Award. Well done ladies!

Ice B: Paula Summers vs Anita Moran. WIN for Summers. The newly formed Summers rink captures the win over the veteran Moran crew. And with this win, the Summers squad win the "Bring It On!" Award.

Ice C: Liz Rouselle vs Maymar Gemmell. WIN for Gemmell. That's two in a row for this Gemmell squad. And another tough night for the Rouselle crew who win the "We Need A Bigger Paddle" Award.

Ice D: Denelda Cada vs Shirley Lemieux. WIN for Cada. So, the Rez Girls are now on the board chalking up their first win! Great night for these gals who win the "Line Up For A Rez Girl Spankin" Award.

Ice A Late: Christine Haggar vs Beth Laderoute. WIN for Laderoute. Coming off a tough loss last week, the Laderoute squad post their first win and with that win the "We Might Be Retired But Don't Let That Fool Ya" Award.

Ice B: Malisha Alloway vs Marg tivy. Win for Tivy. Looks like the Iron Bridge Belles are looking for top spot again with this win over the tough Alloway gals. They be the recipients of the "The Bridge Gals Will Redden Your Bum" Award and proved as much last night.

So there you have it, a bust night for the BRCC ladies. This is a fun league thanks to the efforts of Anita and Joanna. And partially through their efforts, this league is growing. And long after the Zumba fad peters out, the curling gals will be there with open arms to welcome back those that took a hiatus from the Roaring Game.

Rock On!

The Curling Chronic

Monday Mixed

2011-11-02T11:12:00.000-04:00

I know what you're thinking. Did Al Gemmell find the Fountain of Youth? No, there's no such thing. That's his son, Dean Gemmell, and like his Dad, he's a curling guru. Want to know something about Curling...then ask Dean and he'll have the answer. You can catch his podcasts on "The Curling Show", where he interviews people in the curling world and gets their thoughts out there. And if you want to do some fitness training, ask Dean about that too, because he's the co-author of "Fit To Curl", a curling-related fitness book (but not only restricted to curling, I'm sure non-curlers would benefit from this book as well). look for a copy at your club...I'm sure there's a few copies to be had! Dean will be in the Soo this weekend, checking out the World Cup of Curling. He'll be toting his "presspass" I'm sure. If you see him, say hello...he's a great guy and his insights into the curling world are worth the chat. I'll be looking for him as well, just to say hello. I'll be toting my "presspass" too, but I'll have to make up my own with a magic marker because I don't think they give them to BRCC Bloggers!

Anyway, Halloween night took its toll on the BRCC Monday Mixed with only tewo games going off. The others were tied up with Trick or Treating duties and missed out.

Ice A: Gator Fortin vs Doug Kearns. TIE GAME. Good match that came down to the last end. The Legal Eagle and his crew have joined the ranks of what would be considered "veteran" teams and always put up a fight and for this reason are the proud recipients of the "We'll Put A Hurtin On Your A**" Award.

Ice D: Al Viel vs Dan McMillan. WIN for Viel. Coming off a loss last week, the Viel crew were looking for redemption and found it. With Krisy Blanchet absent, this squad win the "We Did It Redlessly" Award.

So that was it for a Monday night. I'm sure next week will find all the sheets full again. In the meantime, I'm sure there are still tickets for the World Cup of Curling in the Soo this weekend. Check out the high end curling, it's a great way to spend a weekend...and by the sounds of it, you'll run into lots of Blind River folks!

Rock On!

The Curling Chronic

Thursday Mens

2011-10-31T13:44:00.001-04:00

I know what you're thinking. What the heck does this have to do with curling. Well, nothing directly, BUT it IS Halloween and I will say that these are two curling people. I won't tell you who they are, but I will say that they were out at the Legion on Saturday night, deep undercover. This picture was taken near the end of the night and judging by the relaxed pose of this Grim Reaper, it was more "Grim" than "Reaper"!

But back to curling, it was a full night at the BRCC for the Thursday Night Mens. Some upsets and some spankings...all in all, just another night of curling!

Ice A (Monday): Brian West vs Al Viel. WIN for Viel. Just coming off a loss, the Viel squad was looking for redemption and found it with the West crew. Actually, it was the "Goin' South" Award for the West rink.

Ice C: Al Gemmell vs Michel Rivard. WIN for Gemmell. After giving up 4 in the first end, the Gemmell crew swiftly collected themselves and brought it on home! So, it's the "Pick Em Up Just To Let Em Down" Award for this Gemmell crew.

Ice D: Dan Berthelot vs Rick Rouselle. WIN for Rouselle. Coming off a win, the Bionic Hip and company fell short of the mark, with the Rouselle crew posting the win and winning the "We Did It Swanlessly" Award, with Todd Swan conspicuously absent.

Ice A: (Thursday): Jim Kendrick vs Francois Lemieux. WIN for Lemieux. That's two in a row for the Bionic Boot and his squad and Frank will be happy to receive the "Fashionable Footwear" Award.

Ice C: Mike Laderoute vs Ben Lemieux. WIN for Laderoute. Big win for the Bionic Knee and his new squad. Knee surgery certainly agrees with mike as he captures the "I'm Back With A Vengeance" Award for this week. As for the Lemieux Express, they win the "Still Lookin' For Some Coal" Award!

Ice D: Shane Boyer vs Dave Mitchell. WIN for Boyer. Coming off a big win last week, the Mitchell squad took second place against the hard hittin' Boyer crew who win the "Never Say Never" Award. And it's the "Kickin' Pebbles" Award for the veteran Mitchell rink.

Ice B (Late): John Hammond vs Stephane Lemieux. WIN for Hammond. Steph and his newly formed squad had their hands full right out of the gate with this tough Hammond rink. And of course, this Lemieux crew will be happy with their "Thank Heavens We Still Have Some Noxema Left!" Award. Don't worry boys, it'll get better.

Ice C: Keith Rouselle vs Rick Berthelot. WIN for Rouselle. The Molson Exers win their first outing of the season, beating the veteran Berthelot squad. So, they win the "We Drink Bad Beer But Curl Good" Award. Great start for this crew. As well, Dan McIver wins the "Best Groomed Curler" Award sporting a new do!

Ice D: Chris Astles vs Bob Villeneuve. WIN for Astles. With Terry Fryer at the helm and Bob conspicuously absent, the Villeneuve are forced to take second place to the Astles rink who are winners of the "You Don't Need A Licence To Give A Root Canal" Award.

So that's how it was on this past Thursday night. On another curling-related note, are you going to the World Cup of Curling in the Soo this weekend. Well if you have not planned to, here's something that might change your mind. 8 junior curlers from the BRCC are going to be there to draw to the button for the $1000.00. Come cheer them on (Saturday's 3 pm game!) Representing the BRCC is Athena Moffatt, Isobella Blanchet Caddel, Julia Horton, Hayley Horton, Pauli-Ann James, Noah Alloway, Seth Alloway and Makaila Alloway. They could use your support. Hopefully we'll see you there.

Rock On!

The Curling Chronic

Shout It Out Loud

2008-10-27T11:39:00.004-04:00

Shout It...Shout It...Shout It out Loud! This was a Kiss song. I don't watch the Gene Simmons Family Jewels reality show, but back in the day, I was, like many others, a Kiss fan. They had the right idea with this Shout song, and if they were curlers , the song would still apply. (Although they would have a heck of a time gluing Teflon to the spiked shoes they wore). Members of Kiss would have made great front end players shouting down to their skip.

Skips can only call line. They can't really see the speed of the rock so they must depend on the lead and the second to shout down to them just where they think the rock will come to rest, OR, how fast the rock is travelling. Is it guard weight, back line, takeout, or parking lot? The sooner the skip has this information, the sooner a decision can be made whether to stick to the plan or find a "Plan B"

Strong front ends can make a team. Their good sweeping and their capacity to quickly relay information to their skip makes them an integral part of the game.

A good exercise for front end players is to start to relay information to your skip. Talk to your skip and make a plan for this. You will be surprised at how fast you become good at this. This information will benefit your team BIG TIME. Try using a stopwatch. If you take a split time from the back line to the hog line and then watch to see where the rock ends up, the next split time you take will tell you if it is heavier or if it is lighter. If it is lighter, you will have the time to jump on that rock and sweep it. If you are still confused about using stopwatches, talk to someone on your team and they will be able to advise you.

So leads and seconds, here's a challenge for you and an opportunity to become even more involved in the game. Communicate with your skip on the rocks coming down the ice. Shout out the information he needs. "This is Heavy, or "Tee-Line Weight" or "Light"...you can see how this will help. The sooner the skip hears this, the sooner he or she can react.

Yes, Kiss would make good front end curlers. I would make them lose the make up and wear a jacket. Those low cut leather shirts would make for a cold game...and certainly would allow too many chest hairs to fall on the ice. The only thing they would be shouting to their skip is "PICK!"

Rock On!

The Curling Chronic

Variety is the Spice of Life

2008-10-14T08:09:00.002-04:00

Variety is the Spice of Life. Now there's an idiom that we have all been exposed to at one time or another. Boy, it's true too! Seems like whatever we are doing, we need to mix it up after a while or things just go from routine to mundane. The ultimate boredom we feel is like a curse and we look for something to shake that feeling.

Elton John wrote an excellent ditty called Levon. It's a song about a guy who blows up and sells balloons all day....and he made good money at it too apparently. He was bored to death with it, but I guess he stuck with it and got his son doing the balloon thing too. Ultimately, his son got bored with blowing up the balloons and spent his time wishing he could be away from his dad and those darn balloons. Maybe Levon should have let the boy sell some balloons or perhaps, be the guy who goes and picks up the balloons...either way, give him a job other than blowing up balloons all day. Just to keep him interested.

Now what if Levon was a skip in the men's league? He brings in his son to play lead. So game in and game out, the boy throws all draws, never a take out. After a while, the boy becomes so bored with being a lead, he does not want to curl anymore. Why? Because there is no variety for him! Perhaps Levon would have done well to let the boy play second from time to time just so he could throw some take outs, mixed in with the draws.

In curling, lead stone is the most common entry-level position in the game. New curlers are asked to draw, draw, draw. This gets them used to the delivery. It acquaints them with weight consistency. They learn brushing. From the front end, they pretty well learn the game. This is all necessary!

The thing is, after a while, new curlers want to move forward. Learn to throw take outs and learn the more advanced strategies of the game. What is happening is that they are growing with the game. This is a natural progression. The fact of the matter is, newer curlers need to be given the opportunity to grow. Ultimately, they will taste all the positions and find the place on a team of 4 that will be their niche. Perhaps they will go back to being lead because they know they can offer consistent draws to the team as well as effective brushing. Maybe they will end up throwing second stones because they can throw accurate take outs and make a quick adjustment to draw weight for the second stone. Whatever the case, new curlers need the opportunity to see the game from all sides. As experienced curlers, it is our responsibility to ensure that newer players get this experience or they may not be curlers for long.

It can be argued that lead position is a very important position in the game today. The lead stones will determine the way an end will go. Thanks to the 4-rock rule, the lead's ability to put those guards up or put one in the house is paramount. Good leads are every bit as important on a team as anyone else. Shot making aside, good leads (good front ends in general) can look at a rock when it is released and know where it will end up at the other end. They will convey this information to the skip. And, there is nothing like good brushing. Good brushers can make the shot for their skip!

If you are a skip, a good exercise might be to switch up your front end from time to time. Let your lead shoot second stones and vice versa. If you are a lead on a team and want to try a different position, let your skip know. Maybe he can help you out. Try sparing in different positions in different leagues (like the mixed leagues) because the experience will be great! Get out there and get your feet wet!!

Good teams are not only those teams that can execute well. The chemistry MUST be there. Players must be content in the position they play. The only way for players to know they are content in a certain position is to experience other positions. There will come a time when each and every one of them will have their "curling epiphany" and find their niche. Then, and only then, will they be able to fully grow into that position and embrace it.

Levon would do well to follow this advice. Let his son take a break from blowing up balloons all day; perhaps let him get into sales or purchasing. Ultimately, he might hate sales, or he might hate dealing with the balloon mongers. You never know, he might end up back at the balloon stand, lips puckered and ready for another day. However, he'll be blowing them up with enthusiasm this time, because he will have found his balloon niche.

Rock On!

The Curling Chronic

For Whom the Bell Tolls

2008-10-07T08:24:00.004-04:00

"To bell or not to bell", that is the question. I'm sure if William Shakespeare had been a curler in a small Canadian curling club instead of some writer hanging around Stratford Upon Avon, he might have written this in the place of the famous soliloquy we all know so well. There is a good chance he would have been dealing with the "Bell" issue in an effort to get the late draws started on time.

Picture this: You're in the 5th end of a game against a team whose skip is agonizing about every shot. The play has been slow all game and players are getting bored. To make matters worse, you are down three and hoping for a deuce to get the game close. The plan is, to keep fighting back and to take the game in the eigth end. Your team seems to have the momentum to do this. However, that is never going to happen because the bell just rang(Or in our case, the WWII siren wails; everyone ducks expecting an air raid at any time). This means, finish playing the end you are on and play one more. The opportunity for the big finish is gone with the bell.

Frustrating? You better believe it! Necessary? In this case ..ABSOLUTELY!

The bell poses an interesting dilemma. On the one hand, games need to be played and over in the two hours allotted. By and large, most games should only take two hours. This becomes an important consideration when there is another draw coming on immediately after, especially in the evening. It's true; getting on late when you already have the late draw can be a bummer. It can be frustrating playing against a skip that favours slow play.

But it's a double-edged sword.....

Skips who are trying to play their best and want to make the best decision for a particular shot will stand back and have a look at the situation. What feels like the most comforable shot to throw? What does the rest of the team think? Is it worth the risk? Is there a way to only give up one? These are decisions we all face at some point during the game. And let's face it, skips need to be afforded the opportunity to think about that shot for a moment from time to time. Especially when the game is tight and both skips desperately want to avoid being the first to implode.

So how do we deal with slow play? One solution is the bell. It is absolute. Once rung, that's it. Finish your end, play one more and head to the lockers. It is sure to keep the draws on time. But there is something about the bell that carries a negative connotation. It's so totalitarian, so impersonal, so darn frustrating when you are trying to make a come back. The bell will surely make both teams pay for the slow play even though most times, only one team is guilty of it.

Is there anything else that can be done? HOW ABOUT PLAYING FASTER? Now that sounds like a great solution to this dilemma. Teams need to support this initiative...not just the skip. When you are shooting, huge amounts of time can be saved over the game if you are in the hack and ready to shoot before the preceding shot has come to rest. This will buy your team time. Skips must learn to be decisive. Save the long analytical sessions for those times when it really matters. In many ends, your shot will be obvious or just a couple of options. Go ahead and make a choice and get down the ice and shoot. Decisiveness for a skip is a skill, so practice this. If you are a skip, be conscious of the time. Make sure your team is going to stay within the two hours allotted. Practice being decisive...it will save you time and boost your confidence. It sends a message to the opposing team that you are ready to rock....game on!

Or, it's back to the bell. The bell will not care about your feelings because it's just a bell. I like the idea of controlling my own curling destiny. I hope you do too. Let's get out there and keep our games within the two hours. The late draw people will be happier and it shows them consideration.

To bell or not to bell?....Well, I say "not to bell" but we need to make sure that we don't give the bell a reason to ring, or it will be "for US that the bell tolls!"

Rock On!

The Curling Chronic