Team Horton Off To Provincials

Team Horton. Left to right, we have Katie Mitchell, Tamara Behnke, Julia Horton, and Haley Horton. These hard working young ladies played in the Bantam Regional this past weekend in Thessalon where they went 4 - 0 and will now advance to the provincial championship to be held at the Soo Curlers on January 30th. Great job by these wonderful young ladies.

This squad has been playing all season long in the leagues and practise all the time. Their success is much deserved. Great job by their longtime coach Lucy Ann Trudeau.

Two other girls Bantam, teams from the BRCC played in this competition as well. Team May and Team Lemieux. They are younger squads and although they did not qualify, they did get their feet wet and will fare much better next year. For them, it was all about the experience and that was the important thing.

The BRCC (and the Curling Chronic) wishes Team Horton every success at the provincials. Congratulations ladies. And congratulations to all the participating BRCC players!

SHOT OF THE WEEK: Martinique Lemieux. Facing 5 opposing stones in her team's first game, the Lemieux squad was in tough. Martinique was forced into playing a low percentage draw tap through a very narrow port to score one...which she did to the elation of her team and the spectators behind the glass.

In other news, The Thursday Mens League is winding down the first half of the season. There are quite a few teams hovering near the top of the leaderboard. It should make for a real interesting second half.

DOMINION CLUB CHAMPIONSHIPS:  The BRCC will be holding playdowns for teams wanting to attend the Dominion Club Championships. This will be held in early March. If you want to enter your team, there is a sign up sheet for both mens and ladies teams on the board nearest to the bar.

STELLAR NIGHT: Team Astles. Last Thursday, Team Astles posted a convincing win over Team Zagar. With good shotmaking by all members of the team, the Astles crew were in control the whole way. Great job guys.

STILL GOIN' STRONG: The Molson Exers. They are still undefeated as far as I know. It has been an excellent season for these guys. Fun bunch to play against and they got game.

RED BUM AWARD: Team Ben Lemieux. Tough night playing against the Family Jules, and former teammate Robin St Jules. The Robb Road Express could not deal with the red hot shot making by all members of the Family Jules. This St Jules crew is newly formed this year and they have made quite a splash. Kudos to these guys.

STILL LOOKIN' LIKE THE TEAM TO BEAT: Team Mitchell. Still way up there in the standings, Team Mitchell continues to be a strong presence on the ice. Certainly a tough team to knock off. Can they win the club championship yet again? Lots of teams with the potential to prevent it but it will take an "A" game to do it.

MAINSTAY FOR THE BRCC: Ricky Albert. Always there to help the BRCC in so many ways, Rick Albert conti nues to be a golden bot for the BRCC. He helps with the ice and around the club. Always there to help...what an asset. Thanks alot Rick.

HEATIN' HIS GRIDDLE: Ron Forest. Looks like Ron will be heading up the culinary crew that will be cooking the supper at the Ladies' Spiel. This news is awesome. Ron and his crew have a great penchant for whippin' up the vittles and I am sure that the ladies will be lickin' their chops when Ron gets to cookin' on that weekend. Thanks alot Ron...well done!

CURLING UP A STORM: Rick Roberts. Rick Roberts has been a BRCC member for a number of years now and he is no slouch. He is out there twice a week sendin' em down the sheet. He can make alot of shots and always is an asset to whatever squad he is playing for.

ROCK SOLID: Adam Valiquette. Adam is no stranger to the game. He can make alot of good shots. He has a solid delivery and has alot of focus in the the game. This guy improves with every game and it won't be long until you see Adam with a squad of his own and handing out Red Bum Awards.

NEVER TO BE COUNTED OUT: Brady Spencer. I played against Brady the other night. He throws a great rock and he certainly makes alot of shots. He is not the loudest player on the ice but he can certainly inflict alot of pain when he lays his shots down. Excellent improvement with this guy.

ROCK SOLID VICE: Gator Fortin. If you have ever played against Dave Mitchell, you will have to had felt the grief inflicted by Gator when it is his turn to throw. He is an excellent curler and a heck of a great guy. Always smiling and always calm, cool and collected. And dealing out the pain as well. Certainly one of the best thirds in the league.

LOVIN' THE BRCC: Me! This club is awesome. The games are fun as are the leagues. I have so many good friends at that club, I look forward to spending my evenings there. Great people in a great club playing a great game. Hard gig to beat!

29 DAYS: To the Continental Cup of Curling in Vegas. There are 14 of us going from the BRCC. What a great time this promises to be. And what's more, looks like Team Jacobs will be there. It's all good!

Rock On!

The Curling Chronic

More Bits And Bites From A Curling Chronic

Abby Hagger. She epitomizes the idiom, "small but effective". Abby has been in the Junior Curling program for some years now and this year, she will play in her first Regional playdown...coming up this weekend in Thessalon. This is an exciting time for her and I wish her every success. She might be small alright, but I can tell you this this little titan knows excellent draw weight and throws a mean takeout. I should know...I played against her and her folks last night and got handed a Red Bum Award. Abby was a big part of this. In the lead position, she threw her guards up without fail and when asked for a takeout, she made em'. I was blown away by her impressive performance. Take a good look because she is part of the future of junior curling. I know now that this future is in good hands! Kudos to this mighty mite!

RETURN OF THE PRODIGAL CURLER: Sue St Jules. With her travelling behind her, Sue was out sparing this past Monday in the Mixed League. It was great to see this longtime BRCC pal back on the sheets. Sue is looking to spare some more so if you need a player, give Sue a call. She is a wonderful lady and excellent fun to be around.

SOLID: Nicole Mutch. Nicole was playing in the vice position this past Monday. It may well have been the first time playing a back end position and she put on a solid performance. Nicole has embraced the Roaring Game and it shows in her play. Great job!

RECOVERING: Sandy Milroy. With an injury to his leg, Sandy was using a stick for the past few weeks. But this past Monday, Sandy was out and sliding again. Great to see him getting over his sore leg and back in the hack. Sandy is a true curling chronic. In spite of an injury, he was unwilling to take a hiatus from the game and grabbed a stick. He's another of those BRCC mainstays.

INCREDIBLE NATURAL: Wendy Smith. I was watching Wendy slide during her game Monday night. I could not help but notice how solid her delivery has become. Wendy is truly a natural and she has certainly come into her own. I guess the Curling Bug bit hard because the metamorphosis is all but complete and Wendy is too far gone to retreat from the Roaring Game. Excellent progress!

WHAT A MARVEL: Natalie Bray. Good heavens...this gal got big time game. Natalie can throw a draw or a takeout with equal enthusiasm. She has honed her talents. She may not say alot on the ice, but she certainly makes her presence known with her curling talents.

BANTAM REGIONALS THIS WEEKEND IN THESSALON: Three teams will be heading to the Bantam Regionals this weekend from the BRCC. Those are: Team Horton, Team May and Team Lemieux. Junior curling is alive and well at the BRCC. There are also two teams from Sault Ste Marie and a team from Eliott Lake. Two teams will come from this playdown and make their way to the provincials. I am hoping that at least one of these teams comes from the BRCC. Looking for something to do this weekend, how about coming down to the Thessalon Curling Club and showing some support for our Bantam curlers. Good luck to all three teams. Enjoy the experience!

SPECIAL THANKS: Thanks alot to Team Horton for the shirt they gave me last night. It reads ion the front: You Go, Glencoco. Thanks girls..it means alot.


Rock On!

The Curling Chronic

Jacobs Onward to Sochi

So, I was wrong about Howard. Who was that impostor! With a record of 2 - 5, who would have thought it! But, it was not in the cards for the Howard squad and that became obvious midweek and by the end of the week, it was all Jacobs. Going into the final game with an outstanding 7 - 0 record, nobody was more over the moon than I was.

These guys were lights out! All week. And in the end, it was Team Jacobs heading to the Olympics. And they deserve it too. All the hard work and dedication...this is what it yields. A great day for Soo Curlers and a great day for Northern Ontario curling. And yes Maymar, I did a couple of cartwheels around the living room when the final game was over.

I can remember playing against Jacobs a few times on the Northern Ontario Curling Tour and in regional playdowns. While we sat at our table having a quick beverage before going on the ice, the boys were at the bar choking down a quick protein shake. And that is the difference. They made a commitment and they made some goals and achieved success. What a wonderful accomplishment for this young crew! And I will go on to say that Ryan Fry made such a great addition to this squad. As well, I was really happy to see Caleb Flaxey as their fifth since he was there in the beginning with these guys. And kudos to Tom Coulterman, the coach of Team Jacobs. You can be sure that Tom has brought lots to this squad and I am happy to see that he is a part of this Olympic dream.

I was looking at the teams going to the Olympics from all the other countries. These are all teams that Jacobs has beaten for the most part and I fully expect that these guys will medal. In fact, a gold medal is a very real possibility for these guys.

In other news, Maymar and Al Gemmell played in the US National Mixed Doubles in Wisconsin just last week. I was away in Barrie, working for the week but I thought of them several times and wondered how they were making out. As it was, they went 4 - 3. Not enough for a berth in the finals but certainly an outstanding showing all the same. It is difficult not to be proud of this couple. They have made so many worthwhile contributions to curling over the years, the list would be too long to mention. We, at the BRCC, should be so proud to have them associated with our club. Two absolutely first class people and certainly huge assets to our little club.

It's nice to be back and I'll be having my first game in over a week tonight. I'm stoked. I am not a fan of being away from the Roaring Game for any length of time and certainly I miss the BRCC and my curling pals when I am on the road. Not a surprise really...the BRCC is an awesome club and after the Xmas break, there will be lots of action at the club. The Ladies, The Mixed and the Mens Closing all loom ahead...and we all know what kind of a good time come with those events....and if you don't, well...you need to join curling and find out!

Rock On!

The Curling Chronic

Roar Of The Rings Starts Sunday

The Roar of the Rings starts Sunday and the at the end of this important tournament, the Canadian Mens and Ladies 2014 Olympic Representatives will be crowned. It's an exciting time for Canadian curling and certainly an exciting time for me, a bonafide curling chronic.

After the long qualifying process to get to this elite tournament, it comes down to 8 mens and 8 womens teams and certainly, whoever gets on a roll will represent Canada. All the teams particpating will have a good chance to get through but for me, I have my favorites. Here's my picks:

Ladies: Final: Homan vs Jones and Homan wins. Although Homan has been beaten by most of the ladies teams participating in this event, I think that Team Homan has the best game out there. If they can get it together and keep it together, they stand the best chance of getting through. But, I can not count out Jones because they are a veteran team and could easily win. I cannot see the others getting through. I am a fan of Team Nedohin but I just cannot see them winning this. Heather Nedohin is great for TV curling...I have always said that...but I just don't know if they can win. The others...great teams but I just don't think so. In the final analysis, Homan is my pick to go to the Olympics...and I really like them. They are an exciting team to watch.

Men: Well, this is a little trickier because of the depth of the men's field. However, I see Howard as the team to beat and by far, the most consistent for a long time. FINAL: Howard vs Jacobs and Howard wins. That is my realistic side talking...if I was speaking from my heart...then Jacobs wins. You can be sure that I will be rooting for Jacobs all the way and if this crew wins, you just know that I will be doing cartwheels around the living room. He will have to peak like he did last year at the Brier to do it. A very real possibility. As for the others, if they get on a roll, they too, can pull it off. However, after all the rhetoric, I am thinking that it is Howard that will be the team to beat.

And, when Sunday comes, you can be sure that I will be watching and stay tuned, I'll be looking to keep you up to dates with my wild and random thoughts as this curling drama unfolds.

Rock On!

The Curling Chronic

Tuesday Ladies

Ron Burgandy. As a booster for the sequel to The Anchorman, Ron Burgandy will be sharing the booth with Vic Rauter, Linda Moore and Russ Howard...commentating the first game of the Roar of the Rings (Olympic Pretrials) on Sunday, Dec 1 at 2 pm. I have mixed feelings about this...as an avid curling fan, I hope that he will not make too much of a mockery of such an important event. At the same time, his presence may have people, who normally do  not watch curling, tune in and of those, perhaps get a few to check out the Roaring Game, and that may well be a great thing. I'll be watching with initial trepidation. But there is one thing I have NO reservations about is the Tuesday ladies League.

Beth Laderoute vs Liz Rouselle. WIN for Rouselle.

Annie Austin vs Deanna Roberts. WIN for Roberts.

Joanna Hammond vs Lucy Ann Trudeau. WIN for Hammond.

Marty Mitchell vs Chantal MacLeod. WIN for Mitchell.

Anita Moran vs Jamie Ellmore. WIN for Moran

Vola Roberts vs Christie Hagger. WIN for Hagger.


FEATURE GAME: Vola Roberts vs Christie Hagger. This was a great game for both squads. Like any typical well-played game, this one went back and forth and was settled only in the last end. Vola Roberts was a late entry in the ladies league and she put together a squad of new and newer curlers. But despite this, this team is gelling and they are gaining momentum. Although down three in the last, these ladies rallied by putting some guards in play and on Kirby Horton's second stone, they attempted to come around the guards and set up some points. Unfortunately, the draw was heavy and mathematically, the game was over. But, regardless of this, the Roberts rink have demonstrated that they have it in them and I have no doubt that they will be right there in the mix before long.

BIG SURPRISE:  Kirby Horton. I have not seen Kirby in the leagues until this year. Kirby is a newer curler but despite the fact that she has not played regular curling (at least for a very long time), this young lady has great style. She can throw the heaters accurately and before long, she is going to be a tough vice to have to curl against. Great start!

STILL LOVIN' THE GAME: Akeshia Trudeau. Akeshia Trudeau plays in two leagues at the BRCC...the Tuesday Ladies and the Wednesday Open 8 Ender. After a great run in the juniors, she was off to school for a while but is now back and not surprisingly, has found her way back to the club. Akeshia is a solid player and she would be formidable if she played more. There is still more competitive curling in her future.

HUGE STRIDES AHEAD: Heather Roberts. I was watching part of the Deanna Roberts / Annie Austin game last night and I noticed Heather making a few shots during this game. Heather has a nice, straight slide and she has no trouble hitting the broom...and consequently makes alot of shots for her skipper. Playing in two leagues has helped Heather enhance her game and it really shows. Terrific results for such a pleasant lady. Great job Heather.

EMBRACING THE HELM: Annie Austin. My beloved wife and pal Annie is full time at the helm for the second year. With a knee problem, Annie uses a stick and throws lead stones but calls the game. Watching her game last night, I could not help but notice how far her strategy game has come. Her choice of shots when considering who had last rock as well as her squad's position on the score board really demonstrated how far her understanding of the game from a skip's perspective has come. With all the games she is getting under her belt (and perhaps her enduring of my TV curling rants), she has a solid plan when she is in a game situation. Great job Annie!

GREAT CURLING ADVOCATE: Vola Roberts. Like I said earlier, Vola has some new players on her crew this year. This is what every club (and curling in general) needs, members who bring new members to the club and introduce them to curling. Thanks alot Vola...the BRCC (and curling) applaude you!

So that's how it was between the sheets for this Tuesday Ladies night. Last night, we handed around the food bank basket and $100.00 was raised. This was just in one evening with more to come. The BRCC ladies are so generous. But no big surprise there!

Rock On!

The Curling Chronic

Monday Mixed

Curling in a diagram. Doesn't tell you everything about the game but I suppose it describes the basics. If you really want to learn about it, you have to play it. You can watch it on TV and you will be able to figure some things out but playing in person is by far the best way to get a handle on the Roaring Game. And that's what they were out doing this past Monday at the Mixed League.

Andrew Ludgate vs Joanna Hammond. WIN for Hammond

Glen Austin vs Gator Fortin. WIN for Austin

Michel Rivard vs Dan McMillan. WIN for McMillan

Ryan Hagger vs Hailey Horton. WIN for Horton

Bob Villeneuve vs Sandy Milroy.  WIN for Villeneuve

Jerry Jensen vs Craig Roberts. WIN for Jensen

FEATURE GAME: No feature game this week as I was not there to see any. But, I do have a Feature Team: Team Gator Fortin. Quite possibly, the most fun team in the league. If you have ever played on a Monday night and not heard Karen Fortin laughing, then I would have to say that you need the batteries on your "Whisper 2000" changed. They do not win every game...in fact I would hazard a guess that their record is 500 in a season which is pretty good! But in terms of having a good time and enjoying each others' company, then this team is 1000! They have been together in the Monday Mixed for several years now and it is teams like this that enhance the Monday Mixed.

ENTHUSIASTIC CURLER: Heidi Lees. Heidi Lees has been curling in the Mixed league for quite a few years. She got her start with Team Kearns and since then has moved to Team Villeneuve. Heidi loves to play curling and she never misses a chance to spare. If you are looking for an enthusiastic curler to fill in, give Heidi a call. She has stepped up her game big time and who can resist that smile?

WELCOME PRESENCE: Marissa Deverell. Marissa has been sparing for Team Villeneuve on a regular basis and it sure is nice to see her around the club. She is a regular at the Ladies spiel and this year in particular, she will be well-practised.

BEST FUR HAT: Mary Shamas. Mary is a regular with Team McMillan. She is a huge curling enthusiast and despite being a very busy lady, she comes out to curl as often as she can. You will know Mary by her fur hat she wears while on the ice. Not only does Mary embrace curling (which she is very good at) but she embraces fashion as well.

So that's how the rocks curled for this past Monday. You will notice that for this week, there is a "pass the hat" thing going around the clubhouse...actually it is a little pink basket. This is a collection for the food bank. As the Christmas season rolls around, we should all be thinking about those less fortunate and look to doing what we can to help.

Rock On!

The Curling Chronic

Thursday Mens

What this article is saying, if it is hard to read: In 1759, the British captured Quebec from the French. There were some Scottish soldiers who used to melt down cannonballs and use them as curling rocks. Who says curling has no interesting history? Curling is an old game and since 1759, it has come a long way. It is now an Olympic sport and the game is at a whole different level. There were no Olympic curlers out last Thursday at the BRCC but, there were plenty of good players and there were definitely lots of good games.

Tod Swan vs Chris Zagar. WIN for Swan.

Ben Lemieux vs Craig Roberts. WIN for Lemieux

Dan Berthelot vs Brian Tonelli. WIN for Berthelot

Dave Mitchell vs Andrew Roberts. WIN for Mitchell

Chris Astles vs Yvon Valiquette. WIN for Valiquette

John Hammond vs Francois Lemieux.  WIN for Lemieux

Tom St Jules vs Keith Rouselle. WIN for Rouselle

Rick Berthelot vs Alain Viel. WIN for Viel

Jim Kendick vs Michel Rivard. WIN for Kendrick

Glen Austin vs Bob Villeneuve.  WIN for Villeneuve

FEATURE GAME: Chris Astles vs Yvon Valiquette. Extremely close game up but in the 8th end, Team Astles needed 2 to tie. By then, the Valiquette squad were in complete defensive mode and were eliminating as many opposing stones as possible. Nonetheless, by the time skips rocks rolled around, there were 3 Valiquette rocks in the house and  Chris Astles had a very difficult double raise tap to get one of his rocks into the house for at least second shot. His rock over curled and wrecked off a front guard. There was no need to throw his last as there was no way to score two points and the game ended there. Regardless of the win or loss, this was a well-played game by both sides and and excellent ending to watch. Chris Astles and his entire team played an great game. Jerry Jensen plays in the vice position and he is an excellent player. Why Jerry has not been scooped up to play Mens Senior Competitive is a mystery. Dave Rainville plays in the second postion and he also makes alot of shots for his skipper. This is no surprise..he has been in the game for alot of years. And in the lead position is Gerard Rainville. an excellent lead in his own right. Gerard is another seasoned veteran and he puts lots of rocks in play to get the end going for his team.

RED BUM AWARDS: Three to give out this week. 1st to Brian Tonelli...tough loss this week. 2nd to Andrew Roberts...when the curling gods are not with you....not to worry guys, happens to everyone...that's curling! And third, as much as it pains me to have to do this, I have to give one to myself. Team Villeneuve gave the Thursday Newfie Bullet a spanking but in our defense, I would like to say that we took it like men!

TIED NO MORE: Team Mitchell. After three consecutive ties (is this a BRCC record?), Team Mitchell posted a win this week. I guess fourth time's a charm!

HAVING AN AWESOME YEAR: Terry Fryer. Terry is no stranger to the BRCC and has played on competitive teams for a while now. This year, Terry has been playing well. In the games that I have watched him play, Terry has made some "humdingers" and either bailed his skip out of a world of hurt or has set up the end! Great job Terry.

ALSO HAVING A GOOD YEAR: Doug Kearns. Our resident legal eagle has been making lots of very nice shots this year. Doug is a fun guy to wither play with or against. This year, I have noticed that Doug is on his game and certainly making a ton of shots to help his team.

UNDEFEATED: The Molson Exers and Team Villeneuve.  The Molson Exers (Team Keith Rouselle) are having a star-studded year. They are absolutely on fire. This might put a target on them but they should receive special mention for the great season they are having thus far. As well, Team Villeneuve is having an excellent year. With Bob away for a portion of the season, Terry Fryer was at the helm so he did his part to help keep the momentum going this season. Great job by all 4 players on both teams.

MADE THE ADJUSTMENT: Tod Swan. With the breakups of the Posties, Tod looked for and found a new squad...Warren Neufeld and Rob Henderson. As far as I know, this is a 3-man crew so if you are looking to play Mens, call Tod. These guys have gelled and are stringing some wins together.

ALWAYS DEALING THE PAIN: Richard Olmstead. Rich loves the game and it shows. He is out there 3 nights a week and he spares whenever asked. He also does alot of maintenance work around the club and is an all around asset to the BRCC. Richard is a member of the current club champion team and often plays in the second position. If you have ever played against Richard, you will have felt the pain that the outcome of his shots inflict.

HUGE IMPROVEMENT: Scotty Smith. Scott Smith has really brought his game full circle. He consistently throws great weight and has become very accurate and focused. Scott is an excellent front end player...and is also a member of the current club champion team.

So that is how the rocks curled this past Thursday Mens. Lots of season left and although this is true, the Men's Closing is now being talked about. That's right, Checks for the Men's Closing are due Dec 1st. Make sure to get your checks in ($240.00). Don't lose your spot!! The BRCC Mens Closing is the premiere event of the season...not to be missed!!

Rock On!

The Curling Chronic

Wednesday Open 8 Ender

I know what you are thinking. Is Michel Rivard looking after any other ice than the BRCC's? Well, that's not him. But, Michel is the Ice Chairman at the BRCC and it is our good fortune to have him and his ice crew. They work hard on the ice and for those of you that don't know, they work on the ice 7 days a week. You will have noticed that the speed of the ice has been outstanding for the entire season thus far. These guys put alot of time, effort and thought into this and they deserve our kudos. And there were 4 sheets full of curlers enjoying the fast ice last night at the Wednesday Open 8 Ender. Here's your results:

Ryan Hagger vs Lucy Ann Trudeau. WIN for Hagger.

Al Viel vs John Topash. WIN for Viel.

Warren Neufeld vs Tom St Jules  WIN for St Jules

Glen Austin vs Hailey Horton  WIN for Austin

FEATURE GAME: Warren Neufeld vs Tom St Jules. This was a back and forth match from what I could see but the St Jules rink were sharp and it seemed that the Neufeld Factor was chasing throughout. And that's saying something when you consider that the Neufeld squad are a tough crew who win most of their games. But it was Big Daddy and his squad that prevailed in this one. They were strong from lead to skip. Ray Quenville plays lead for this squad and he curls with a stick. Over time, Ray has mastered the stick and he makes alot of shots. Then there is Helen Rancourt. This lady is so nice and she has improved so much. She makes a ton of shots for her skip. And Big Daddy was rockin' it as well. He was making double take outs with rolls...just tough to deal with their game. Sometimes when the curling stars align for a team, there can be no catching them.

SHOULD HAVE BEEN THE IVORY SOAP GIRL: Helen Rancourt. Helen is super friendly and a very sincere individual. And she is a wonderful sport. 99 and 44/100s pure just like Ivory Soap!

OUTNUMBERED 3:1 BY WOMEN: Dawson Kluding. Dawson plays with Team Hailey Horton on Wednesday nights. Being that he is the only male on this crew, Dawson quietly goes about the business of making shots and sweeping rocks taking direction from the three women. Smart man! He may be a perfect candidate for marriage when the time comes!

EXCELLENT SPORT: Brian Tonelli. Our Friendly Giant plays twice a week, on Wednesdays and Thursdays. Brian loves the Roaring Game and although he may not win all of them, he can usually be counted on for a good close match. More importantly, Brian is a great guy and always a pleasure to play against and hang out with after.

ANOTHER IMPROVED CURLER: Natalie Bray. Natalie is playing in the Tuesday Ladies as well as the Wednesday league this year. She has improved greatly and she demonstrates excellent weight control which is what you need in a lead. Great job Natalie.

FIRST RATE FIT AT THE BRCC: Brian St Pierre. Brian is the club employee and I have just come to know him this season. I work closely with Brian and he is a perfect fit for the BRCC. He is personable and does a good job around the club. A pleasure to have this guy around.

STILL MAKIN' IT WORK AT THE BRCC: Ron Forest. Ron has been a member of the BRCC for a very long time. More than that, he has been a great help to the club for a very long time. When we play our games, we should bear in mind that it is partially due to Ron's dedication to the BRCC that we can enjoy having good ice to play on. Thanks alot Ron! There are also others like Warren Neufeld and Ricky Albert that also contribute vast amounts of time to the club. We could not have such a cool operation without the efforts of these fine people.

So that's how it all shook out this past Wednesday. With Xmas just around the corner, you might be wondering what to get that special someone. Well, if they are a curler, then curling supplies is always a great option. The BRCC has a plethora of nice brooms as well as a variety of shoes. Also, lots of gloves and grippers that ALWAYS make great stocking stuffers.

Don't forget about the Santa Claus parade on Friday evening. The BRCC has a float in it! And midnight madness right after. Remember...shopping local is the way to go!

Rock On!

The Curling Chronic

Tuesday Ladies

I know what you're thinking. What is Nathan Mutch doing "elephant curling"? And does he have a twin brother? Well, that's not him. Nathan likes curling with regular curling stones and like most of us, would find it difficult to put a good handle on a rock by using the elephant's trunk. Nathan plays in the  Monday Mixed as well as the Thursday Mens. He plays in the second position in both leagues and has stepped up his game considerably. Because he enjoys the game so much, he has been much more consistent in hitting the broom and controlling his weight whether throwing a draw or a take out. As well, he is developing a better understanding of strategy which really, is a natural progression for those who have been bitten by the curling bug. Nathan can only improve as time goes on and before long, it would not surprise me to see him skipping his own crew. But it's not only Nathan who is growing in the Roaring Game, there were lots of ladies at the club last night who also aspire to curling greatness and they were out there last night in the Tuesday Ladies. Here's your results:

Jamie Ellmore vs Lucy Ann Trudeau. WIN for Trudeau

Liz Rouselle vs Chantal MacLeod. WIN for Rouselle

Marty Mitchell vs Anita Moran. WIN for Mitchell

Deanna Roberts vs Beth Laderoute  WIN for Laderoute

Annie Austin vs Christie Hagger  WIN for Hagger

Vola Roberts vs Joanna Hammond  WIN for Hammond

FEATURE GAME: Deanna Roberts vs Beth Laderoute. I only caught the tail end of this game but it was neck and neck the whole way through. In the final end, Team Roberts found themselves 1 down without the hammer but with a stone sitting second shot. For her last, Deanna had to choose between a run back double or a difficult back line / hack weight come around tap to sit 1st and 2nd shot which would have left Beth Laderoute a tough draw for the win (there was alot of junk out in front so draws would have been tough). Deanna opted for the come around tap and was just a hair heavy and her rock did not curl at the end and she just ticked the opposing shot stone. She might have missed but only just barely. It was an excellent attempt at a very difficult shot. Nonetheless, a great game and a great finish for these two teams.

HAVING A GREAT SEASON: Team Laderoute. This squad has been together for a few years and they are having a great season this year. With only 1 or 2 losses (I'm not sure which) this season thus far, the Laderoute crew are sitting near the front of the pack, if not in a tie for first place. These ladies are the nicest sort and I'm happy to see them doing well. Keep it up ladies!

FOUND THEIR MOJO: Team Rouselle. After a bumpy beginning, Team Rouselle has found their groove and are stringing the wins together. Liz Rouselle et al are veterans in the Tuesday Ladies and are usually found near the top of the leader board. I expect that this is where they are headed again.

LIVING AT THE CLUB: Lucy Ann Trudeau. No, Lucy is not actually living at the club but she spends an awful lot of time there. Lucy plays in all three leagues and coaches Team Hailey Horton (Bantams). Lucy is a fellow curling chronic and has embraced the Roaring Game with absolute fervor. If the club ever shut down, Lucy would be first in line at the support group.

GROWING IN THE GAME: Nicole Mutch. Nicole is a newer curler and curls regularly in the Monday Mixed. Last night she was out sparing in the Tuesday Ladies. This is always indicative of someone enjoying what they are doing and it seems apparent that Nicole has also been bitten by the Curling Bug and looks to play more. She had developed her delivery and there can be no doubt that with her enthusiasm and willingness to play more, she is going to move forward in the game and will find herself in the groove. Another of those naturals, I think.

So, that's it for another Tuesday. Don't forget that this Friday, November 22nd, there will be a Santa Claus parade and then midnight madness after ward. I should mention that alot of local businesses contribute generously to the BRCC as well as other organisations around town. That is why shopping locally is always a good idea. Keeping our local businesses healthy keeps the town healthy. ALSO, the BRCC will have a float in this years Santa Claus parade. Come out and watch...you'll see some BRCC little rockers bantams, and I imagine, some adults on that float.

Rock On!

The Curling Chronic

Monday Mixed

Well folks...this confirms it! Elvis is not dead. The King is busy on Fremont Street in Vegas showing people the fundamentals of curling and I must say, the one-piece curling outfit might be a compliment to the game.....and then again, maybe not. One thing is for sure, I won't be ordering my one-piece anytime soon....Thank you, thank you very much This is part of the initiative to let everyone know about the Continental Cup of Curling coming to Vegas Jan 16 - Jan 19, 2014. And right now, there are 16 Blind River people attending this event and we are all stoked. And there were some stoked people at the BRCC last night for the Monday Mixed. In fact, all the sheets were full for the first draw and three out of the four sheets were full for the second draw. Awesome night at the BRCC. Here's your results:

Sandy Milroy vs Jerry Jensen. WIN for Jensen

Ryan Hagger vs Craig Roberts. WIN for Hagger

Glen Austin vs Hailey Horton. WIN for Horton

Andrew Ludgate vs Bob Villeneuve. WIN for Ludgate

Dan McMillan vs Andrew Roberts. WIN for McMillan

Michel Rivard vs Gator Fortin. WIN for Fortin

FEATURE GAME: Glen Austin vs Hailey Horton. This match was close the whole way through. With some key shots made by the teacher/student combination (Team Horton), the Monday Newfie Bullet was forced to a second place finish. The game looked like it was going to bust wide open in the fifth end with Team Austin lying 4. Horton was staring down the likelihood of giving up 4 with the possibility of 5. Hailey Horton threw her first to either run back her own rock or straight peel it. This was a long run back and she made it good, taking out the opposing second shot stone and sitting second shot herself, buried. Austin's last come into the top eight forcing Horton into a difficult come around draw to the button just to score. The shot was absolutely outstanding and she drew the button around a top eight guard and scored her one. These two shots were game-savers and game changers. Horton eventually went on to take another 3 in 7 and ran Team Austin out of rocks in 8. A well-played and well-thought out game for Team Horton and a much-deserved win. Julia Horton is by far among the best woman sweepers I have seen out there at the BRCC. Both Guy Ratte and Martin Aubin have come a long way in their game. Excellent weight control. Their draw weight set up most ends for their skipper. This was an excellent team effort by Team Horton all the way around. Great job!

OOPS! RED BUM AWARD COMING!: Red Bum Award for Team Villeneuve. Team Ludgate was in the curling zone last night and handed Team Villeneuve a loss. Stephanie Stoker was lights out and helped her skipper secure the win. With Bob just getting back from a couple weeks in the Florida sun, he'll be getting his curling mojo back straight-away and looking for redemption.

LOUDEST PANTS: far and away,....Kristy Blanchet. Making Team Norway blanche in comparison, Kristy was sporting some real colourful curling pants last night. Kristy can always be counted on for some good fun at the BRCC and last night was no exception. Her pants (and I do hope she keeps wearing them) appeared to be a combination of camouflage and quilting material. It was like some ladies got sick of making quilts and made a pair of pants instead! Kudos to Kristy on her lack of codependency!

BITTEN BY THE CURLING BUG: Amanda MacDonald. That's right, Amanda is new to curling this yea and is loving the Roaring Game. She curls with Team Deanna Roberts in the Tuesday Ladies but looks for other games in other leagues so she can improve. Although she is a new curler, she has developed a good delivery and has weight control. She is a natural to the game and can only improve as time goes on. She's another new curler to watch for...she's going to be making her mark.

So that's how the ice curled for a Monday Night. Just another fun night at the BRCC. But that's how it rolls at the club and as the Jack Frost gets ready to cast us into another 4 month deep freeze, it'll always be warm inside the doors of the BRCC!

Rock On!

The Curling Chronic