Extra End Magazine - 2009 Juniors Edition

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The official publication of the Season of Champions

M&M MEAT SHOPS CANADIAN JUNIORS January 31 to February 8, 2009 Salmon Arm Curling Club and Sunwave Centre Salmon Arm, British Columbia

A NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP OF THE CANADIAN CURLING ASSOCIATION

www.curling.ca

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MESSAGES OF WELCOME

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HOST COMMITTEE

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CANADIAN CURLING ASSOCIATION

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Here’s how it runs SEASON OF CHAMPIONS CHAIRPERSONS

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TSN BROADCAST GUIDE

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2008 M&M MEAT SHOPS CANADIAN JUNIORS

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M&M MEAT SHOPS CANADIAN JUNIORS PLAYER PROFILES

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Editor Laurie Payne Managing editor Warren Hansen

M&M MEAT SHOPS CANADIAN JUNIORS OFFICIAL DRAW

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IN A LEAGUE OF THEIR OWN

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B.C. no slouch when it comes to producing junior curling talent

Associate editor Larry Wood Art director Otto Pierre Production director Marylou Morris

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Kaitlyn Lawes, William Dion skip their teams to national titles

Printer Quebecor World, Aurora Photography Mike Burns

BEHIND THE HACK

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Salmon Arm High produced three provincial champions

Cover photography Christopher Dew

BY LARRY WOOD

CLASSIC CURLERS

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Julie Sutton won first-ever world junior women’s title JUNIORS ROCK IN PACIFIC PROVINCE

Scotties Tournament of Hearts photography Andrew Klaver

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B.C. played host to memorable Canadian junior tourneys JUNIOR AWARDS

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JUNIOR STATISTICS

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THE LAST END

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Élite curlers set the sport’s image against which all else will be judged

National marketing director David Beesley Chief operating officer Pat Ray

Extra End magazine is published by the Canadian Curling Association. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without written consent is prohibited. The opinions expressed by writers in Extra End do not necessarily reflect the views or the position of the Canadian Curling Association or World Curling Federation.

PRINTED IN CANADA.

BY WARREN HANSEN

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Welcome to Salmon Arm from M&M Meat Shops

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IS WITH GREAT PLEASURE THAT I EXTEND A WARM welcome to everyone at the 2009 M&M Meat Shops Canadian Junior Men’s and Women’s Curling Championships. M&M is very excited to support a competition that showcases the best young Canadian men’s and women’s curling talent.

Congratulations to all of the participants. Your hard work and dedication to one of Canada’s favourite sports has brought you here in the hope of representing Canada at the 2009 World Junior Men’s and Women’s Curling Championships in Vancouver. Best of luck to everyone.

Those in the spectator seats are about to see not only some of the most exciting curling from Canada’s young curling stars but true sportsmanship, teamwork and the competitive spirit you’ve come to expect from our Canadian athletes.

I want to recognize and thank the people who make events like this a reality — the organizing committee, the many volunteers, family and friends who lend their time and support. It’s because of your commitment that we are able to enjoy world-class curling.

And a big thank you to the wonderful City of Salmon Arm for its hospitality. Salmon Arm has long been an avid curling town and we look forward to creating more great memories during the 2009 M&M Meat Shops Canadian Juniors.

Let’s all have some fun!

Mac Voisin Chairman & Founder, M&M Meat Shops

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BEHALF OF ALL BRITISH COLUMBIANS, IT IS MY PLEASURE TO WELCOME everyone to Salmon Arm and the 2009 M&M Meat Shops Canadian Juniors.

Our province is proud to host this championship and similar Canadian and international competitions as we get ready to host the 2010 Olympic Winter Games and Paralympic Games.

I invite you to take the opportunity to explore the community, culture and hospitality of Salmon Arm during your visit and hope you will return to discover more of our great province as we welcome the world in 2010.

Congratulations to all of the athletes competing in this championship and best wishes as you pursue your dreams in the spirit of sport, excellence and competition.

Gordon Campbell Premier of British Columbia

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BEHALF OF THE CITY OF SALMON ARM, IT IS MY PLEASURE TO WELCOME the curlers, their friends and families, the coaches and spectators to the M&M Meat Shops Canadian Juniors.

This is an opportunity to enjoy some great curling, good sportsmanship and, above all, to watch our youth participate in one of Canada’s favourite winter sports.

Congratulations and thank you to all of the staff, volunteers and parents whose tireless efforts and dedication have helped to make this event possible.

We are proud of our community and hope you will explore our city, take advantage of our hospitality and come back often. We wish you all success.

Good curling!

Marty Bootsma Mayor, City of Salmon Arm

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BEHALF OF THE CANADIAN CURLING ASSOCIATION BOARD OF GOVERNORS and staff, I am delighted to extend warm greetings to everyone attending and participating in the 2009 M&M Meat Shops Canadian Juniors in the wonderful city of Salmon Arm. The CCA extends its sincere appreciation to M&M Meat Shops as the title sponsor. Without the support of such a committed sponsor, this event would not be possible.

To host co-chairs Fred Puetz and Debbie Jones, the organizing committee and the dedicated group of volunteers who generously offer their skills and expertise to ensure a successful and memorable event, congratulations and a sincere thank you on behalf of our entire organization.

Congratulations to all of the competitors, who have already distinguished themselves by winning their provincial or territorial championships for the right to compete at the 2009 M&M Meat Shops Canadian Juniors. I wish them good luck in their endeavours to represent Canada at the World Junior Curling Championships in Vancouver.

Please accept my sincere best wishes for a successful and enjoyable event.

Fran Todd Chair, Canadian Curling Association

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Host Committee ON

BEHALF OF THE 2009 M&M MEAT SHOPS CANADIAN JUNIORS HOST committee and all of its volunteers, it is our pleasure to welcome all of the curlers, families, friends, supporters and fans to the beautiful Shuswap area.

Thank you to the Canadian Curling Association for giving the Salmon Arm Curling Club and the Shuswap Recreation Society the opportunity to host this prestigious championship.

To M&M Meat Shops and all of our national and local sponsors, we extend our sincere thanks for your incredible support. A special thank you to the volunteers for all of their time and effort in helping to make this event a huge success.

We hope that you have a great experience and enjoy first hand the City of Salmon Arm’s hospitality, its many points of interest and indoor and outdoor activities for all ages. Salmon Arm — the “Gem of the Shuswap” — has activities for all seasons, including cross-country skiing, snowmobiling, hiking, fishing and house boating, and is known for the world-famous Adams River sockeye salmon run.

Congratulations to all of the curlers who have earned the right to be here. Your talent and dedication to the sport are verified by your presence at this Canadian championship.

We hope that you enjoy your stay in our city and that you leave with new friendships and fond memories that will last a lifetime. We invite you to visit the City of Salmon Arm and area again very soon.

Debbie Jones and Fred Puetz Host committee co-chairs

The 2009 M&M Meat Shops Canadian Juniors host committee: (standing, from left) Brian Maurer, Dale Berger, Fred Puetz, Debbie Jones, Joan Sholinder and Brenda Puetz; (sitting) Don Helpenny, Deela Mueller, Trudy Shultz and Donna Shultz.

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Here’s How The CCA Runs

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URLING BEGAN TO DRAW RECOGNITION AS an organized sport back in 1927, when the first Macdonald Brier was played at the Granite Curling Club in Toronto.

An administrative body for the men’s sport was created eight years later with the founding of the Dominion Curling Association on March 6, 1935. Thirty-two years later — in 1967, the year of Canada’s centennial — the organization adjusted to the times and changed its name to the Canadian Curling Association.

Women’s curling was launched officially with the formation of the Canadian Ladies Curling Association in 1961, when the inaugural Canadian Ladies Curling Championship was played at the R.A. Centre in Ottawa.

The CCA and CLCA continued as independent organizations until they amalgamated to form the Canadian Curling Association in 1990. Today, the CCA is recognized as the national administrative body for curling in Canada by Sport Canada, the Canadian Olympic Committee and the World Curling Federation. It is governed by a 10-member board of governors. Provincial and territorial associations nominate candidates to the board, whose members are elected to five-year terms by all CCA members.

For legislation to become CCA policy, it must be approved during the annual general meeting, which is held in June.

Each province and territory is represented by two voting delegates, for a total of 28. In addition, each board member has a vote, for a grand total of 38. The chair holds the tiebreaking vote.

The board elects a chair and vice-chair from within its ranks for one-year terms. For 2008-09, Fran Todd of Mississauga, Ontario, is chair and Graham Prouse of Fort Nelson, British Columbia, is vice-chair.

The CCA office is in Ottawa, where day-to-day affairs are handled by chief executive officer Greg Stremlaw and a professional staff of 11.

CCA activities generally fall into three specific areas — championships, high performance and development.

CHAMPIONSHIPS The primary area of administration, championships are the most financially consuming of the CCA’s responsibilities.

In 1994, the Canadian Curling Association, in concert with St. Clair Group of Toronto, developed a novel approach to marketing national and international curling championships.

They created a series of championships named the Season of Champions that included the Canadian Mixed, Canadian

Seniors, Canadian Juniors, the Hearts, the Brier, World Juniors and the World Men’s and Women’s Curling Championships.

One of the first orders of business was to spread the Season of Champions over the first quarter of the year to enhance the concept in terms of television coverage and from FRAN TODD a sponsorship point of view.

Chair Broadcast contracts were struck with CBC and TSN and the combined efforts of the two networks ensured that championship curling would be aired on Canadian television for about 215 hours a year.

A key component of the television agreement was the acquisition of a significant amount of advertising, which was combined with inside-the-boards signage to fulfil GRAHAM PROUSE commitments to title sponsors and Vice-chair official suppliers. The concept provided each sponsor and supplier with an attractive combination of on-air advertising and venue signage.

Each title sponsor received all of the on-air and venue signage name-recognition benefits of being a title sponsor. In addition, each sponsor was provided with a large amount of air time during telecasts of its sponsored event. A bonus for each sponsor was signage at each and every Season of Champions event, as well as a full television advertising package for the entire Season of Champions.

The original Season of Champions concept worked very well from 1995 through 2004 and took curling to an entirely new level in terms of television coverage and public perception.

But by 2000, it was becoming clear that the seniors and mixed events had problems. Their TV viewing numbers were weak and there was no strong connection between these two events and any of the others.

The Canadian junior winners went on to the world juniors and some of the junior champions graduated to the Hearts or the Brier. The Brier and Hearts winners went on to the worlds.

So the CCA put the wheels in motion to create two new events — the Continental Cup of Curling and the Canada Cup — that would better fit the other properties and, it was hoped, develop larger audiences. www.seasonofchampions.ca 11

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The 2008-09 Canadian Curling Association board of governors: (back row, from left) Janie Hobart, Jim Campbell and Laura Lochanski; (middle row) Lew Andrews, Beth Sullivan and Mitch Tarapasky; (front row) Bernadette McIntyre, Graham Prouse, Fran Todd and Jack Bowman.

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In December, the sixth Continental Cup was staged in Camrose, Alberta, with Team World defeating Team North America 208-192. The series is tied with three cup titles each.

Similar in format to golf’s Ryder Cup, the Continental Cup brings together 12 of the world’s best men’s and women’s teams — six representing Team World, six representing Team North America — competing in a unique event.

A total of 400 points is available from the competition’s four disciplines — mixed doubles, singles, team and skins.

The Continental Cup has direct ties to three other Season of Champions events — the Canada Cup, the Scotties Tournament of Hearts and the Tim Hortons Brier. Four of the six North American teams are Canadian and include the

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CCA ADMINISTRATION

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Chief Executive Officer Chief Operating Officer Director, High Performance Director, Event Operations and Media Relations Director, Championship Services and Curling Club Development Director, Information Technology Manager, Event Administration Executive Assistant Co-ordinator, National Athlete Services and Coaching Co-ordinator, Financial Services Co-ordinator, Development and Championship Services National Development Coach

Rachel Delaney Paul Webster

CANADIAN CURLING ASSOCIATION 1660 Vimont Court Cumberland, Ontario K4A 4J4 Tel: (613) 834-2076

Fax: (613) 834-0716 Toll free: 1-800-550-2875 Email: cca@curling.ca Website: www.curling.ca

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Greg Stremlaw Pat Ray Gerry Peckham Warren Hansen Danny Lamoureux Glenn van Gulik Paul Noble Karen Ryan Louise Delorme JoAnne Viau

men’s and women’s Canada Cup champions and the winners of the Hearts and Brier.

The other recent Season of Champions addition is the Canada Cup. The seventh Canada Cup — including 10 men’s and 10 women’s teams — takes place March 18 to 22, 2009, in Yorkton, Saskatchewan. This year’s prize package is $150,000.

The Canada Cup is closely aligned with the Brier and Hearts, with the champions of each earning automatic berths in the 20-team competition.

During the first three years of each Olympic Winter Games quadrennial, the annual Canada Cup winners — in addition to guaranteed berths in the subsequent Canada and Continental cups — also win berths in pre-Tim Hortons Canadian Curling Trials events.

Individual men’s and women’s events called Canada Cup Qualifiers were held in December. The women’s event was staged in Ottawa at the Rideau and Ottawa curling clubs and the men’s in Edmonton’s Saville Sports Centre. Forty-eight men’s and women’s teams competed in each event in a triple knockout format, with the four semi-finalists in each qualifying for the 2009 Canada Cup. The 10-team men’s field also includes defending Brier, Canada Cup and Players Championship winners. The Canadian Team Ranking System — for September 1 to December 16, 2008 — rounds out the field, qualifying the three top-ranked men’s teams.

The 10 women’s teams include defending Scotties Tournament of Hearts, Canada Cup and Players Championship winners. The three top-ranked CTRS women’s teams complete the field.

The Canadian Women’s Curling Championship — now the Scotties Tournament of Hearts — in existence since 1961, has become one of the best known and most popular women’s sporting events in Canada. Not only does the Hearts champion earn the right to represent Canada at the world women’s championship, but also earns berths in the Continental Cup, Canada Cup and, in three of every four years, a berth in the Canadian Curling Trials.

The Brier, which celebrated its 79th year in 2008, is recognized as the oldest and best-known curling event in the world. The Tim Hortons Brier champion represents Canada at the world men’s championship, earns a berth in the Continental Cup and Canada Cup and, in three of every four years, a berth in the Canadian Curling Trials.

The Ford Worlds underwent a facelift in 2005. The men’s and women’s world championships had been operated as a combined event since 1989. But in 2005, the events were divided into two separate championships. In an arrangement negotiated with the World Curling Federation, every year one of the world championships — either the women’s or men’s — is played in Canada.

Two additional berths were added to the men’s and women’s worlds in 2005, expanding each to 12 teams.

Countries accumulate points annually at the world championships to determine, every four years, which 10 countries will participate in the Olympic Winter Games.

The final Season of Champions event takes place every four

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years. The Tim Hortons Canadian Curling Trials determine who will represent Canada at the Olympics.

The CCA is responsible each year for organizing and operating all Season of Champions events. The CCA is directly responsible for all of the technical aspects of each event and provides substantial funding in support of officials, statisticians and ice technicians. In addition, direct hands-on assistance is provided in all areas associated with television and media.

But it is the dedicated host committees that are responsible for staging the events.

The CCA provides direction in all aspects of the championships and financial assistance in critical areas of operation. The 2009 Tim Hortons Brier in Calgary marks the 11th time the CCA has applied an event-management model to the Brier that places a large amount of the event’s day-to-day operation in the hands of professionals. Four other events — the Continental Cup, the Scotties Tournament of Hearts, the Canada Cup and the Ford World Men’s — are under full event-management in 2008-09.

CCA professional staff and volunteer officials also are on hand for all championships to ensure their successful operation. Warren Hansen, who is director of event operations and media relations; Danny Lamoureux, the director of championship services and curling club development; Paul Noble, manager of event administration; head official Dianne Barker and Janie Hobart, the CCA board liaison, are the key CCA people on site at the 2009 M&M Meat Shops Canadian Juniors.

HIGH PERFORMANCE In February of 1998, curling made its first appearance as a medal sport at the Olympic Winter Games. The CCA places a high emphasis on the involvement of curling in the Olympics and was thrilled when the Canadian teams skipped by the late Sandra Schmirler and Mike Harris brought home gold and silver medals respectively.

In addition to the responsibility of selecting and training teams for the Olympics, those responsible for high performance also deal with national team programs and the development of Level IV and Level V coaches.

Ottawa-based Gerry Peckham is the CCA’s director of high performance and the team leader for Canadian curling at the Olympic Winter Games.

The CCA also operates a national training centre in Calgary with financial support from the Calgary Olympic Development Association. Paul Webster works from his office at the Calgary Winter Club as the national development coach.

DEVELOPMENT Another active division of the CCA, development primarily involves a series of programs aimed at retaining curlers, developing programs and materials to recruit new ones, and increasing awareness and participation by special-needs groups, including wheelchair curling, the hearing and sight-impaired, the mentally challenged and visible

minorities. It is through the development programs that direct contact is maintained with some 1,050 affiliated curling clubs, 14 provincial and territorial associations, 12 affiliate members and regional development centres, and the more than one million Canadians who play the sport each year. The CCA’s director of development is Ottawa-based Danny Lamoureux.

2008-09 EVENT MANAGEMENT AND MARKETING Director, national marketing Manager, national marketing Co-ordinator, sponsorship fulfilment Director, event operations and media relations Director, championship services Manager, championship administration Co-ordinator, championship services Manager, event marketing Manager, local sponsorship Local sponsorship account executive Local sponsorship account executive Manager, event financial services Manager, merchandising Manager, entertainment and production Manager, bar operations Editor, Extra End magazines Co-ordinator, daily publications Co-ordinator, media Co-ordinator, media Scotties Tournament of Hearts Co-ordinator, photography Co-ordinator, photography Scotties Tournament of Hearts Event master of ceremonies Event master of ceremonies

David Beesley Catharine Dunlop Marylou Morris Warren Hansen Danny Lamoureux Paul Noble Rachel Delaney Rod Palson Cathy Bowman Jenn Ogston Kathryn Larsen Terry Morris Robin Henry Roger Powell Elmer Epp Laurie Payne Larry Wood Jeff Timson Robin Wilson Mike Burns Andrew Klaver Stuart Brown Jim Jerome

2008-09 ON-SITE STAFF 2008 Continental Cup Event manager

Trina Spence

2009 Scotties Tournament of Hearts Event manager Sponsorship/marketing administration Administrative assistant

Gord McNabb Andy Henry Delena Pakos

2009 Tim Hortons Brier Event manager Sponsorship/marketing administration Administrative assistant Office assistant

Rob Dewhirst Brock Balog Kim Valleau Sherri Hall

2009 Canada Cup Event manager Sponsorship fulfilment/ administrative assistant

Gord McNabb Sharon Pedde

2009 Ford World Men’s Event manager Sponsorship/marketing administration Administrative assistant

Lynn MacKenzie Carmen Marshall Kelly Murphy

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2009 Season of Champions

Chairpersons

CONTINENTAL CUP OF CURLING Presented by Monsanto Canada Inc. EnCana Arena, Edgeworth Centre 4512 53rd Street Camrose, Alberta T4V 4E3

Host chair: Bob Seney Tel: (780) 679-6393 Email: gmseney@xplornet.com Event co-ordinator: Trina Spence Tel: (780) 672-3819 Email: tspence@curling.ca Tickets can be ordered online at Ticketmaster.ca or by calling Ticketmaster at (780) 451-8000.

M&M MEAT SHOPS CANADIAN JUNIORS Presented by AMJ Campbell Van Lines Salmon Arm Curling Club 691 28th Street N.E. Salmon Arm, British Columbia V1E 4N7 and Sunwave Centre 2600 10th Avenue N.E. Salmon Arm, British Columbia V1E 4R1

Host co-chair: Fred Puetz Tel: (250) 832-8700 Email: salmonarmcc@sunwave.net Host co-chair: Debbie Jones Tel: (250) 832-3708 Email: djjones@sunlite.ca

SCOTTIES TOURNAMENT OF HEARTS Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre 1925 Blanshard Street Victoria, British Columbia V8T 4J2

Host chair: Chris Atchison Tel: (250) 382-9675, ext. 233 Email: catchison@aspect.bc.ca Event co-ordinator: Gord McNabb Tel: (306) 737-7079 Email: gmcnabb@curling.ca Tickets can be ordered online at SelectYourTickets.com or by calling Select Your Tickets at (250) 220-7777 or toll-free at 1-866-514-5050.

TIM HORTONS BRIER Presented by Monsanto Canada Inc. Pengrowth Saddledome 555 Saddledome Rise S.E. Calgary, Alberta T2G 2W1

Host chair: Ian Henderson Tel: (403) 233-7994 Email: ian@cscproject.com Event co-ordinator: Rob Dewhirst Tel: (403) 270-0923 Email: rdewhirst@curling.ca Tickets can be ordered online at Ticketmaster.ca or by calling Ticketmaster Sports Line at (403) 777-0000.

CANADA CUP OF CURLING Presented by James Richardson International Farrell Agencies Arena, Gallagher Centre 455 Broadway Street West Yorkton, Saskatchewan S3N 2X1

Host chair: Brian Kruger Tel: (306) 786-1811 Email: Brian.Kruger@NBPCD.com Event co-ordinator: Gord McNabb Tel: (306) 737-7079 Email: gmcnabb@curling.ca Tickets can be ordered online at Ticketmaster.ca or by calling Ticketmaster Sports Line at (306) 938-7800 or toll-free at 1-800-970-7328.

FORD WORLD MEN’S Presented by Atlantic Lottery Moncton Coliseum 377 Killam Drive Moncton, New Brunswick E1C 3T1

Host chair: Jim Lockyer Tel: (506) 863-2134 Email: James.Lockyer@umoncton.ca Event co-ordinator: Lynn MacKenzie Tel: (506) 854-2009 Email: lmackenzie@curling.ca Tickets can be ordered online at tickets.moncton.ca or by calling the Moncton Coliseum at (506) 857-4100 or toll-free at 1-888-720-5600.

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TSN Broadcast Guide M&M MEAT SHOPS CANADIAN JUNIORS

CANADA CUP OF CURLING

Sunwave Centre Salmon Arm, British Columbia January 31 to February 8, 2009

Farrell Agencies Arena, Gallagher Centre Yorkton, Saskatchewan March 18 to 22, 2009

(Times are PST) Women’s final February 8 Men’s final February 8

(Times are CST)

11:30 a.m.

4 p.m

SCOTTIES TOURNAMENT OF HEARTS Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre Victoria, British Columbia February 21 to March 1, 2009 (Times are PST) Round robin February 21 12 noon, 7 p.m.

February 22 8:30 a.m., 1 p.m., February 23 8:30 a.m., 1 p.m., February 24 8:30 a.m., 1 p.m., February 25 8:30 a.m., 1 p.m., February 26 8:30 a.m., 1 p.m., Tiebreakers if required February 27 8:30 a.m., 1 p.m.

Page playoffs February 27 6:30 p.m.

February 28 11:30 a.m.

Semi-final February 28 4 p.m.

Final March 1 5 p.m.

8:30 a.m.

5:30 p.m.

8:30 a.m.

7:30 p.m.

WORLD WOMEN’S 6:30 p.m.

6:30 p.m.

6:30 p.m.

7 p.m.

6:30 p.m.

GangNeung Indoor Ice Rink GangNeung City, Korea March 21 to 29, 2009 Semi-final March 28 Final March 29

TBA TBA

FORD WORLD MEN’S Moncton Coliseum Moncton, New Brunswick April 4 to 12, 2009

TIM HORTONS BRIER Pengrowth Saddledome Calgary, Alberta March 7 to 15, 2009 (Times are MST) Round robin March 7 1 p.m., 6 p.m.

March 8 8:30 a.m., 1 p.m., March 9 8:30 a.m., 1 p.m., March 10 8:30 a.m., 1 p.m., March 11 8:30 a.m., 1 p.m., March 12 8:30 a.m., 1 p.m., Tiebreakers if required March 13 8:30 a.m., 1 p.m.

Page playoffs March 13 6 p.m.

March 14 10 a.m.

Semi-final March 14 6 p.m.

Final March 15 6 p.m.

Page playoffs March 21 Semi-finals March 21 Women’s final March 22 Men’s final March 22

6 p.m.

6 p.m.

6 p.m.

7:30 p.m.

6 p.m.

(Times are AST) Round robin April 4 3 p.m., 7:30 p.m.

April 5 8:30 a.m., 1 p.m., 7:30 p.m.

April 6 10 a.m., 3 p.m., 7:30 p.m.

April 7 10 a.m., 3 p.m., 7:30 p.m.

April 8 10 a.m., 3 p.m., 7:30 p.m.

April 9 10 a.m., 3 p.m., 7:30 p.m.

Tiebreakers if required April 10 10 a.m., 3 p.m.

Page playoffs April 10 7:30 p.m.

April 11 10 a.m.

Semi-final April 11 4 p.m.

Bronze-medal game April 12 11 a.m.

Gold-medal game April 12 7:30 p.m.

TSN will provide coverage of all of Canada’s round-robin games.

Times are subject to change. Visit www.seasonofchampions.ca for the most up-to-date broadcast times.

TSN is a trademark of The Sports Network Inc., Speed Letter Graphic is a trademark of ESPN, Inc. Used under license.

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M&M Meat Shops Canadian Juniors Played in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, at the Soo Curlers Association and the Tarentorus Sports Club February 3 to 10, 2008

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PHOTOS: MIKE BURNS

KIP WILLIAM DION AND HIS Quebec squad won their eighth straight game in the 2008 M&M Meat Shops Canadian junior men’s championship by defeating Ontario’s Travis Fanset 8-6 in the final to capture the title in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario.

After trading singles in the first two ends, Drummondville’s Dion, third Jean-Michel Arsenault, second Erik Lachance and lead Miguel Bernard never looked back.

A draw for three by Dion in the third made it 4-1, setting the stage for the province’s third Canadian junior men’s title. Ontario was forced to play catch-up for the rest of the game and it proved too difficult a challenge.

Quebec led 8-3 after eight ends.

The Canadian junior men’s trophy went to, from left, skip William Dion, third Jean-Michel Arsenault, second Erik Lachance and lead Miguel Bernard. The Quebec squad, which earned a bye to the final with a 10-2 round-robin record, defeated Ontario’s Travis Fanset 8-6 for the win.

Ontario’s Travis Fanset directed his team to a 9-3 round-robin record before winning a tiebreaker and the semi-final to earn a berth in the final.

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Who says history doesn’t repeat? It was in Sault Ste. Marie in 1980 that Quebec won its first junior men’s title; Denis Marchand defeated Ontario’s John Kawaja 6-5 in a playoff.

The second Quebec win was secured

by Michel Ferland at the 1992 renewal in Vernon, British Columbia.

“We played our game,” said Dion, a history student at Sherbrooke University. “We had the hammer, we took one, then we gave up one. But when we took our three (in the third), that was a big momentum shift. Our goal was to limit the damage when we didn’t have the hammer. That’s what we did. The guys played well.”

Perhaps even more amazing was the winning streak manufactured by Quebec. It finished first with a 10-2 mark to earn a bye to the final.

“We were 3-2 after our loss to Saskatchewan, then we won eight in a row,” said Dion, who made his first appearance at the juniors as third for Ghyslain Richard in 2007, when they finished third to Alberta’s Charley Thomas.

“I love being a skip,” said Dion.

“There’s so much to focus on. I played third last year but I started to be more consistent. I think that was the big difference for me between last year and this year. We also thought that

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experience and age is a big difference (at the juniors). Ontario is a younger team and they played two games yesterday to reach the final. They were more tired. It’s huge for us.

Quebec is not known as a powerhouse in curling, but we proved we can play curling, too, in Quebec.”

Ontario’s Fanset directed his team to a 9-3 round-robin mark before winning a tiebreaker and the semi-final against teams from Saskatchewan and A draw for three by Quebec’s William Dion Prince Edward Island, in the third made it 4-1, setting the stage which also logged 9-3 for the province’s third junior men’s title. records.

In a tiebreaker, Ontario drubbed Saskatchewan’s Brennen Jones 7-2. In the semi, Fanset and his mates prevailed 4-3 over Prince Edward Island’s Brett Gallant, who had lost the 2007 final to Thomas.

“I didn’t think it was really over until the last end,” said Fanset. “They (Quebec) are a great team. They played awesome. I struggled a bit. I think I let my team down, but we did a lot better than we thought we’d do here.”

Fanset had defeated Dion 7-4 early in the round robin.

Quebec’s other loss, 6-5 to Saskatchewan, went to an extra end.

Quebec finished the tournament at 11-2, Ontario 11-4, and Saskatchewan and Prince Edward Island 9-4. Alberta’s

2008 JUNIOR MEN JUNIOR MEN’S FINAL Ontario (Travis Fanset) Quebec (William Dion) * Last-rock advantage

010 101 002 1 *103 010 210 0

6 8

PERCENTAGES Ontario Travis Fanset Craig Van Ymeren Geoff Chambers Chris Jay

66% 76% 65% 85%

Team totals

73%

Quebec William Dion J-M Arsenault Erik Lachance Miguel Bernard

75% 80% 81% 72% 77%

SEMI-FINAL P.E.I. (Brett Gallant) Ontario (Travis Fanset)

*001 000 101 0 010 000 020 1

3 4

002 101 021 X *010 000 100 X

7 2

TIEBREAKER Ontario (Travis Fanset) Saskatchewan (Brennen Jones)

FINAL STANDINGS Playoffs Quebec (William Dion) Ontario (Travis Fanset) Prince Edward Island (Brett Gallant) Saskatchewan (Brennen Jones)

Wins 1 2 0 0

Losses 0 1 1 1

Round robin Wins Quebec (William Dion) 10 Prince Edward Island (Brett Gallant) 9 Saskatchewan (Brennen Jones) 9 Ontario (Travis Fanset) 9 Alberta (Aaron Sluchinski) 7 Northern Ontario (Kory Carr) 7 Newfoundland/Labrador (Colin Thomas) 6 Manitoba (Kyle Peters) 5 British Columbia (Jay Wakefield) 5 New Brunswick (Jon Rennie) 4 Nova Scotia (Kelsey Amero) 3 Yukon (Thomas Scoffin) 3 Northwest Territories (Colin Miller) 1

Losses 2 3 3 3 5 5 6 7 7 8 9 9 11

ALL-STAR TEAMS First-team all-stars Skip Aaron Sluchinski, Alberta Third Jean-Michel Arsenault, Quebec Second Anson Carmody, Prince Edward Island Lead Alex MacFadyen, Prince Edward Island Second-team all-stars Skip William Dion, Quebec Third Mitch Criton, Saskatchewan Second Spencer Wicks, Newfoundland/Labrador Lead Alex Kyle, New Brunswick

First-team all-star honours went to, from left, Alberta skip Aaron Sluchinski, third Jean-Michel Arsenault of Quebec, second Anson Carmody and lead Alex MacFadyen, both of Prince Edward Island.

All-star selections were determined by overall shooting percentages during the round robin. In the case of a tie, the player on the higher-ranking team was awarded the all-star position.

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CANADIAN JUNIOR MEN’S CHAMPIONS 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003

Quebec Alberta Alberta Saskatchewan New Brunswick Saskatchewan

2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995 1994 1993 1992 1991 1990 1989 1988 1987 1986 1985 1984 1983 1982 1981 1980 1979 1978 1977 1976 1975 1974 1973 1972 1971

Manitoba Newfoundland British Columbia Ontario Ontario Alberta Northern Ontario Manitoba Alberta Nova Scotia Quebec Northern Ontario Ontario British Columbia British Columbia New Brunswick Manitoba Alberta Manitoba Saskatchewan Ontario Manitoba Quebec Manitoba Alberta Alberta P.E.I. Alberta Alberta Ontario Alberta Saskatchewan

1970

New Brunswick

1969 1968 1967 1966 1965 1964 1963 1962 1961 1960 1959 1958 1957 1956 1955 1954 1953 1952 1951 1950

Saskatchewan Ontario Alberta Alberta Saskatchewan Northern Ontario Alberta Saskatchewan British Columbia Alberta Alberta Northern Ontario Ontario Saskatchewan Saskatchewan Saskatchewan Ontario Saskatchewan Saskatchewan Saskatchewan

William Dion, Jean-Michel Arsenault, Erik Lachance, Miguel Bernard Charley Thomas, Brock Virtue, Matthew Ng, Kyle Reynolds Charley Thomas, Geoff Walker, Rollie Robinson, Kyle Reynolds Kyle George, Justin Mihalicz, David Kidby, Chris Hebert Ryan Sherrard, Jason Roach, Darren Roach, Jared Bezanson Steve Laycock, Christopher Haichert, Michael Jantzen, Kyler Broad David Hamblin, Ross Derksen, Kevin Hamblin, Ross McCannell Brad Gushue, Mark Nichols, Brent Hamilton, Mike Adam Brad Kuhn, Kevin Folk, Ryan Kuhn, Hugh Bennett John Morris, Craig Savill, Jason Young, Brent Laing John Morris, Craig Savill, Andy Ormsby, Brent Laing Ryan Keane, Scott Pfeifer, Blayne Iskiw, Peter Heck Jeff Currie, Greg Given, Andrew Mikkelsen, Tyler Oinonen Chris Galbraith, Scott Cripps, Brent Barrett, Bryan Galbraith Colin Davison, Kelly Mittelstadt, Scott Pfeifer, Sean Morris Shawn Adams, Ben Blanchard, Jon Philip, Robert MacArthur Michel Ferland, Marco Berthelot, Steve Beaudry, Steve Guetre Jason Repay, Aaron Skillen, Scott McCallum, Trevor Clifford Noel Herron, Robert Brewer, Steve Small, Richard Polk Dean Joanisse, David Nantes, Tim Coombes, Jef Pilon Mike Wood, Mike Bradley, Todd Troyer, Greg Hawkes Jim Sullivan, Charlie Sullivan, Craig Burgess, Dan Alderman Hugh McFadyen, Jon Mead, Norman Gould, John Lange Kevin Martin, Richard Feeney, Daniel Petryk, Michael Berger Bob Ursel, Brent Mendella, Gerald Chick, Mike Ursel Jamie Schneider, Danny Ferner, Steven Leippi, Kelly Vollman John Base, Bruce Webster, Dave McAnerney, Jim Donahoe Mert Thompsett, Bill McTavish, Joel Gagne, Mike Friesen Denis Marchand, Denis Cecil, Yves Barrette, Larry Phillips Mert Thompsett, Lyle Derry, Joel Gagne, Mike Friesen Darren Fish, Lorne Barker, Murray Ursulak, Barry Barker Paul Gowsell, John Ferguson, Doug MacFarlane, Kelly Stearne Bill Jenkins, John Scales, Sandy Stewart, Alan Mayhew Paul Gowsell, Neil Houston, Glen Jackson, Kelly Stearne Robb King, Brad Hannah, Bill Fowlis, Chris King Mark McDonald, Lloyd Emmerson, Phillip Tomsett, Jon Clare Lawrence Niven, Rick Niven, Jim Ross, Ted Poblawski Greg Montgomery, Don Despins, Jeff Montgomery, Rod Verboom Ronald Ferguson, Garth Jardine, Brian Henderson, Cyril Sutherland Robert Miller, Roger Rask, Lloyd Helm, William Aug William Hope, Bruce Lord, Brian Domney, Dennis Gardiner Stanley Trout, Doug Dobry, Allan Kullay, Donald Douglas Brian Howes, Blair Pallesen, John Thompson, Chris Robinson Dan Fink, Ken Runtz, Ron Jacques, Larry Lechner Bob Ash, Bill Ash, Terry Armstrong, Fred Prier Wayne Saboe, Ron Hampton, Rick Aldridge, Mick Adams Mike Lukowich, Ed Lukowich, Doug McLeod, David Moore Jerry Caughlin, Jack Cox, Mike Shippitt, David Jones Tommy Kroeger, Jack Isaman, Ron Nelson, Murray Sorenson John Trout, Bruce Walker, Dave Woods, Allen Sharpe Tom Tod, Neil McLeod, Patrick Moran, David Allin Ian Johnston, Peter Galsworthy, Dave Robinson, Mike Jackson Bob Hawkins, Ted Clarke, Bruce Beveridge, Dave Williams Bayne Secord, Stan Austman, Merv Mann, Gary Stevenson Bayne Secord, Don Snider, Stan Austman, Don Brownell Bob Walker, Duncan Brodie, Claire Peacock, George MacGregor Gary Thode, Gary Cooper, Doug Conn, Roy Hufsmith Gary Thode, Gary Cooper, Orest Hyrniuk, Roy Hufsmith Bill Clarke, Gary Carlson, Ian Innes, Harold Grassie

20 www.seasonofchampions.ca

Aaron Sluchinski and Northern Ontario’s Kory Carr were 7-5, and Colin Thomas of Newfoundland/ Labrador was 6-6.

The rest of the field was below .500.

British Columbia’s Jay Wakefield and Kyle Peters of Manitoba were 5-7. New Brunswick’s Jon Rennie was 4-8, Nova Scotia’s Kelsey Amero and Thomas Scoffin of the Yukon were 3-9. Colin Miller of the Northwest Territories was 1-11.

JOAN MEAD LEGACY AWARD

Ontario skip Danielle Inglis and third Adam Casey of Prince Edward Island are the 2008 winners of the Joan Mead Legacy Award.

Mead was the CBC’s curling producer for many years and produced its curling coverage at the 1998 Olympic Winter Games in Nagano, Japan. After she died suddenly in January 2000, the CBC Legacy Award was re-named in her memory and in honour of the great work she had done for curling on behalf of the CBC. The awards began after the CBC was presented with the Golden Rings Award by the International Olympic Association for its excellence in broadcasting curling from the Nagano games. CBC decided to fund an annual award for junior curlers in Canada as an ongoing legacy of the Golden Rings Award and established the CBC Legacy Awards.

CBC-TV curling commentator Joan McCusker presents the 2008 Joan Mead Legacy Award to Prince Edward Island third Adam Casey.

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Manitoba’s Kaitlyn Lawes, Jenna Loder, Liz Peters and Sarah Wazney got an early lead that they never relinquished en route to the Canadian junior women’s title. Saskatchewan’s Stephanie McVicar fought back to get within one in the ninth but, needing to steal to force an extra end, she came up light.

T

HE MANITOBA TEAM skipped by 19-year-old Kaitlyn Lawes followed up on an unsurpassed round-robin run at the M&M Meat Shops Canadian Juniors by defeating Saskatchewan’s Stephanie McVicar 7-6 in a final that the champs controlled almost from the outset.

It was the eighth crown for Manitoba since the Canadian championship began in 1971, but the first since 1995, when Kelly Scott (née MacKenzie) won in Regina. Scott went on to win a world title that year.

Lawes, a human nutritional sciences student at the University of Manitoba, attributed the win to patience. “I can’t say that enough. I’m so excited. Our girls stuck together the whole time.

They shot the lights out. So did the Saskatchewan girls. We just had to stay patient and wait for opportunities.”

Lawes is the half-sister of Andrea Lawes, a member of the 1990 Canadian women’s championship team skipped

by Alison Goring and 2003 Canada Cup winner skipped by Sherry Middaugh.

The final had all the symptoms of a blowout early on. After a blanked first end, Lawes and her Winnipeg foursome of third Jenna Loder, second Liz Peters (daughter of 1992 Brier winner Vic Peters) and lead Sarah Wazney got on the board when the Manitoba skip

made a beautiful split of her rock in the top of the eight-foot to roll in for three.

After Saskatchewan was unable to blank the third and was forced to take one, Manitoba counted three more in the fourth when Lawes made an open draw.

“They weren’t going out without a fight,” said Lawes. “They made a lot of great shots. We knew we were going to get a close game from then on. We got the early lead, but we knew it would be tough to hold it, so we were lucky we were able to keep a couple of points in front.”

Indeed, the McVicar squad started to claw its way back into it. They closed the gap to 6-3 after drawing for two in the fifth and then proceeded to steal singles in the sixth, when Lawes failed on a difficult angle raise, and the seventh ends, when Manitoba overswept Lawes’ last rock draw.

But the Manitobans righted themselves in the eighth, restoring a two-point lead with a single, although a light draw by Lawes prevented counting a deuce and really putting the game on ice.

Saskatchewan took one in the ninth end, but in the 10th, needing to steal just to force an extra end, McVicar was light with a tap-back and Lawes didn’t have to throw her final stone.

“No lead is really safe in curling

Manitoba skip Kaitlyn Lawes calls off her sweepers during the championship final. Lawes said the key to her team’s win was staying patient.

Saskatchewan skip Stephanie McVicar won two tiebreakers and the semi before bowing 7-6 to Manitoba in the championship final.

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2008 JUNIOR WOMEN JUNIOR WOMEN’S FINAL Manitoba (Kaitlyn Lawes) Saskatchewan (Stephanie McVicar) * Last-rock advantage

*030 300 010 X 001 021 101 X

7 6

PERCENTAGES Manitoba Kaitlyn Lawes Jenna Loder Liz Peters Sarah Wazney

80% 80% 76% 84%

Team totals

80%

Saskatchewan Stephanie McVicar Kari Kennedy Ashley Gregoire Cori Debert

69% 74% 78% 84% 76%

SEMI-FINAL Saskatchewan (Stephanie McVicar) Nova Scotia (Danielle Parsons)

010 202 010 2 *201 010 201 0

8 7

Saskatchewan (Stephanie McVicar) Northern Ontario (Ashley Miharija)

013 010 010 0 *000 101 101 1

6 5

Saskatchewan (Stephanie McVicar) Alberta (Maria Bushell)

002 202 010 0 1 *020 020 200 1 0

8 7

TIEBREAKERS

FINAL STANDINGS Playoffs Manitoba (Kaitlyn Lawes) Saskatchewan (Stephanie McVicar) Nova Scotia (Danielle Parsons) Northern Ontario (Ashley Miharija) Alberta (Maria Bushell)

Wins 1 3 0 0 0

Losses 0 1 1 1 1

Round robin Manitoba (Kaitlyn Lawes) Nova Scotia (Danielle Parsons) Northern Ontario (Ashley Miharija) Alberta (Maria Bushell) Saskatchewan (Stephanie McVicar) New Brunswick (Mary Jane McGuire) Quebec (Kristen Richard) Ontario (Danielle Inglis) Prince Edward Island (Erin Carmody) Newfoundland/Labrador (Julie Devereaux) British Columbia (Kelly Thompson) Northwest Territories (Valisa Aho) Yukon (Sarah Koltun)

Wins 10 9 8 8 8 7 7 6 5 5 4 1 0

Losses 2 3 4 4 4 5 5 6 7 7 8 11 12

now with the four-rock rule,” said Lawes. “A couple of misses here and there and teams can get back into it. I just knew we had to keep playing and keep going.”

Lawes had been the provincial runner-up to Calleen Neufeld in 2006 and ’07. Neufeld went on to finish second in both Canadian championships.

Manitoba finished first in the round robin with a 10-2 record, earning a bye to the final, while Saskatchewan wound up in a three-way tie for third at 8-4 and reached the final via the toughest route, winning two tiebreakers and the semi-final over Nova Scotia.

McVicar first shaded Alberta’s Maria Bushell 8-7 in an extra-end tiebreaker, then nudged Ashley Miharija of Northern Ontario 6-5 in a second sudden-death affair. In the semi, the Saskatchewan team scored two in the 10th end to eliminate Nova Scotia’s Danielle O n t a r i o s k i p D a n i e l l e I n g l i s , r i g h t , Parsons 8-7. accepts the 2008 Joan Mead Legacy “We had three really Award from CBC-TV’s Joan McCusker. good games that set us up perfectly (for the final),” said 18-year-old McVicar. “We just missed a bit early on but we’re fighters. We missed a little bit of execution and we knew we were playing a great team. We knew we had to step it up against them and we didn’t quite do it.”

Manitoba’s losses were 6-5 to Nova Scotia in an extra end and 8-5 to Alberta in the final round.

Lawes finished the tournament with 11 wins in 13 starts.

Saskatchewan was 11-5, Nova Scotia 9-4, Northern Ontario and Alberta 8-5.

Missing tiebreakers by one game were New Brunswick’s

ALL-STAR TEAMS First-team all-stars Skip Danielle Parsons, Nova Scotia Third Megan McGuire, New Brunswick Second Liz Peters, Manitoba Lead Sarah Wazney, Manitoba Second-team all-stars Skip Stephanie McVicar, Saskatchewan Third Jenna Loder, Manitoba Second Jenna Enge, Northern Ontario Lead Jennifer Allen, British Columbia All-star selections were determined by overall shooting percentages during the round robin. In the case of a tie, the player on the higher-ranking team was awarded the all-star position.

22 www.seasonofchampions.ca

The 2008 Canadian junior women’s first-team all-stars: from left, skip Danielle Parsons of Nova Scotia, third Megan McGuire of New Brunswick, second Liz Peters and lead Sarah Wazney, both of Manitoba.

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Mary Jane McGuire and Quebec’s Kristen Richard, who turned in 7-5 round-robin records. Ontario’s Danielle Inglis finished at 6-6.

Up the track, Prince Edward Island’s Erin Carmody and Julie Devereaux of Newfoundland/Labrador were 5-7.

British Columbia’s Kelly Thompson was 4-8, Valisa Aho of the Northwest Territories was 1-11 and the Yukon’s Sarah Koltun was winless in 12 starts.

KEN WATSON AWARD

The 2008 winners of the Ken Watson Award are Newfoundland/Labrador third Stephen Ryan and Prince Edward Island second Lisa Moerike. The awards are voted on by the players in the Canadian Junior Men’s and Women’s Curling Championships and presented to the curlers who best combine playing ability with sportsmanship.

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CANADIAN JUNIOR WOMEN’S CHAMPIONS 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995 1994 1993 1992 1991 1990 1989 1988 1987 1986 1985 1984 1983

The 2008 Ken Watson Award went to Prince Edward Island second Lisa Moerike and Newfoundland/Labrador third Stephen Ryan.

FAIR PLAY AWARD

The 2008 Fair Play Award winners, as selected by the junior men’s and women’s officials, are:

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1982 1981 1980 1979 1978 1977 1976 1975 1974 1973 1972 1971

Manitoba Nfld./Labrador Saskatchewan New Brunswick Nova Scotia Saskatchewan P.E.I. P.E.I. Saskatchewan Quebec

Kaitlyn Lawes, Jenna Loder, Liz Peters, Sarah Wazney Stacie Devereaux, Stephanie Guzzwell, Sarah Paul, Julie Devereaux Mandy Selzer, Erin Selzer, Kristen Mitchell, Megan Selzer Andrea Kelly, Kristen MacDiarmid, Jodie deSolla, Lianne Sobey Jillian Mouzar, Paige Mattie, Blisse Comstock, Chloe Comstock Marliese Miller, Teejay Surik, Janelle Lemon, Chelsey Bell Suzanne Gaudet, Robyn MacPhee, Carol Webb, Kelly Higgins Suzanne Gaudet, Stefanie Richard, Robyn MacPhee, Kelly Higgins Stefanie Miller, Marliese Miller, Stacy Helm, Amanda MacDonald Marie-France Larouche, Nancy Bélanger, Marie-Eve Létourneau, Valerie Grenier New Brunswick Melissa McClure, Nancy Toner, Brigitte McClure, Bethany Toner Nova Scotia Meredith Doyle, Beth Roach, Tara Hamer, Candice MacLean Alberta Heather Godberson, Carmen Whyte, Kristie Moore, Terelyn Bloor Manitoba Kelly MacKenzie, Joanne Fillion, Carlene Muth, Sasha Bergner Manitoba Jennifer Jones, Trisha Baldwin, Jill Officer, Dana Malanchuk Ontario Kim Gellard, Corie Beveridge, Lisa Savage, Sandy Graham Saskatchewan Amber Holland, Cindy Street, Tracy Beach, Angela Street New Brunswick Heather Smith, Denis Cormier, Suzanne LeBlanc, Lesley Hicks Saskatchewan Atina Ford, Darlene Kidd, Leslie Beck, Cindy Ford Manitoba Cathy Overton, Tracy Baldwin, Carol Harvey, Tracy Bush Alberta LeDawn Funk, Sandy Symyrozum, Cindy Larsen, Laurelle Funk British Columbia Julie Sutton, Judy Wood, Susan Auty, Marla Geiger British Columbia Jodie Sutton, Julie Sutton, Dawn Rubner, Chris Thompson Saskatchewan Kimberley Armbruster, Sheila Calcutt, Wanda Figitt, Lorraine Krupski Manitoba Darcy Kirkness, Barb Kirkness, Janet Harvey, Barbara Fetch Ontario Alison Goring, Kristin Holman, Cheryl McPherson, Lynda Armstrong British Columbia Sandra Plut, Sandra Rainey, Leigh Fraser, Debra Fowles Manitoba Karen Fallis, Karen Tresoor, Caroline Hunter, Lynn Fallis Nova Scotia Kay Smith, Krista Gatchell, Cathy Caudle, Peggy Wilson Saskatchewan Denise Wilson, Judy Walker, Dianne Choquette, Shannon Olafson Alberta Cathy King, Brenda Oko, Maureen Olsen, Diane Bowes Alberta Cathy King, Robin Ursuliak, Maureen Olsen, Mary Kay James Saskatchewan Colleen Rudd, Carol Rudd, Julie Burke, Lori Glenn Saskatchewan Patricia Crimp, Colleen Rudd, Judy Sefton, Merrill Greabeiel Manitoba Chris Pidzarko, Cathy Pidzarko, Patti Vanderkerckhove, Barbara Rudolph Saskatchewan Janet Crimp, Carol Davis, Chris Gervais, Susan Carney Manitoba Chris Pidzarko, Cathy Pidzarko, Beth Brunsden, Barbara Rudolph Alberta Shelby McKenzie, Marlene Pargeter, Arlene Hrdlicka, Debbie Goliss

COACHING AWARDS

Junior Men

Jamie Danbrook, British Columbia lead Craig Van Ymeren, Ontario third Kyle Peters, Manitoba skip Aaron Sluchinski, Alberta skip Kay Montgomery, Saskatchewan coach Junior Women

Jody Keim, Alberta second Ashley Gregoire, Saskatchewan second Julie Devereaux, N.L. skip Danielle Inglis, Ontario skip Rick Lang, Northern Ontario coach

National team leader Tom Coulterman is flanked by 2008 coaching award winners Alex Mowat of Manitoba, left, and Quebec’s Benoît Arsenault.

The 2008 National Coaching Award winners are junior men’s coach Benoît Arsenault of Quebec and junior women’s coach Alex Mowat of Manitoba.

The award winners are chosen by coaches at the Canadian Junior Men’s and Women’s Curling Championships, who are asked to select an opposing team coach who best exemplifies the attributes of coaching. www.seasonofchampions.ca 23

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Player ALBERTA — Lethbridge Curling Club SKIP: Casey Scheidegger AGE: 21 OCCUPATION: Exercise science student, Lethbridge College YEARS CURLED: 10 THIRD: Kalynn Park AGE: 20 OCCUPATION: Fashion design and marketing student, Lethbridge College YEARS CURLED: 15 HIGHLIGHTS: Skipped Alberta at 2007 Canadian Juniors.

Played third at 2009 Canadian Mixed

SECOND: AGE: OCCUPATION: YEARS CURLED:

Jessie Scheidegger 18 Server, Humpty’s 7

LEAD: Jayme Coutts AGE: 19 OCCUPATION: Day home worker, Sunshine Family Day Homes YEARS CURLED: 7 COACH:

Don Scheidegger

From left: Casey Scheidegger, Kalynn Park, Jessie Scheidegger, Jayme Coutts and coach Don Scheidegger.

BRITISH COLUMBIA — Richmond Curling Club SKIP: Kelly Shimizu AGE: 21 OCCUPATION: General studies student, Kwantlen University College YEARS CURLED: 12 HIGHLIGHTS: Played third for British Columbia at 2008 Canadian Juniors THIRD: Kayte Gyles AGE: 18 OCCUPATION: Volunteer speaker/fundraiser, Make-A-Wish BC & Yukon/Balding For Dollars YEARS CURLED: 5

SECOND: Janelle Sakamoto AGE: 20 OCCUPATION: Forest resources management student, University of British Columbia YEARS CURLED: 5 LEAD: Julianna Tsang AGE: 20 OCCUPATION: Accounting student, Kwantlen University College YEARS CURLED: 5 COACH:

Victor Shimizu From left: Kelly Shimizu, Kayte Gyles, Janelle Sakamoto, Julianna Tsang and coach Victor Shimizu.

MANITOBA — Pembina Curling Club, Winnipeg SKIP: Kaitlyn Lawes AGE: 20 OCCUPATION: Nutritional sciences student, University of Manitoba YEARS CURLED: 16 HIGHLIGHTS: Won 2008 Canadian Juniors as skip for Manitoba

From left: Kaitlyn Lawes, Jenna Loder, Laryssa Grenkow, Breanne Meakin and coach Rob Meakin.

THIRD: Jenna Loder AGE: 20 OCCUPATION: Nutritional sciences student, University of Manitoba YEARS CURLED: 12 HIGHLIGHTS: Won 2008 Canadian Juniors as third for Manitoba

SECOND: Laryssa Grenkow AGE: 20 OCCUPATION: Agronomy student, University of Manitoba YEARS CURLED: 12 HIGHLIGHTS: Played second for Manitoba at 2005, ’06 and ’07 Canadian Juniors; runner-up in ’06 and ’07 LEAD: Breanne Meakin AGE: 18 OCCUPATION: Science student, University of Manitoba YEARS CURLED: 11 HIGHLIGHTS: Runner-up at 2007 Canadian Juniors as lead for Manitoba COACH:

24 www.seasonofchampions.ca

Rob Meakin

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Profiles NEW BRUNSWICK — Curling Beauséjour, Moncton SKIP: Ashley Howard AGE: 19 OCCUPATION: Business student, Atlantic Baptist University YEARS CURLED: 15 HIGHLIGHTS: Played second for New Brunswick at 2006 Canadian Juniors THIRD: Jillian Babin AGE: 19 OCCUPATION: Kinesiology student, University of New Brunswick YEARS CURLED: 15

SECOND: Melissa Menzies AGE: 18 OCCUPATION: Nursing student, Université de Moncton YEARS CURLED: 11 LEAD: Emily MacRae AGE: 19 OCCUPATION: Business administration student, University of New Brunswick at Fredericton YEARS CURLED: 6 COACH:

Michael Babin

From left: Ashley Howard, Jillian Babin, Melissa Menzies, Emily MacRae and coach Michael Babin.

NEWFOUNDLAND AND LABRADOR — Bally Haly Golf and Curling Club, St. John’s SKIP: Erin Porter AGE: 18 OCCUPATION: Science student, Memorial University of Newfoundland YEARS CURLED: 10

SECOND: Kylie Power AGE: 20 OCCUPATION: Pre-nursing student, Memorial University of Newfoundland YEARS CURLED: 10

THIRD: Alysha Renouf AGE: 19 OCCUPATION: General studies student, Memorial University of Newfoundland YEARS CURLED: 13

LEAD: Leah Prosser AGE: 19 OCCUPATION: Pre-primary education student, Memorial University of Newfoundland YEARS CURLED: 8 COACH:

From left: Erin Porter, Alysha Renouf, Kylie Power, Leah Prosser and coach Michele Renouf.

Michele Renouf

NORTHERN ONTARIO — Idylwylde Golf & Country Club, Sudbury SKIP: Vanessa Maloney AGE: 19 OCCUPATION: Concurrent education student, Laurentian University YEARS CURLED: 9

SECOND: Jennifer (Jenny) Gates AGE: 18 OCCUPATION: Communications student, Laurentian University YEARS CURLED: 12

THIRD: Kendra Lilly AGE: 17 OCCUPATION: Grade 12 student, Lockerby Composite School YEARS CURLED: 12

LEAD: Kaitlynd Burns AGE: 17 OCCUPATION: Grade 12 student, Marymount Academy YEARS CURLED: 9 COACH:

Jan Pula From left: Vanessa Maloney, Kendra Lilly, Jenny Gates, Kaitlynd Burns and coach Jan Pula.

NORTHWEST TERRITORIES — Yellowknife Curling Club SKIP:

Katie (Kate) Maksymowich AGE: 17 OCCUPATION: Grade 12 student, Sir John Franklin High School YEARS CURLED: 10

From left: Kate Maksymowich, Valisa Aho, Danae Kelln, Natty Petten and coach Bill Aho.

THIRD: Valisa Aho AGE: 16 OCCUPATION: Grade 11 student, St. Patrick High School YEARS CURLED: 9 HIGHLIGHTS: Skipped N.W.T. at 2008 Canadian Juniors, played lead in ’07

SECOND: Danae Kelln AGE: 17 OCCUPATION: Grade 12 student, Sir John Franklin High School YEARS CURLED: 8 LEAD: Natasha (Natty) Petten AGE: 17 OCCUPATION: Grade 12 student, Sir John Franklin High School YEARS CURLED: 5 COACH:

Bill Aho

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Player NOVA SCOTIA — CFB Halifax Curling Club SKIP: Marie Christianson AGE: 20 OCCUPATION: Small business and entrepreneurship student, Saint Mary’s University YEARS CURLED: 14 HIGHLIGHTS: Skipped Nova Scotia at 2007 Canadian Juniors

SECOND: Jane Snyder AGE: 19 OCCUPATION: Industrial engineering student, Dalhousie University YEARS CURLED: 9 HIGHLIGHTS: Played lead for Nova Scotia at 2008 Canadian Juniors

THIRD: Tanya Hilliard AGE: 20 OCCUPATION: Kinesiology student, Dalhousie University YEARS CURLED: 11

LEAD: Kaitlin Fralic AGE: 20 OCCUPATION: History student, Mount Saint Vincent University YEARS CURLED: 9

From left: Coach Danny Christianson, Kaitlin Fralic, Jane Snyder, Tanya Hilliard and Marie Christianson.

COACH:

Danny Christianson

ONTARIO — Ottawa Curling Club SKIP: Rachel Homan AGE: 19 OCCUPATION: Human kinetics student, University of Ottawa YEARS CURLED: 14 HIGHLIGHTS: Gold medallist at 2007 Canada Winter Games as skip for Ontario THIRD: Emma Miskew AGE: 19 OCCUPATION: Industrial design student, Carleton University YEARS CURLED: 14 HIGHLIGHTS: Gold medallist at 2007 Canada Winter Games as third for Ontario

SECOND: Alison Kreviazuk AGE: 20 OCCUPATION: Leisure studies/ psychology student, University of Ottawa YEARS CURLED: 12 LEAD: Lynn Kreviazuk AGE: 17 OCCUPATION: Grade 12 student, Sir Robert Borden High School YEARS CURLED: 10 HIGHLIGHTS: Gold medallist at 2007 Canada Winter Games as second for Ontario COACH:

Earle Morris

From left: Rachel Homan, Emma Miskew, Alison Kreviazuk, Lynn Kreviazuk and coach Earle Morris.

PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND — Silver Fox Curling & Yacht Club, Summerside

From left: Erin Carmody, Geri-Lynn Ramsay, Jessica van Ouwerkerk, Darcee Birch and coach Kathie Gallant.

26 www.seasonofchampions.ca

SKIP: Erin Carmody AGE: 20 OCCUPATION: Biology student, University of Prince Edward Island YEARS CURLED: 11 HIGHLIGHTS: Skipped P.E.I. at 2007 and ’08 Canadian Juniors

SECOND: Jessica van Ouwerkerk AGE: 17 OCCUPATION: Grade 12 student, Three Oaks Senior High School YEARS CURLED: 11 HIGHLIGHTS: Played lead for P.E.I. at 2007 and ’08 Canadian Juniors

THIRD: Geri-Lynn Ramsay AGE: 20 OCCUPATION: Medical secretary student, Holland College YEARS CURLED: 12 HIGHLIGHTS: Played third for P.E.I. at 2007 and ’08 Canadian Juniors

LEAD: Darcee Birch AGE: 19 OCCUPATION: Cashier, D.P. Murphy Inc. YEARS CURLED: 12 COACH:

Kathie Gallant

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Profiles QUEBEC — Lachine Curling Club SKIP: Kristen Richard AGE: 20 OCCUPATION: Languages translation student, Concordia University YEARS CURLED: 15 HIGHLIGHTS: Skipped Quebec at 2008 Canadian Juniors, played third in ’07

SECOND: Brittany O’Rourke AGE: 19 OCCUPATION: Leisure sciences student, Concordia University YEARS CURLED: 8 HIGHLIGHTS: Played second for Quebec at 2007 and ’08 Canadian Juniors

THIRD: Lana Gosselin AGE: 20 OCCUPATION: International public affairs student, Laval University YEARS CURLED: 9 HIGHLIGHTS: Played third for Quebec at 2006 Canadian Juniors. Gold medallist at 2003 Canada Winter Games as lead

LEAD: Sasha Beauchamp AGE: 20 OCCUPATION: Psychology student, Concordia University YEARS CURLED: 7 HIGHLIGHTS: Played lead for Quebec at 2007 and ’08 Canadian Juniors COACH:

From left: Kristen Richard, Lana Gosselin, Brittany O’Rourke, Sasha Beauchamp and coach Glenn Tester.

Glenn Tester

SASKATCHEWAN — Callie Curling Club, Regina SKIP: Brooklyn Lemon AGE: 18 OCCUPATION: Grade 12 student, Maryfield School YEARS CURLED: 10

SECOND: Leah Mihalicz AGE: 20 OCCUPATION: Dental assistant, Garden Ridge Dental YEARS CURLED: 9

THIRD: Amanda Craigie AGE: 20 OCCUPATION: Distribution clerk, The Co-operators YEARS CURLED: 15

LEAD: Nicole Lang AGE: 19 OCCUPATION: Business/marketing student, University of Regina YEARS CURLED: 9 COACH:

Dwayne Mihalicz

From left: Brooklyn Lemon, Amanda Craigie, Leah Mihalicz, Nicole Lang and coach Dwayne Mihalicz.

YUKON — Whitehorse Curling Club SKIP: Sarah Koltun AGE: 15 OCCUPATION: Grade 10 student, Vanier Catholic Secondary School YEARS CURLED: 8 HIGHLIGHTS: Skipped Yukon at 2007 and ’08 Canadian Juniors

SECOND: Linea Eby AGE: 15 OCCUPATION: Grade 10 student, F.H. Collins Secondary School YEARS CURLED: 4 HIGHLIGHTS: Played second for Yukon at 2007 and ’08 Canadian Juniors

THIRD: Chelsea Duncan AGE: 16 OCCUPATION: Grade 11 student, F.H. Collins Secondary School YEARS CURLED: 7 HIGHLIGHTS: Played third for Yukon at 2007 and ’08 Canadian Juniors

LEAD: Jenna Duncan AGE: 13 OCCUPATION: Grade 8 student, F.H. Collins Secondary School YEARS CURLED: 7 COACH:

Lindsay Moldowan

From left: Sarah Koltun, Chelsea Duncan, Linea Eby, Jenna Duncan and coach Lindsay Moldowan.

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2009 M&M Meat Shops C Official

DATE

D

TIME

DRAW

SHEET A

SHEET B

SHEET C

SHEET D

Sunday, February 1

9 a.m.

3 p.m.

7:30 p.m.

1 2 3

ONT vs N. ONT (W) SASK vs NS (W) QUE vs MAN (W)

ONT vs N. ONT (M) SASK vs NS (M) QUE vs MAN (M)

PEI vs SASK (W) BC vs PEI (M) NL vs YT (M)

PEI vs SASK (M) BC vs PEI (W) NL vs YT (W)

NB v NL v NS v

Monday, February 2

9 a.m.

2 p.m.

7 p.m.

4 5 6

MAN vs PEI (M) NB vs ALTA (M) NL vs SASK (M)

MAN vs PEI (W) NB vs ALTA (W) NL vs SASK (W)

N. ONT vs QUE (M) QUE vs ONT (W) YT vs NB (W)

N. ONT vs QUE (W) QUE vs ONT (M) YT vs NB (M)

ALTA NS BC v

Tuesday, February 3

9 a.m.

2 p.m.

7 p.m.

7 8 9

MAN vs ALTA (W)

MAN vs ALTA (M)

ALTA vs NWT (W) PEI vs QUE (W)

ALTA vs NWT (M) PEI vs QUE (M)

NWT vs NL (W)

NWT vs NL (M)

BC ONT N. ONT

Wednesday, February 4

9 a.m.

2 p.m.

7 p.m.

10 11 12

NL vs BC (W) QUE vs NL (M) ALTA vs N. ONT (M)

NL vs BC (M) QUE vs NL (W) ALTA vs N. ONT (W)

PEI vs NB (M) NWT vs SASK (M)

PEI vs NB (W) NWT vs SASK (W)

YT vs N. ON ONT

Thursday, February 5

9 a.m.

2 p.m.

7 p.m.

13 14 15

NWT vs YT (W) YT vs NS (M) ONT vs BC (M)

NWT vs YT (M) YT vs NS (W) ONT vs BC (W)

NS vs BC (W) MAN vs ONT (M) N. ONT vs MAN (W)

NS vs BC (M) MAN vs ONT (W) N. ONT vs MAN (M)

SASK

9 a.m.

2 p.m.

7 p.m.

16 17 18

NB vs SASK (W)

NB vs SASK (M)

PEI vs NWT (M)

PEI vs NWT (W)

ONT vs NWT (W) BC vs N. ONT (M) NS vs ALTA (M)

ONT vs NWT (M) BC vs N. ONT (W) NS vs ALTA (W)

Friday, February 6

TIEBREAKERS • SEMI-FINALS • FINALS TIEBREAKERS One draw Two draws Three draws

Saturday, February 7 Saturday, February 7 Friday, February 6 and Saturday, February 7

9 a.m.

9 a.m. and 2 p.m.

11 p.m.

9 a.m. and 2 p.m.

WOMEN’S SEMI-FINAL

Saturday, February 7

MEN’S SEMI-FINAL

Saturday, February 7

7:30 p.m.

WOMEN’S FINAL

Sunday, February 8

11:30 a.m.

MEN’S FINAL

Sunday, February 8

4 p.m.

2009 M&M Meat Shops Canadian Junior Men’s Scorecard BC

ALTA SASK MAN N. ONT ONT QUE

BC ALTA

NB

NS

PEI

NL

Final Standings NWT

YT

BC ALTA SASK MAN

SASK

N. ONT

MAN

ONT

N.ONT

QUE

ONT QUE

NB NS PEI

NB

NL

NS

NWT

PEI NL NWT YT

28 www.seasonofchampions.ca

3:30 p.m.

YT Tiebreaker Tiebreaker SEMI-FINAL FINAL

S

YT v ALTA QUE

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s Canadian Juniors

al

D

Draw SHEET E

SHEET F

SHEET G

SHEET H

SHEET I

SHEET J

QUE vs ALTA (W)

QUE vs ALTA (M)

ALTA vs BC (M)

ALTA vs BC (W)

NB vs NWT (M) NL vs MAN (W) NS vs NWT (W)

NB vs NWT (W) NL vs MAN (M) NS vs NWT (M)

YT vs N. ONT (W) ONT vs NB (W)

YT vs N. ONT (M) ONT vs NB (M)

UE (W) T (M) M)

ALTA vs ONT (M) NS vs NL (M) BC vs MAN (M)

ALTA vs ONT (W) NS vs NL (W) BC vs MAN (W)

SASK vs YT (W)

SASK vs YT (M)

NWT vs BC (W) NWT vs N. ONT (M)

NWT vs BC (M) NWT vs N. ONT (W)

PEI vs NS (W)

PEI vs NS (M)

A (M) (M)

BC vs NB (W) ONT vs YT (W) N. ONT vs SASK (M)

BC vs NB (M) ONT vs YT (M) N. ONT vs SASK (W)

NS vs QUE (W) SASK vs MAN (M) BC vs YT (M)

NS vs QUE (M) SASK vs MAN (W) BC vs YT (W)

NL vs ONT (W) N. ONT vs PEI (M) NB vs NS (M)

NL vs ONT (M) N. ONT vs PEI (W) NB vs NS (W)

YT vs ALTA (M) N. ONT vs NS (W) ONT vs PEI (M)

YT vs ALTA (W) N. ONT vs NS (M) ONT vs PEI (W)

NS vs ONT (M)

NS vs ONT (W)

W) K (W)

QUE vs NB (M)

QUE vs NB (W)

MAN vs NWT (W) BC vs SASK (W) MAN vs YT (M)

MAN vs NWT (M) BC vs SASK (M) MAN vs YT (W)

PEI vs NL (M) SASK vs ALTA (M) ALTA vs PEI (W)

NB vs N. ONT (W) NWT vs QUE (M) NL vs NB (M)

NB vs N. ONT (M) NWT vs QUE (W) NL vs NB (W)

MAN vs NS (W) NB vs MAN (M) N. ONT vs NL (W)

YT vs QUE (W) SASK vs ONT (M)

YT vs QUE (M) SASK vs ONT (W)

(M) W) W)

M) T (W) AN (M)

SASK vs QUE (W)

SASK vs QUE (M)

PEI vs NL (W) SASK vs ALTA (W) ALTA vs PEI (M)

T (M) T (W) (W)

YT vs PEI (W) ALTA vs NL (W) QUE vs BC (M)

YT vs PEI (M) ALTA vs NL (M) QUE vs BC (W)

MAN vs NS (M) NB vs MAN (W) N. ONT vs NL (M)

SHEETS A to E: Sunwave Centre SHEETS F to J: Salmon Arm Curling Club TIEBREAKERS: Salmon Arm Curling Club SEMI-FINALS and FINALS: Sunwave Centre

2009 M&M Meat Shops Canadian Junior Women’s Scorecard BC BC

ALTA SASK MAN N. ONT ONT QUE

NB

NS

PEI

NL

NWT

Final Standings YT

BC ALTA SASK

ALTA

MAN

SASK

N. ONT

MAN

ONT

N.ONT

QUE

ONT

NB NS

QUE

PEI

NB

NL

NS

NWT

PEI NL NWT YT

YT Tiebreaker Tiebreaker SEMI-FINAL FINAL

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Player ALBERTA — Calgary Winter Club SKIP: Kevin Yablonski AGE: 19 OCCUPATION: Fine arts student, University of Calgary YEARS CURLED: 10

SECOND: Brad Benini AGE: 19 OCCUPATION: Commerce student, Mount Royal College YEARS CURLED: 9

THIRD: Michael Ng AGE: 18 OCCUPATION: Business student, University of Calgary YEARS CURLED: 12

LEAD: Derek Clark AGE: 18 OCCUPATION: Nursing student, Mount Royal College YEARS CURLED: 9 COACH:

Randy Yablonski

From left: Kevin Yablonski, Michael Ng, Brad Benini, Derek Clark and coach Randy Yablonski.

BRITISH COLUMBIA — Golden Ears Winter Club, Maple Ridge SKIP: Bryan Kedziora AGE: 20 OCCUPATION: Labourer, B&B Contracting YEARS CURLED: 10 HIGHLIGHTS: Skipped British Columbia at 2007 Canadian Juniors THIRD: Derek Errington AGE: 20 OCCUPATION: Apprentice plumber, CIR Mechanical YEARS CURLED: 10 HIGHLIGHTS: Played third for British Columbia at 2007 Canadian Juniors

SECOND: Cal Jackson AGE: 20 OCCUPATION: Customer service representative, Budget Rent-A-Car YEARS CURLED: 4 LEAD: Tyler MacKenzie AGE: 20 OCCUPATION: Welder/maintenance worker, Queenship Yachts YEARS CURLED: 7 HIGHLIGHTS: Played lead for British Columbia at 2007 Canadian Juniors COACH:

From left: Bryan Kedziora, Derek Errington, Cal Jackson, Tyler MacKenzie and coach Bill Tschirhart.

Bill Tschirhart

MANITOBA — Pembina Curling Club, Winnipeg SKIP: Sam Good AGE: 18 OCCUPATION: Engineering student, University of Manitoba YEARS CURLED: 11

SECOND: Kent Moffitt AGE: 19 OCCUPATION: Apprentice electrician, Nor-Tec Electric YEARS CURLED: 13

THIRD: Taylor McIntyre AGE: 17 OCCUPATION: Grade 12 student, St. Paul’s High School YEARS CURLED: 6

LEAD: David Wiebe AGE: 18 OCCUPATION: Economics student, University of Manitoba YEARS CURLED: 7 COACH:

Peter Wiebe

From left: Sam Good, Taylor McIntyre, Kent Moffitt, David Wiebe and coach Peter Weibe.

NEW BRUNSWICK — Fredericton Curling Club SKIP: Steve Burgess AGE: 20 OCCUPATION: Sales associate, Simms Home Hardware YEARS CURLED: 14 HIGHLIGHTS: Skipped New Brunswick at 2007 Canadian Juniors THIRD: AGE: OCCUPATION: YEARS CURLED: HIGHLIGHTS:

Jon Rennie 18 Clerk, Canadian Tire 10 Skipped New Brunswick at 2008 Canadian Juniors

30 www.seasonofchampions.ca

SECOND: Robbie Doherty AGE: 20 OCCUPATION: Sales associate, Simms Home Hardware YEARS CURLED: 5 LEAD: AGE: OCCUPATION: YEARS CURLED: HIGHLIGHTS:

Kevin Brayshaw 20 Manager, McDonald’s 10 Played lead for New Brunswick at 2007 Canadian Juniors

COACH:

Paul Brayshaw

From left: Steve Burgess, Jon Rennie, Robbie Doherty, Kevin Brayshaw and coach Paul Brayshaw.

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Profiles NEWFOUNDLAND AND LABRADOR — Re/Max Centre, St. John’s SKIP:

Kelly Schuh (throws third rocks) AGE: 19 OCCUPATION: Kinesiology student, Memorial University of Newfoundland YEARS CURLED: 5 Cory Schuh (throws fourth rocks) AGE: 18 OCCUPATION: Biochemistry student, Memorial University of Newfoundland YEARS CURLED: 5

SECOND: Scott Eaton AGE: 18 OCCUPATION: History student, Memorial University of Newfoundland YEARS CURLED: 5 HIGHLIGHTS: Played lead for N.L. at 2007 Canadian Juniors

THIRD:

LEAD: Stephen Moss AGE: 19 OCCUPATION: Engineering student, Memorial University of Newfoundland YEARS CURLED: 9 COACH:

Eugene Trickett From left: Kelly Schuh, Cory Schuh, Scott Eaton and Stephen Moss.

NORTHERN ONTARIO — Fort William Curling Club, Thunder Bay SKIP: Dylan Johnston AGE: 19 OCCUPATION: Ice technician, Fort William Curling Club YEARS CURLED: 12 THIRD: Cody Johnston AGE: 18 OCCUPATION: Grade 12 student, Westgate Collegiate & Vocational Institute YEARS CURLED: 12

SECOND: Michael Makela AGE: 18 OCCUPATION: Grade 12 student, Hammarskjold High School YEARS CURLED: 5 LEAD: Mike Badiuk AGE: 18 OCCUPATION: Grade 12 student, Westgate Collegiate & Vocational Institute YEARS CURLED: 4 COACH:

Ray Skillen

From left: Dylan Johnston, Cody Johnston, coach Ray Skillen, Michael Makela and Mike Badiuk.

NORTHWEST TERRITORIES — Yellowknife Curling Club SKIP: Colin Miller AGE: 17 OCCUPATION: Grade 12 student, Sir John Franklin High School YEARS CURLED: 7 HIGHLIGHTS: Skipped N.W.T. at 2006, ’07 and ’08 Canadian Juniors THIRD: Robert Heimbach AGE: 18 OCCUPATION: Microbiology student, University of Alberta YEARS CURLED: 7 HIGHLIGHTS: Played second for N.W.T. at 2006 Canadian Juniors, third in ’07 and ’08

SECOND: John Murray AGE: 16 OCCUPATION: Grade 11 student, St. Patrick High School YEARS CURLED: 8 HIGHLIGHTS: Played second for N.W.T. at 2007 and ’08 Canadian Juniors LEAD: David Aho AGE: 15 OCCUPATION: Grade 9 student, St. Patrick High School YEARS CURLED: 10 HIGHLIGHTS: Played lead for N.W.T. at 2006, ’07 and ’08 Canadian Juniors COACH:

Maureen Miller

From left: Colin Miller, Robert Heimbach, John Murray, David Aho and coach Maureen Miller.

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Player NOVA SCOTIA — Highlander Curling Club, St. Andrews SKIP: Paul Dexter AGE: 19 OCCUPATION: Electrical engineering student, Dalhousie University YEARS CURLED: 6 THIRD: Robby McLean AGE: 20 OCCUPATION: Civil engineering student, St. Francis Xavier University YEARS CURLED: 8 HIGHLIGHTS: Played second for Nova Scotia at 2006 and ’07 Canadian Juniors

From left: Paul Dexter, Robby McLean, Alex MacFadyen, Josh MacInnis and coach Paul McLean.

SECOND: Alex MacFadyen AGE: 18 OCCUPATION: Human kinetics student, St. Francis Xavier University YEARS CURLED: 8 HIGHLIGHTS: Played lead for P.E.I. at 2006, ’07 and ’08 Canadian Juniors; runner-up in ’07 LEAD: Josh MacInnis AGE: 20 OCCUPATION: Psychology student, St. Francis Xavier University YEARS CURLED: 12 HIGHLIGHTS: Played lead for Nova Scotia at 2004 Canadian Juniors COACH:

Paul McLean

ONTARIO — K-W Granite Club, Waterloo SKIP: Bowie Abbis-Mills AGE: 19 OCCUPATION: Economics student, University of Waterloo YEARS CURLED: 7

SECOND: Scott Hindle AGE: 19 OCCUPATION: Planning student, University of Waterloo YEARS CURLED: 10

THIRD: Scott McGregor AGE: 20 OCCUPATION: Business administration student, Wilfrid Laurier University YEARS CURLED: 11

LEAD: Terry Arnold AGE: 18 OCCUPATION: Grade 12 student, St. David Catholic Secondary School YEARS CURLED: 13 COACH:

Jamie Arnold

From left: Bowie Abbis-Mills, Scott McGregor, Scott Hindle, Terry Arnold and coach Jamie Arnold.

PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND — Charlottetown Curling Club

From left: Jamie Danbrook, Anson Carmody, Adam Casey, Brett Gallant and coach Peter Gallant.

SKIP: Brett Gallant AGE: 18 OCCUPATION: Business student, University of Prince Edward Island YEARS CURLED: 14 HIGHLIGHTS: Skipped P.E.I. at 2004, ’06, ’07 and ’08 Canadian Juniors; runner-up in ’07

SECOND: Anson Carmody AGE: 19 OCCUPATION: Business student, University of Prince Edward Island YEARS CURLED: 11 HIGHLIGHTS: Played second for P.E.I. at 2006, ’07 and ’08 Canadian Juniors; runner-up in ’07

THIRD: Adam Casey AGE: 19 OCCUPATION: Engineering student, University of Prince Edward Island YEARS CURLED: 12 HIGHLIGHTS: Played third for P.E.I. at 2006, ’07 and ’08 Canadian Juniors; runner-up in ’07

LEAD: Jamie Danbrook AGE: 20 OCCUPATION: Business administration student, University of Prince Edward Island YEARS CURLED: 12 HIGHLIGHTS: Played second for British Columbia at 2005 Canadian Juniors, lead in ’08 COACH:

32 www.seasonofchampions.ca

Peter Gallant

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Profiles QUEBEC — Lachine Curling Club SKIP: Andrew Leigh AGE: 20 OCCUPATION: History student, Concordia University YEARS CURLED: 14 THIRD: Benoit (Ben) Vezeau AGE: 20 OCCUPATION: Drywall installer, Pro-M.A.G. YEARS CURLED: 11

SECOND:

Mathieu (Matt) Westphal AGE: 18 OCCUPATION: Pro shop attendant, Club de Golf Tecumseh YEARS CURLED: 8 LEAD: Brad Hamelin AGE: 20 OCCUPATION: Media arts student, John Abbott College YEARS CURLED: 14 COACH:

Anne-Marie Legault-Lapierre

From left: Andrew Leigh, Ben Vezeau, Matt Westphal, Brad Hamelin and coach Anne-Marie Legault-Lapierre.

SASKATCHEWAN — Granite Curling Club, Saskatoon SKIP: Mike Armstrong AGE: 19 OCCUPATION: Education student, University of Saskatchewan YEARS CURLED: 12

SECOND: Tyson Armstrong AGE: 19 OCCUPATION: Accounting student, University of Saskatchewan YEARS CURLED: 11

THIRD: Tyler Lang AGE: 20 OCCUPATION: Kinesiology student, University of Saskatchewan YEARS CURLED: 7

LEAD: Jordan Raymond AGE: 20 OCCUPATION: Kinesiology student, University of Saskatchewan YEARS CURLED: 13 COACH:

Don Greer

From left: Mike Armstrong, Tyler Lang, Tyson Armstrong, Jordan Raymond and coach Don Greer.

YUKON — Whitehorse Curling Club SKIP: Thomas Scoffin AGE: 14 OCCUPATION: Grade 9 student, Porter Creek Secondary School YEARS CURLED: 7 HIGHLIGHTS: Skipped Yukon at 2007 and ’08 Canadian Juniors

SECOND: Nicholas Koltun AGE: 17 OCCUPATION: Grade 11 student, Vanier Catholic Secondary School YEARS CURLED: 10 HIGHLIGHTS: Played second for Yukon at 2007 and ’08 Canadian Juniors

THIRD: Will Mahoney AGE: 17 OCCUPATION: Grade 11 student, Vanier Catholic Secondary School YEARS CURLED: 9 HIGHLIGHTS: Played third for Yukon at 2007 and ’08 Canadian Juniors

LEAD: Mitch Young AGE: 16 OCCUPATION: Grade 11 student, Vanier Catholic Secondary School YEARS CURLED: 5 HIGHLIGHTS: Played lead for Yukon at 2007 and ’08 Canadian Juniors COACH:

From left: Thomas Scoffin, Will Mahoney, Nicholas Koltun, Mitch Young and coach Wade Scoffin.

Wade Scoffin

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In A League Of Their Own

34 www.seasonofchampions.ca

PHOTOS: MICHAEL BURNS

N

ATIONAL CURLING PLAYDOWNS FOR schoolboys and junior men have been around for only slightly less time than the Brier.

Provincial schoolboy championships were first organized back in the 1940s and the Victor Sifton Trophy, donated by the owner of the Sifton newspapers, was unveiled for competition in 1947 in Regina.

High-school champions from the three Prairie provinces competed in a double round robin in the inaugural Sifton championship, won by Manitoba’s Don Montgomery.

The field doubled to six teams in 1948 in Winnipeg, where champions from British Columbia, Ontario and Quebec were added. In the end, Stan Gowling maintained Manitoba’s grip on the Sifton silverware.

In 1949, in Edmonton, teams from the Northwest Territories and Northern Ontario expanded the field to eight teams and Jack Thompson’s squad started Saskatchewan on a four-year roll.

The four Maritime provinces joined the festivities in 1950, the first year of the officially sanctioned Canadian schoolboy championship and the first year complete records were kept. The Territories were not represented that year and, in fact, didn’t return to the fold until 1975.

In 1958, Pepsi-Cola became the title sponsor and Newfoundland joined the competition. The championship was known as the Pepsi Schoolboys from 1958 to 1975, before morphing into the Pepsi Juniors in 1976, when the Canadian Curling Association decided to scrap high-school eligibility and qualify junior teams (up to age 21) from clubs.

This year’s Canadian juniors in Salmon Arm is the fourth championship to be played under the M&M Meat Shops sponsorship banner.

M&M is contracted to sponsor the juniors through 2012.

In 1971, the inaugural Canadian Girls Curling “We got on a roll and the confidence just built with each game,” says 1988 Championship took Canadian junior champion Mike Wood. place in Vancouver.

After struggling to a 3-4 record over the first seven draws, B.C.’s Mike Wood, Mike Bradley, Todd Troyer and Greg Hawkes won eight straight — all sudden-death — en route to the 1988 Canadian junior men’s title.

Four teams — British Columbia, Alberta, Nova Scotia and the Territories — participated in the event, which was won

by Alberta’s Shelby McKenzie.

The next year, in Winnipeg, nine teams took part, with Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Ontario, Quebec, Newfoundland and P.E.I. joining the fold and the Territories dropping out.

New Brunswick came on board in 1973, the Territories returned in 1977, and Northern Ontario made it a 12-team field in 1991.

In 1980, Pepsi-Cola also assumed sponsorship of the junior women’s championship, which was held separately from the men’s event. But the two were combined in 1987 in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan, and have remained so ever since. Pepsi continued its sponsored through 1994, a period spanning 37 years.

British Columbia has produced four national junior men’s champion teams and one world champion team, three national junior women’s championship teams and the inaugural world junior women’s champion squad.

Jerry Caughlin’s Oliver team was the first B.C. junior team to crack the national limelight. In 1961, in Prince George, Caughlin directed Jack Cox, Mike Shippitt and David Jones to the schoolboys title with a 9-1 round-robin record.

Caughlin and Alberta’s John Williams were tied with 8-1

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records heading into the final round, in which Caughlin drubbed Ontario’s Ron Bobbie 11-4, while Williams bowed 7-6 to Quebec’s Andy Hrycko.

Alberta finished 8-2, while Manitoba’s Bob Friesen and Saskatchewan’s Mike Lukowich each boasted 7-3 records.

Caughlin’s only loss was a 6-5 decision to Lukowich in the fourth round.

Mike Wood and Dean Joanisse of Victoria won back-to-back Canadian junior men’s titles for B.C. in 1988 and ’89.

With his team of Mike Bradley, Todd Troyer and Greg Hawkes, Wood won the 1988 title at the North Shore Winter Club in North Vancouver, and then was off to the worlds in Markham, Ontario, where he lost the final 7-2 to Sweden’s Peja Lindholm.

“That was a very special year for us,” recalls Wood. “It definitely was a thrill of a lifetime. As a team, we got on a roll and the confidence just built with each game. What made that year so exciting was that we all went to Mount Douglas school.”

Wood’s outfit won the Canadian title the hard way, finishing in a four-way tie for the last playoff berth and then mowing down everybody left standing after the round robin.

After struggling to a 3-4 record over the first seven draws, losing to Northern Ontario’s Craig Kochan, Saskatchewan’s Randy Bryden, Nova Scotia’s Mike Pace and New Brunswick’s Tim Comeau, the B.C. team proceeded to win eight straight, all sudden-death.

Wood and company knocked off Manitoba’s Brent Braemer 5-2 and Nova Scotia 4-2 in tiebreakers. Then Wood dumped Saskatchewan 5-2 in the semi and whipped Northern Ontario 6-2 in the final, blanking the Kochan team — which had dominated the round robin with a 9-2 record “I was only in my second year of skip- — after the second end. ping when we won the Canadians,” says Wood finished with Dean Joanisse, “so it was pretty special.” an 11-4 record.

In 1989, Joanisse, Dave Nantes, Tim Coombes and Jef Pilon followed in Wood’s footsteps, winning their Canadian title in Winnipeg. And then, just down the road in Portage la Prairie, Joanisse finished fourth at the world juniors.

“I was only in my second year of skipping when we won the Canadians, so it was pretty special,” says Joanisse. “We had a young team that worked very hard to be able to win the Canadians. Our coach, Dave Hatter, was very good at guiding us and working with our natural ability.”

Coach David Hatter, lead Jef Pilon, second Tim Coombes, third David Nantes and skip Dean Joanisse gave B.C. back-to-back Canadian junior men’s titles with a 5-2 decision over Quebec’s Martin Ferland.

Joanisse’s route to the title was similar to Wood’s, losing four times — 7-6 to Quebec’s Martin Ferland in an extra end, 10-3 to Manitoba’s Lyall Hudson, 6-5 to Saskatchewan’s Randy Bryden and 6-4 to Nova Scotia’s Mike Pace — en route to the title Quebec finished at 8-3, a game in front of a traffic jam at 7-4 involving Ontario’s David Allan, Saskatchewan, Nova Scotia and B.C. In tiebreakers, Joanisse avenged his earlier defeat to the

After losing their first game, B.C.’s Brad Kuhn, Kevin Folk, Ryan Kuhn and Hugh Bennett racked up 12 straight victories — including an 8-7 extra-end win over Newfoundland in the final — to claim the 2000 national title.

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Bluenosers with a 5-4 extra-end win, while Ontario sidelined Saskatchewan 7-3.

In the semi, B.C. scored its second straight last-rock win, 6-5 over Ontario before polishing off Ferland 5-2 in the final.

In 2000, in British Columbia‘s only double winner in Moncton, Kelowna’s C a n a d i a n j u n i o r w o m e n ’ s p l a y , J u l i e Brad Kuhn skipped Sutton added a world crown in 1988.

B.C.’s most recent national junior championship team. He stands alone as the province’s only world winner.

Directing Kevin Folk, brother Ryan Kuhn and Hugh Bennett, Kuhn won 11 straight round-robin games after losing 5-4 to Ontario’s Jason Young in the first round.

Kuhn stole the championship final with an 8-7 extra-end win over Newfoundland’s Brad Gushue when Gushue pulled the string on a last-rock draw.

Gushue, who finished 10-2 in the round robin, stopped Saskatchewan’s Brock Montgomery in the semi after Montgomery had knocked off Young in a tiebreaker.

At the worlds in Geising, Germany, Kuhn wreaked vengeance with a 10-4 semi-final win over Denmark’s Kasper Wiksten and an 8-4 win over Switzerland’s Patrick Vuille in the final after losing to both in the round robin.

Canada’s only other loss came at the hands of Randy Baird of the United States.

Vuille finished with a 7-2 round-robin record, while Kuhn, Wiksten and Germany’s Christian Baumann each logged 6-3 records.

Sandra Plut and her Kamloops team of Sandra Rainey, Leigh Fraser and Debra Fowles gave B.C. its first national junior women’s title in 1982 in Winnipeg.

B.C.’s Chris Thompson, Dawn Rubner, Julie Sutton and Jodie Sutton claimed the 1986 Canadian junior women’s crown, amassing a 9-2 record with a 4-3 final-game victory over Newfoundland’s Jill Noseworthy.

36 www.seasonofchampions.ca

Skip Julie Sutton, third Judy Wood, second Susan Auty and lead Marla Geiger gave British Columbia its last junior women’s title in 1987 with a 5-4 win over Manitoba’s Karen Purdy in the championship final.

Plut stole three in the fifth end for a 5-0 advantage in a sudden-death playoff against Ontario’s Alison Goring. The B.C. team wrapped it up 6-3 in nine ends.

The two teams had finished the round robin with 8-2 records. Manitoba’s Maureen Bonar and Quebec’s Debbie Wark were two games off the pace.

Jodie Sutton, her sister Julie, Dawn Rubner and Chris Thompson of Oliver claimed the 1986 Canadian crown in Noranda, Quebec, amassing a 9-2 record with a 4-3 final-game victory over Newfoundland’s Jill Noseworthy.

B.C., Newfoundland and Manitoba’s Janet Harvey each had 8-2 records after the round robin but B.C. drew the bye to the final and Newfoundland ousted Manitoba 7-3 in the semi.

The final involved four blank ends and B.C. scored the game’s only deuce in the eighth, enabling Sutton to overcome a 2-1 deficit and assume control.

The next year, in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan, Julie Sutton skipped Judy Wood, Susan Auty and Marla Geiger to a 10-1 record and the title.

B.C. won six straight, lost 6-3 to Saskatchewan’s Heather Torrie and then added three more wins to finish atop the heap at 9-1. Manitoba’s Karen Purdy finished 8-2 and Ontario’s Janet Omand (Hürlimann) was 7-3.

Purdy edged Omand 5-4 in an extra-end semi before bowing 5-4 to Sutton’s last brick in the final.

At the worlds in Chamonix, France, the Sutton team won the first ever world junior women’s title. The Canadians won seven straight, then lost 5-4 to Scotland’s Carolyn Hutchinson in the final round.

That loss was avenged in the playoffs, when Sutton throttled Hutchinson 7-3 in the semi before defeating Switzerland’s Marianne Amstutz 6-4 in the gold-medal match.

Julie Sutton (Skinner) is B.C.’s only double winner in national junior women’s play.

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Behind The Hack

BY LARRY WOOD

W

HAT’S THIS? A Canadian junior curling championship in Salmon Arm? Finally, after all these years?

It’s been a long time coming.

It’s been a long time, too, since Salmon Arm produced a curling champion.

The fact is, Salmon Arm High School produced three British Columbia junior — then schoolboy — champions in five years, in 1959, ’62 and ’63. But since then, zilch, nada, nary a whimper on any front, involving any gender.

No champs. No championships. But once upon a time….

Until 1959, “Salmon Arm High hadn’t won anything in B.C., in any sport,” recalls John Munro, who played on two of those high-school curling teams. “We came back from winning that first provincial title and they paraded us around town in open cars. It was a big deal in those days.”

Fortunately, Munro adds, the parade took place before the trip to the Canadian championship in Calgary. The team — skip John Rutherford, a transplant from Revelstoke, B.C., John Munro, his brother Tom and Allan Mason — won only one of 10 games in Cowtown.

“It was tough,” says 65-year-old Munro, who retired in Abbotsford from a career that culminated with teaching computer science at the University of the Fraser Valley.

Rutherford, he says, “was a great shooter. He rarely missed a shot at the provincials. Afterward, we decided he used up all his good shots getting us to Calgary. In retrospect, he just had a bad series there.”

It took three years to erase the memory of that setback but Munro, skipping Bob Welsh, Basil Haylock and Alan Nunn, seized the opportunity in 1962. They won the province in Trail and finished runners-up in the Canadian championship in Halifax with an 8-2 record.

But by then, Salmon Arm High was bragging about a provincial women’s basketball champion, so there was no tickertape parade for the curlers.

“The phys-ed teacher didn’t consider curling a sport,” says Munro. “But we eventually convinced him to try the game and he was hooked on it.”

Munro’s younger brother, Peter, skipped the provincial champion in 1963 with Nunn at third, and David Lewis and Howard Spence on the front end. They finished 6-4 in Guelph, Ontario, behind undefeated winner Wayne Saboe of Alberta.

“We always had wonderful support from the club,” says

John Munro. “We used to sneak in the window at night and throw rocks in the dark, corner to corner because there were no dividers on the four sheets. We practised a lot. The adults accepted us. We were like mascots there.”

The Munro boys had started to curl at a two-sheet natural club in Salmon Arm back in the 1950s, but balmy winters restricted ice time to a few short weeks.

“The members owned their rocks,” he recalls. “And some of them were huge boulders and others weighed 20 pounds.

It was crazy. The guys with the big rocks would do some serious damage cleaning out the rings. But the guys with the little rocks had the advantage of being able to draw through those narrow ports.”

Munro’s father built the first four-sheet artificial club equipped with matched bricks, so it was only natural that his boys would be among the town’s strongest young proponents of the game.

“Salmon Arm was a great place to grow up,” says Munro.

“There were a lot of sports to play. I always felt like we were the first kids to get into curling.”

Despite finishing two games behind undefeated Mike Lukowich, Munro says the 1962 championship could have been “much tighter at the finish.”

“I think they (Saskatchewan) were rather fortunate. They should have lost to Quebec in the last round in an extra end and they squeaked past Manitoba and a couple of other teams.

“We played them on the first draw on a sheet right along the boards and they adapted to it much quicker than we did.

It was on hockey ice in an old arena, which was pretty rough at the start but got better as the week progressed. B.C. was the defending champion and I recall feeling tremendous pressure representing the province. And it wasn’t easy playing in front of spectators who seemed to know nothing about the game. It was strange.”

But it proved the training ground for a virtual lifetime of fun on the curling ice. “I played at UBC and in a lot of bonspiels after that. In the 1963 provincial playdowns I had to make my last shot to beat Lyall Dagg and the rock rolled too far. Our best effort was a year in the 1970s against Bernie Sparkes. He won, we finished third.”

The last few seasons, this kid from Salmon Arm has strayed from the game. “But I hope to get back at it,” Munro says. “They keep coming up with new categories — seniors, masters, over-80s. I think maybe there is hope for me yet.”

Larry Wood is a Calgary-based communications consultant and associate editor of Extra End magazines www.seasonofchampions.ca 39

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C U R L E R S

Julie Sutton (Skinner)

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ULIE SUTTON (NOW SKINNER) APPEARED ON THE Canadian curling scene in 1986, when she and her twin sister, Jodie, captured the Canadian junior women’s title in Noranda, Quebec.

The British Columbia team — with Jodie skipping, Julie vicing, Dawn Rubner at second and Chris Thompson at lead — defeated Newfoundland’s Jill Noseworthy in the final.

Skinner was back at the nationals in 1987, this time on the teehead. She romped through the field with a 9-1 round-robin record and then downed Manitoba’s Karen Purdy 5-4 in the final.

At the worlds in Chamonix, France, the B.C. foursome won the first-ever world junior women’s title with a 6-4 decision over Switzerland’s Marianne Amstutz in the final.

Skinner made the transition from junior to women’s curling in record time and skipped British Columbia at the 1989 Scott Tournament of Hearts in Kelowna. The team finished the round robin in a five-way tie for second place with a 7-4 record, behind Manitoba’s Chris More. In the ensuing tiebreakers, Skinner ousted New Brunswick’s Heidi Hanlon before losing to Michelle Schneider of Saskatchewan.

Two years later, Skinner was back with a new team — sister Jodie at third, Melissa Soligo at second and Karri Willms at lead. They sailed through the round robin with a 10-1 record, earning a bye to the final. Trailing New Brunswick’s Hanlon 5-2 after seven ends, the B.C. squad hit for deuces in the eighth and ninth ends and a single in the 10th to win 7-5.

Skinner journeyed to the world championship in Winnipeg and met Norway’s Dordi Nordby in the final. Nordby emerged with a 4-3 victory and her second straight world title.

Curling was a demonstration sport at the 1992 Olympic Winter Games in Albertville, France, where Skinner’s 1991 Hearts champions represented Canada. Skinner lost a semi-final to Nordby, who then lost the gold-medal game to Germany’s Andrea Schöpp. Skinner won bronze with a 9-3 decision over Denmark’s Helena Blach (Lavrsen).

Skinner’s outfit returned to the Hearts in 1992 as Team Canada and finished in a three-way tie for first with Manitoba and B.C. They were awarded top spot but lost to Manitoba’s Connie Laliberte 7-3 in the final. They won B.C. again in 1993 but slipped to a 6-5 finish at the Hearts.

Skinner then spent several years out of the spotlight, during which she married. Then, in 2000, Kelley Law of New Westminster put together a new team with Skinner at third.

They won the provincial Hearts in grand fashion and caught fire at the Hearts in Prince George, winning six straight,

Canada’s Julie Sutton, Judy Wood, Susan Auty and Marla Geiger won the first-ever world junior women’s crown in 1988, in Chamonix, France. The B.C. foursome defeated Switzerland’s Marianne Amstutz 6-4 in the final.

including the final two round-robin games, a tiebreaker, a Page playoff game, a semi-final and a final-game victory over Ontario’s Anne Merklinger.

At the worlds in Glasgow, Scotland, that year, Law and her mates were tied for first with none other than Norway’s Nordby at the end of the round robin. In the semis, Law downed Scotland’s Rhona Martin 10-7, while Nordby lost to Switzerland’s Luzia Ebnöther. Canada had some anxious moments in the final against the Swiss, but in the end managed a 7-6 victory to win the world crown.

The 2001 Hearts was held in Sudbury, Ontario, with Law and her mates returning as Team Canada and successfully capturing first place at the end of the round robin. Law faced Colleen Jones of Nova Scotia in the final and, with the score tied after regulation, it took an extra-end measure before Jones was pronounced the winner.

The next stop for Law and Skinner was the Canadian Curling Trials in December 2001 in Regina. Law dominated the round robin, finishing in first place with a 7-2 record. In the final against Sherry Anderson of Delisle, Saskatchewan, Law took two points in the fifth end, stole another in the sixth, added two in the seventh and cruised to a 7-3 win.

It was business as usual for the Law squad at the 2002 Olympic Winter Games in Salt Lake City, Utah, as it lost only once in the 10-team round robin. But then it suffered a 6-5 upset to Great Britain’s Rhona Martin in the semis.

Law’s team bounced back the next day with a decisive 9-5 win over Kari Erickson of the United States to capture the bronze medal. www.seasonofchampions.ca 41

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PHOTOS: MICHAEL BURNS

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RITISH COLUMBIA PLAYED HOST TO FOUR Canadian junior men’s — né schoolboys — championships and three Canadian junior women’s events before the two were combined in 1987. Since then, four national competitions have been staged in the Pacific Province.

Nelson played host to the second-ever Canadian schoolboys championship in 1951, Prince George did the honours in 1961, Kamloops in 1971 and Victoria in 1979.

The inaugural junior women’s event, with only four teams, was held in Vancouver in 1971. Chilliwack hosted the women in 1978 and Fort St. John was the site of the 1984 championship.

Since amalgamation, Canadian junior championships have taken place in North Vancouver in 1988, Vernon in ’92, Kelowna in ’99 and, most recently, Victoria in 2004.

Only two B.C. junior men’s teams have won on home ice; no B.C. women’s team has ever been successful.

Oliver’s Jerry Caughlin — with Jack Cox, Mike Shippitt and David Jones — won the 1961 national schoolboys in Prince George. Victoria’s Mike Wood led his team of Mike Bradley, Todd Troyer and Greg Hawkes to victory in North Vancouver in 1988.

Six skips have won the national junior men’s title twice and three of them — Saskatchewan’s Gary Thode, Mert Thompsett of Manitoba and Ontario’s John Morris — won one of their titles on B.C. freeze.

Thode, a legendary high-school shotsmith from Saskatoon, won his first of two consecutive titles in Ontario’s John Morris, standing, defeated B.C.’s Jeff Richard in 1999 on Richard’s Nelson in 1951 with an unmatched 8-1 home ice to record his second straight title.

The last B.C. junior men’s team to win on home ice — Mike Wood, Mike Bradley, Todd Troyer and Greg Hawkes — won the 1988 championship in North Vancouver, with a 6-2 win over Northern Ontario’s Craig Kochan.

record. He skipped third Gary Cooper, second Orest Hyrniuk and lead Roy Hufsmith.

Thompsett’s win in Victoria in 1979 was his first of two titles. Racking up an 11-2 record, Thompsett and his Winnipeg team of Lyle Derry, Joel Gagne and Mike Friesen finished the round robin at 9-2, tied with Saskatchewan’s Warren Proctor and trailing Newfoundland’s Geoff Cunningham by a single game.

In the first year that playoffs were introduced at the national junior men’s championship, Thompsett ousted Proctor before upending Cunningham in the final.

Ottawa’s Morris — playing with Craig Savill, Jason Young and Brent Laing — repeated as national titleholder in Kelowna in 1999.

Morris actually played in a record three straight finals, losing in 1997 to Alberta’s Ryan Keane, then defeating Alberta’s Carter Rycroft in ’98 and British Columbia’s Jeff Richard in ’99 on Richard’s home ice.

Greg Montgomery, one of a long line of top curlers from central Saskatchewan, won the 1971 schoolboys in Kamloops, with Don Despins, Jeff Montgomery and Rod Verboom in support.

Montgomery finished 10-1 after defeating Doug Smith of Northern Ontario in a sudden-death playoff. Murray Nye’s Manitoba entry finished in third place.

Wood’s 1988 title involved an eight-game closing streak that included sudden-death playoff wins over Nova Scotia’s

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Mike Pace, Brent Braemer of Manitoba, Randy Bryden of Saskatchewan and Northern Ontario’s Craig Kochan, in that order.

Quebec’s Michel Ferland won the 1992 title in Vernon with a 10-2 record, defeating Nova Scotia’s Shawn Adams 7-5 in the final.

Ferland — playing with Marco Berthelot, Steve Beaudry and Steve Guetre — led the round robin at 9-2, while Adams was 8-3. Three skips — Saskatchewan’s Scott Bitz, Mike Gaudet of Prince Edward Island and Ontario’s Adam Spencer — shared third place at 6-5.

Bitz eliminated Spencer 5-4 before bowing 8-7 to Gaudet in tiebreakers. Adams defeated Gaudet 5-3 in the semi-final.

New Brunswick’s Ryan Sherrard emerged triumphant during the most recent B.C.-hosted Canadian juniors, in 2004.

Sherrard — with brothers Jason and Darren Roach and Jared Bezanson — finished the round robin in Victoria tied with Newfoundland’s Matt Blandford and Manitoba’s Daley Peters at 9-3. Sherrard stole the 10th end to defeat Peters 8-7 in the semi-final and then nudged Blandford 6-5 in the championship final.

Alberta’s Shelby McKenzie — with Marlene Pargeter, Arlene Hrdlicka and Debbie Goliss — topped the inaugural junior women’s four-team field in 1971 in Vancouver.

Seven years later, in Chilliwack, Alberta’s Cathy King — directing Brenda Oko, Maureen Olsen and Diane Bowes — won her second straight title with a perfect 10-0 record and three games in front of her closest competitor Becki Ross of Northern Ontario.

Darcy Kirkness — with sister Barb, Janet Harvey and Barb Fetch — won the 1984 renewal in Fort St. John. The Manitoba team ended the round robin at 8-2, while Ontario’s Kristin Holman, Quebec’s Debbie Wark and Lynn Slobodian of Alberta each checked in at 7-3.

Holman ousted Slobodian 9-4 and Wark 7-6 before losing 7-6 to Kirkness in the final.

Alberta’s LaDawn Funk doubled up round-robin winner Jennifer Lamont of Manitoba 6-3 in the final in North Vancouver in 1988.

Alberta’s Laurelle Funk, Cindy Larsen, Sandy Symyrozum and LaDawn Funk doubled up round-robin leader Jennifer Lamont of Manitoba 6-3 in the 1988 final in North Vancouver, then captured gold at the 1989 worlds.

Nova Scotia skip Jillian Mouzar, third Paige Mattie, second Blisse Comstock and lead Chloe Comstock won B.C.’s most recently hosted junior women’s sweepstakes in 2004 by defeating Quebec’s Marie-Christine Cantin 6-3.

Funk — with sister Laurelle at lead, Sandy Symyrozum at third and second Cindy Larsen — were 7-3 going into the playoffs and Prince Edward Island’s Angela Roberts, Michele Cowan of the Yukon, New Brunswick’s Cathy McEwen and British Columbia’s Colleen Hannah were jammed at 6-4.

In tiebreakers, Hannah stopped McEwen 9-7 and Cowan shaded Roberts 7-6, then stole a 7-6 decision from Hannah.

Funk needed an extra end to subdue Cowan 9-8 in the semi-final.

Saskatchewan’s Amber Holland was the 1992 women’s champion in Vernon. Playing with Cindy Street, Tracy Beach and Angela Street, Holland led the round robin with a 9-2 record, followed by Tara Coulterman (George) of Northern Ontario at 8-3. Ontario’s Heather Crockett, Rebecca MacPhee of Prince Edward Island, Alberta’s Rhonda Sinclair and Janique Berthelot of Quebec were tied at 7-4.

In a series of tiebreakers, Ontario doused P.E.I. 9-6, Quebec stopped Alberta 7-4 and Ontario dumped Quebec 7-3. Northern Ontario doubled up on Ontario 8-4 in the semi before Holland’s unit dropped Coulterman 7-4 in the final.

Quebec’s Marie-France Larouche led Nancy Bélanger, Marie-Eve Létourneau and Valerie Grenier to the junior title in Kelowna in 1999 with a 9-2 rout over Nova Scotia’s Meredith Doyle, the 1997 champion.

Quebec, Nova Scotia and Saskatchewan’s Stefanie Miller (Lawton) each logged 9-3 in the round robin, with Doyle earning a bye to the final thanks to victories over each of her playoff foes.

Larouche ousted Miller 6-3 in the semi-final, then piled up a 6-0 lead after three ends against Doyle in the final.

Nova Scotia’s Jill Mouzar won B.C.’s most recently hosted junior women’s sweepstakes, emerging from another three-way round-robin jam of teams with 9-3 records.

Mouzar gained the bye to the final, while Quebec’s Marie-Christine Cantin shaded New Brunswick’s Andrea Kelly 6-5 in the semi. Then Mouzar, with Paige Mattie and sisters Blisse and Chloe Comstock, stepped up to swat Cantin 6-3 in the final. www.seasonofchampions.ca 43

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Junior Awards JUNIOR WOMEN’S ALL-STARS 2008 Skip Danielle Parsons, Nova Scotia Third Megan McGuire, New Brunswick Second Liz Peters, Manitoba Lead Sarah Wazney, Manitoba Kalynn Park, Alberta Sabrina Neufeld, Manitoba Cristina Goertzen, Saskatchewan Julie Devereaux, Nfld./Labrador

2006 Skip Third Second Lead

Tracy Horgan, Northern Ontario Stephanie Guzzwell, Nfld./Labrador Darrelle Johnson, Ontario Heather Ross, Nova Scotia

2005 Skip Third Second Lead

Marie-Christine Cantin, Quebec Kristen MacDiarmid, New Brunswick The 1994 junior women’s all-stars, from left, skips Jeanna Richard of B.C. and Jennifer Jones of Jodie deSolla, New Brunswick Manitoba, third Cindy Street of Saskatchewan, second Lawnie Goodfellow of Alberta and lead Mylene Rochon of Ontario. It was the second all-star selection for Jones, who was named top third in 1991.

Lianne Sobey, New Brunswick

2004 Skip Third Second Lead

Jillian Mouzar, Nova Scotia Hailey Surik, Saskatchewan Janelle Lemon, Saskatchewan Allison Gerhardt, Saskatchewan

2001 Skip Third Second Lead

Stefanie Miller, Saskatchewan Marliese Miller, Saskatchewan Chantelle Seiferling, Saskatchewan Chelsey Bell, Saskatchewan

1998 Skip Third Second Lead

Melissa McClure, New Brunswick Beth Roach, Nova Scotia Julie Colquhoun, Ontario Amy Stachiw, Northern Ontario

2003 Skip Third Second Lead

Marliese Miller, Saskatchewan Teejay Surik, Saskatchewan Janelle Lemon, Saskatchewan Chelsey Bell, Saskatchewan

2000 Skip Third Second Lead

Suzanne Gaudet, P.E.I. Ainsley Holowec, Manitoba Robyn MacPhee, P.E.I. Stephanie Leachman, Ontario

1997 Skip Third Second Lead

Marie-France Larouche, Quebec Nancy Belanger, Quebec Marie-Eve Létourneau, Quebec Amy Stachiw, Northern Ontario

2002 Skip Third Second Lead

Suzanne Gaudet, P.E.I. Robyn MacPhee, P.E.I. Leigh Armstrong, Ontario Stephanie Leachman, Ontario

1999 Skip Third Second Lead

Marie-France Larouche, Quebec Marliese Miller, Saskatchewan Stacy Helm, Saskatchewan Valerie Grenier, Quebec

1996 Skip Third Second Lead

Heather Godberson, Alberta Michelle Harding, British Columbia Shalegh Boddington, B.C. Allison Ross, Ontario

KEN WATSON AWARD WINNERS WOMEN 2008 Lisa Moerike, Prince Edward Island 2007 Lisa Moerike, Prince Edward Island 2006 Ashley Howard, New Brunswick 2005 Kate Jefferson, Northwest Territories 2004 Julie Cantin, Quebec 2003 Jackie Komyshyn, Manitoba 2002 Marie-Michelle Lapierre, Quebec 2001 Leslie Rogers, Alberta 2000 Hailey Birnie, Yukon 1999 Mila Hockley, British Columbia 1998 Stefanie Richard, Prince Edward Island 1997 Lori Olson, Alberta 1996 Jennifer Coady, Prince Edward Island 1995 Kelly MacKenzie, Manitoba Lori Olson, Alberta

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1994 Susie LeBlanc, New Brunswick 1993 Jackie-Lee Myra, Nova Scotia 1992 Jackie-Lee Myra, Nova Scotia Amy Uhryn, Northern Ontario 1991 Tara Coulterman, Northern Ontario 1990 Atina Ford, Saskatchewan 1989 Michele Cowan, Yukon/N.W.T. 1988 Tracy Bennett, New Brunswick 1987 Julie Sutton, British Columbia 1986 Information not available 1985 Information not available 1984 Information not available 1983 Gail Burry, Newfoundland Canadian Ladies Curling Association president 1982 Alison Goring, Ontario Elsie Crosby, left, presents the 1987 sportsmanship award to B.C.’s Julie Sutton.

1981 Tracy Keizer, British Columbia

PHOTOS: MICHAEL BURNS

2007 Skip Third Second Lead

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1995 Skip

Kelly MacKenzie, Manitoba Marie-France Larouche, Quebec Third Nicole Pellegrin, Ontario Second Denise Byers, British Columbia Lead Andra Harmark, Ontario

1994 Skip

Jennifer Jones, Manitoba Jeanna Richard, British Columbia Third Cindy Street, Saskatchewan Second Lawnie Goodfellow, Alberta Lead Mylene Rochon, Ontario

1993 Skip

Janique Berthelot, Quebec Sherry Linton, Saskatchewan Third Jessica Marchand, Quebec Second Jill Officer, Manitoba Lead Tracey Martin, British Columbia

1992 Skip Third Second Lead

Rebecca MacPhee, P.E.I. Jessica Marchand, Quebec Johnalee Fraser, Ontario Carleen Muth, Manitoba

1991 Skip Third Second Lead

Heather Smith, New Brunswick Jennifer Jones, Manitoba Suzanne LeBlanc, New Brunswick Nickie Lamb, Alberta

1990 Skip Third Second Lead

Nancy Melanchuk, Manitoba Darlene Kidd, Saskatchewan Jill Ursel, Manitoba Cindy Ford, Saskatchewan

1989 Skip Third Second Lead

Cathy Overton, Manitoba Tracy Baldwin, Manitoba Melanie Leatham, Ontario Katrina Mulhern, New Brunswick

1988 Skip

Jennifer Lamont, Manitoba LaDawn Funk, Alberta Third Isabelle Gagnon, Quebec Second Cindy Larsen, Alberta Lead Laurelle Funk, Alberta

1987 Skip Third Second Lead

Julie Sutton, British Columbia Sheila Calcutt, Saskatchewan Heather Olson, Saskatchewan Jill Ursel, Manitoba

1986 Skip Third Second Lead

Jodie Sutton, British Columbia Cathy Overton, Manitoba Susan Toner, New Brunswick Chris Thompson, British Columbia

1985 Skip Third Second Lead

Kimberley Armbruster, Sask.

Christine Stevenson, B.C. Linda Desjardins, New Brunswick Anne Partridge, P.E.I.

1984 Skip Third Second Lead

Kristin Holman, Ontario Carolyn Wark, Quebec Janet Harvey, Manitoba Elaine Henderson, New Brunswick

1983 Skip Third Second Lead

Laurie Allen, Manitoba Kristin Holman, Ontario Stephanie Jones, Manitoba Carolyn Wark, Quebec

1982 Skip Third Second Lead

Alison Goring, Ontario Kristin Holman, Ontario Cheryl McPherson, Ontario Alison Tibbs, Alberta

Canadian Curling Association liaison Mary-Anne Nicholson joins the 1990 Canadian junior women’s first-team all-stars, from left, skip Nancy Melanchuk of Manitoba, third Darlene Kidd of Saskatchewan, second Jill Ursel of Manitoba and lead Cindy Ford of Saskatchewan.

JUNIOR MEN’S ALL-STARS 2008 Skip Aaron Sluchinski, Alberta Third Jean-Michel Arsenault, Quebec Second Anson Carmody, P.E.I. Alex MacFadyen, P.E.I. Lead

2004 Skip Third Second Lead

John Epping, Ontario Jason Roach, New Brunswick Paul Steeves, Nfld./Labrador Bill Francis, Ontario

2007 Skip Third Second Lead

Charley Thomas, Alberta Brock Virtue, Alberta Anson Carmody, P.E.I. Kyle Reynolds, Alberta

2003 Skip Third Second Lead

Steve Laycock, Saskatchewan Chris Haichert, Saskatchewan Michael Jantzen, Saskatchewan Luke Johnson, Nova Scotia

2006 Skip Third Second Lead

Charley Thomas, Alberta Russell Koffski, British Columbia Rollie Robinson, Alberta Kyle Reynolds, Alberta

2002 Skip Third Second Lead

David Hamblin, Manitoba Ben Mikkelsen, Northern Ontario Colin Koivula, Northern Ontario Dustin Kidby, Saskatchewan

2005 Skip Third Second Lead

Kyle George, Saskatchewan Tyler MacKenzie, P.E.I. Rob Pruliere, Ontario Jared Bezanson, New Brunswick

2001 Skip Third Second Lead

Brian Adams, Northern Ontario Mark Nichols, Newfoundland Kevin Skarban, Alberta Aaron Sarafinchan, Alberta

In 1999, first-team all-star honours went to, from left, skip John Morris and third Craig Savill, both of Ontario, second Tyler Orme of British Columbia and lead Brent Laing of Ontario. It was back-to-back all-star selections for Morris and Laing.

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KEN WATSON AWARD WINNERS MEN 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995 1994 1993 1992

Stephen Ryan, Nfld./Labrador Stephen Ryan, Nfld./Labrador Ian Juurlink, Nova Scotia Steven Howard, Prince Edward Island Bradley MacInnis, Nova Scotia Matthew Blandford, Newfoundland Justin Jacobsen, Alberta Sheldon Wettig, Northwest Territories David Backman, Nova Scotia Brad Gushue, Newfoundland Brett Reynolds, Newfoundland Randy Turpin, Newfoundland David Orme, British Columbia Ryan Davis, Newfoundland Scott Pfeifer, Alberta Brendan Willis, British Columbia Matthew Jessup, Northern Ontario

1991 1990 1989 1988 1987 1986 1985 1984 1983 1982 1981 1980 1979 1978 1977 1976

Brian Sullivan, New Brunswick Kenny Young, Newfoundland Greg Romaniuk, Manitoba Andy Davis, Northern Ontario Jamie McCarthy, Prince Edward Island Jon Mead, Manitoba Gilles Verret, New Brunswick Mike Dillon, Prince Edward Island Frank O’Driscoll, Newfoundland Larry Phillips Jr., Quebec Larry Phillips Jr., Quebec Denis Marchand, Quebec Peter Jenkins, Prince Edward Island Peter Hollett, Newfoundland Gordon Ell, Saskatchewan Canadian Curling Association board liaison Bill Jenkins, Prince Edward Island Les Harrison presents the 2002 Ken Watson Award to Alberta skip Justin Jacobsen.

2000 Skip Third Second Lead

Brad Gushue, Newfoundland Mark Nichols, Newfoundland Jamie Korab, Newfoundland Kevin Tippett, New Brunswick

1996 Skip Third Second Lead

1999 Skip Third Second Lead

John Morris, Ontario Craig Savill, Ontario Tyler Orme, British Columbia Brent Laing, Ontario

1995 Skip Third

1998 Skip Third Second Lead

John Morris, Ontario Glen Kennedy, Alberta Kevin Ackerman, Saskatchewan Brent Laing, Ontario

1997 Skip Third Second Lead

Scott Pfeifer, Alberta Jeff Richard, British Columbia Tyler Orme, British Columbia Mark Homan, Ontario

Brad Gushue, Newfoundland Kevin Whitehead, N.W.T. Nathan Munk, British Columbia Kris MacLeod, Nova Scotia

Chris Galbraith, Manitoba Scott Cripps, Manitoba Kevin Boyle, New Brunswick Second Wade Johnston, Alberta Lead Bryan Galbraith, Manitoba Jason Lesmeister, Alberta

1994 Skip Third Second Lead

Kevin Koe, Yukon/N.W.T. Pat Simmons, Saskatchewan Scott Pfeifer, Alberta Todd Trevellyan, Manitoba

The 2002 junior men’s first-team all-stars, from left, Manitoba skip David Hamblin, third Ben Mikkelsen and second Colin Koivula, both of Northern Ontario, and Saskatchewan lead Dustin Kidby.

All-star selections are determined by overall shooting percentages during the round robin.

46 www.seasonofchampions.ca

1993 Skip

Yannick Paquette, Quebec Jeff Wall, Saskatchewan Third Mark Stonehouse, Newfoundland Second Shane McCready, Ontario Lead Jeff Lacey, New Brunswick

1992 Skip Third Second Lead

Michel Ferland, Quebec Marco Berthelot, Quebec Scott Gregory, British Columbia Chad McMullen, Manitoba

1991 Skip Third Second Lead

Steve Eddy, Nova Scotia Brad Savage, Ontario Greg Lahti, Alberta Marco Berthelot, Quebec

1990 Skip Third Second Lead

Jeff MacPheat, Nova Scotia Greg Romaniuk, Manitoba Joel Pouliot, Quebec George Kinsman, Yukon/N.W.T.

1989 Skip Third Second Lead

Randy Bryden, Saskatchewan Michel Ferland, Quebec Aaron Skillen, Northern Ontario Greg Kawahara, Northern Ontario

1988 Skip Third Second Lead

Craig Piercey, Newfoundland Mike Desilets, Northern Ontario Craig Fiske, Saskatchewan Ian Power, P.E.I.

1987 Skip Third Second Lead

Jim Sullivan, New Brunswick Charlie Sullivan, New Brunswick Craig Burgess, New Brunswick Tim Krassman, Alberta

1986 Skip Third Second Lead

Hugh McFadyen, Manitoba Jon Mead, Manitoba Steve Stroup, British Columbia Tim Krassman, Alberta

1985 Skip Third Second Lead

Kent Scales, P.E.I. Robert Campbell, P.E.I. Andy MacDonald, P.E.I. Philip Gorveatt, P.E.I.

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Junior Statistics JUNIOR MEN

PHOTOS: MICHAEL BURNS

MOST APPEARANCES 6 — Brad Gushue of Newfoundland in 1995, ’96, ’98, ’99, 2000, ’01 5 — Martin Crête of Quebec in 2002, ’03, ’04, ’05, ’06 5 — Jamie Koe of the Territories in 1994, ’95, ’96, ’97, ’98 5 — Colin Koivula of Northern Ontario in 1999, 2000, ’01, ’02, ’03 5 — Jeff MacPheat of the Territories in 1986, ’87, ’88, ’89, ’90 5 — Kevin Whitehead of the Territories in 1994, ’95, ’96, ’97, ’98 4 — Robert Borden of the Territories in 2002, ’03, ’04, ’05 4 — Josh Clark of the Territories in 1996, ’97, ’98, ’99 4 — Kevin Cymbalisty of the Territories in 1995, ’96, ’97, ’98 4 — Brett Gallant of Prince Edward Island in 2004, ’06, ’07, ’08 4 — Olivier Leclerc of Quebec in 2002, ’03, ’04, ’05 4 — Alexx Peech of the Yukon in 2002, ’04, ’05, ’06 4 — Trevor Perepolkin of British Columbia in 1993, ’94, ’96, ’97 4 — Paul Power of Prince Edward Island in 1986, ’87, ’88, ’89 4 — Jonathan Tremblay of Quebec in 2002, ’03, ’04, ’05 4 — Kelly Vollman of Saskatchewan in 1983, ’84, ’85, ’86

Newfoundland’s Brad Gushue holds the record for most Canadian junior appearances, with six, and ranks second in skipping victories.

UNDEFEATED RECORDS 1952 — Saskatchewan, 9-0 1962 — Saskatchewan, 10-0 1963 — Alberta, 10-0 1986 — Manitoba, 12-0 FIVE-WAY TIE FOR FIRST PLACE 1993 — Nova Scotia, Newfoundland, Territories, Saskatchewan, Alberta FOUR-WAY TIES FOR FIRST PLACE 1976 — Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia, Alberta, Manitoba 1998 — Alberta, Manitoba, Ontario, New Brunswick THREE-WAY TIES FOR FIRST PLACE 1964 — Northern Ontario, Saskatchewan, New Brunswick 1991 — Northern Ontario, Alberta, British Columbia 1994 — Alberta, Territories, Quebec 2001 — Newfoundland, Manitoba, Northern Ontario 2004 — Newfoundland, Manitoba, New Brunswick TWO-WAY TIES FOR FIRST PLACE 1948 — Manitoba, Saskatchewan 1953 — Ontario, Saskatchewan 1954 — Saskatchewan, Manitoba 1956 — Saskatchewan, Northern Ontario 1957 — Ontario, Northern Ontario 1968 — Ontario, Saskatchewan 1971 — Saskatchewan, Northern Ontario 1973 — Ontario, Quebec 1974 — Alberta, British Columbia 1978 — Alberta, Nova Scotia 1982 — Ontario, British Columbia TWO-TIME WINNERS Stan Austman of Saskatchewan, second — 1954; third — 1955 Gary Cooper of Saskatchewan, third — 1951, ’52 Mike Friesen of Manitoba, lead — 1979, ’81 Joel Gagne of Manitoba, second — 1979, ’81 Paul Gowsell of Alberta, skip — 1975, ’77 Roy Hufsmith of Saskatchewan, lead — 1951, ’52 Brent Laing of Ontario, lead — 1998, ’99 John Morris of Ontario, skip — 1998, ’99 Scott Pfeifer of Alberta, second — 1994; third — 1997 Kyle Reynolds of Alberta, lead — 2006, ’07 Craig Savill of Ontario, third — 1998, ’99 Bayne Secord of Saskatchewan, skip — 1954, ’55 Kelly Stearne of Alberta, lead — 1975, ’77 Gary Thode of Saskatchewan, skip — 1951, ’52 Charley Thomas of Alberta, skip — 2006, ’07 Mert Thompsett of Manitoba, skip — 1979, ’81

Five-time Quebec junior representative Martin Crête holds the record for most wins, with 41.

He placed second in 2002, third in ’03.

BACK-TO-BACK WINNERS Saskatchewan’s Gary Thode, Gary Cooper and Roy Hufsmith — 1951-52 Saskatchewan’s Bayne Secord and Stan Austman — 1954-55 Ontario’s John Morris, Craig Savill and Brent Laing — 1998-99 Alberta’s Charley Thomas and Kyle Reynolds — 2006-07 MOST WINS BY ONE SKIP 41 — Martin Crête, Quebec MOST APPEARANCES BY ONE SKIP 5 — Martin Crête of Quebec 5 — Brad Gushue of Newfoundland SKIPS WITH 15 OR MORE WINS 41 — Martin Crête, Quebec 38 — Brad Gushue, Newfoundland 33 — John Morris, Ontario 29 — Brett Gallant, Prince Edward Island 23 — Jamie Koe, Territories 22 — Rob Heffernan, New Brunswick 22 — Scott Saunders, Nova Scotia 22 — Charley Thomas, Alberta 21 — Matthew Blandford, Newfoundland 21 — Randy Bryden, Saskatchewan 21 — Craig Kochan, Northern Ontario 21 — Trevor Perepolkin, British Columbia 21 — Mert Thompsett, Manitoba 20 — Paul Gowsell, Alberta 19 — Peter Jenkins, Prince Edward Island 19 — Mike McEwen, Manitoba 18 — Brian Adams, Northern Ontario 18 — Shawn Adams, Nova Scotia 18 — Bill Jenkins, Prince Edward Island 18 — Jamie Schneider, Saskatchewan 17 — Mark Bice, Ontario

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JUNIOR WOMEN

17 — Kyle George, Saskatchewan 17 — Lorne Henderson, Newfoundland 17 — Mike Lukowich, Saskatchewan 17 — Mark McDonald, Ontario 17 — Brad Minogue, Northern Ontario 17 — Bayne Secord, Saskatchewan 17 — Gary Thode, Saskatchewan 17 — Bob Ursel, Manitoba 16 — Peter Eddy, Nova Scotia 16 — Michel Ferland, Quebec 16 — Darren Fish, Alberta 16 — Trent McQuarrie, Alberta 16 — Denis Marchand, Quebec 16 — Ryan Sherrard, New Brunswick 16 — Tom Tod, Northern Ontario 15 — Trevor Alexander, Territories 15 — John Base, Ontario 15 — Jeff Erickson, Alberta 15 — Philippe Lemay, Quebec 15 — Darren Moulding, Alberta 15 — Mike Pace, Nova Scotia 15 — Daley Peters, Manitoba 15 — Jeff Thomas, Newfoundland CHAMPIONS BY PROVINCE 15 — Alberta in 1959, ’60, ’63, ’66, ’67, ’72, ’74, ’75, ’77, ’78, ’85, ’94, ’97, 2006, ’07 13 — Saskatchewan in 1950, ’51, ’52, ’54, ’55, ’56, ’62, ’65, ’69, ’71, ’83, 2003, ’05 8 — Ontario in 1953, ’57, ’68, ’73, ’82, ’90, ’98, ’99 6 — Manitoba in 1979, ’81, ’84, ’86, ’95, 2002 4 — Northern Ontario in 1958, ’64, ’91, ’96 4 — British Columbia in 1961, ’88, ’89, 2000 3 — New Brunswick in 1970, ’87, 2004 3 — Quebec in 1980, ’92, 2008 1 — Prince Edward Island in 1976 1 — Nova Scotia in 1993 1 — Newfoundland in 2001 CHAMPIONSHIP SITES 1950 Quebec 1951 British Columbia New Brunswick 1952 1953 Saskatchewan 1954 Ontario 1955 Nova Scotia 1956 Northern Ontario 1957 Manitoba 1958 Prince Edward Island 1959 Alberta 1960 Quebec 1961 British Columbia 1962 Nova Scotia 1963 Ontario 1964 Saskatchewan 1965 New Brunswick 1966 Newfoundland 1967 Manitoba 1968 Northern Ontario 1969 Saskatchewan 1970 Quebec 1971 British Columbia 1972 Northern Ontario 1973 New Brunswick 1974 Ontario 1975 Alberta 1976 Northern Ontario 1977 Manitoba 1978 Prince Edward Island 1979 British Columbia 1980 Northern Ontario

Quebec City Nelson Moncton Saskatoon Hamilton Sydney Fort William Winnipeg Charlottetown Calgary Noranda Prince George Halifax Guelph Regina Fredericton St. John’s Flin Flon Port Arthur North Battleford Ste-Jerome Kamloops Schumacher Moncton Ottawa Edmonton Kapuskasing Winnipeg Charlottetown Victoria Sault Ste. Marie

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Ontario skip John Morris, who won back-toback Canadian junior men’s titles in 1998 and ’99, capped both seasons with world crowns.

1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009

New Brunswick Saskatchewan Nova Scotia Manitoba Newfoundland Alberta Saskatchewan British Columbia Manitoba Northern Ontario Alberta British Columbia Quebec Nova Scotia Saskatchewan Alberta Manitoba Alberta British Columbia New Brunswick Ontario Prince Edward Island Ontario British Columbia New Brunswick Northern Ontario Ontario Northern Ontario British Columbia

Saint John Swift Current Halifax Winnipeg St. John’s Red Deer Prince Albert North Vancouver Winnipeg Sudbury Leduc Vernon Trois-Rivières Truro Regina Edmonton Selkirk Calgary Kelowna Moncton St. Catharines Summerside Ottawa Victoria Fredericton Thunder Bay St. Catharines Sault Ste. Marie Salmon Arm

NUMBER OF CHAMPIONSHIPS HOSTED British Columbia 9 Northern Ontario 8 Saskatchewan 6 Manitoba 6 Alberta 6 New Brunswick 6 Ontario 6 Quebec 4 Nova Scotia 4 3 Prince Edward Island Newfoundland/Labrador 2

MOST APPEARANCES 5 — Nancy Belanger of Quebec in 1995, ’96, ’97, ’98, ’99 5 — Suzanne Gaudet of Prince Edward Island in 1998, ’99, 2000, ’01, ’02 5 — Tara Hamer of the Territories/Nova Scotia in 1992, ’93, ’94, ’95, ’97 5 — Kelly Higgins of Prince Edward Island in 1998, ’99, 2000, ’01, ’02 5 — Stephanie Jackson of British Columbia in 2001, ’02, ’05, ’06, ’07 5 — Kerry Koe of the Territories in 1993, ’94, ’95, ’96, ’98 5 — Marie-France Larouche of Quebec in 1995, ’96, ’97, ’98, ’99 5 — Stephanie LeDrew of Newfoundland in 1998, 2001, ’02, ’03, ’04 5 — Marie-Eve Létourneau of Quebec in 1995, ’96, ’97, ’98, ’99 5 — Marliese Miller of Saskatchewan in 1997, ’99, 2000, ’01, ’03 4 — Nicole Baldwin of the Territories in 1998, ’99, 2000, ’01 4 — Gloria Basha of Prince Edward Island in 1972, ’73, ’74, ’75 4 — Hailey Birnie of the Territories in 1998, ’99, 2000, ’01 4 — Julie Devereaux of Newfoundland/Labrador in 2005, ’06, ’07, ’08 4 — Stacie Devereaux of Newfoundland/Labrador in 2004, ’05, ’06, ’07 4 — Meredith Doyle of Nova Scotia in 1996, ’97, ’98, ’99 4 — Valerie Grenier of Quebec in 1996, ’97, ’98, ’99 4 — Stephanie Guzzwell of Newfoundland/ Labrador in 2004, ’05, ’06, ’07 4 — Anne Hennessey of Prince Edward Island in 1972, ’73, ’74, ’75 4 — Meaghan Hughes of Prince Edward Island in 2003, ’04, ’05, ’06 4 — Jennifer Jones of Manitoba/Canada in 1991, ’93, ’94, ’95 4 — Susan LeBlanc of New Brunswick in 1990, ’91, ’94, ’95

British Columbia’s Julie Sutton won consecutive Canadian junior women’s titles, as third in 1986, as skip in 1987.

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4 — Jessie Leschart of the Yukon in 2002, ’03, ’04, ’05 4 — Leslie Merrithew of the Territories in 2003, ’04, ’05, ’06 4 — Stefanie Miller of Saskatchewan in 1997, ’99, 2000, ’01 4 — Sarah Paul of Newfoundland/Labrador in 2004, ’05, ’06, ’07 4 — Stefanie Richard of Prince Edward Island in 1998, ’99, 2000, ’01 4 — Beth Roach of Nova Scotia in 1996, ’97, ’98, ’99 4 — Michala Robison of Prince Edward Island in 2003, ’04, ’05, ’06 4 — Barbara Rudolph of Manitoba in 1972, ’73, ’74, ’75 4 — Krista Scharf of Northern Ontario in 1998, 2000, ’01, ’02 4 — Ladene Shaw of the Yukon in 2002, ’03, ’04, ’05 4 — Mandi Shaw of the Yukon in 2002, ’03, ’04, ’05 4 — Gina Stanley of Newfoundland in 1989, ’91, ’93, ’94 4 — Cindy Street of Saskatchewan in 1992, ’94, ’95, ’96 4 — Heather Strong of Newfoundland in 1992, ’95, ’96, ’97 4 — Laura Strong of Newfoundland in 1997, ’98, ’99, 2000 4 — Patti Vandekerckhove of Manitoba in 1974, ’75, ’76, ’77 4 — Carolyn Wark of Quebec in 1981, ’82, ’83, ’84 4 — Debbie Wark of Quebec in 1981, ’82, ’83, ’84 4 — Janet Wood of Prince Edward Island in 1972, ’73, ’74, ’75 4 — Sheena Yakeleya of the Territories in 1993, ’94, ’95, ’96

TWO-WAY TIES FOR FIRST PLACE 1980 — Nova Scotia, Manitoba 1981 — Manitoba, Ontario 1982 — British Columbia, Ontario 1984 — Manitoba, Quebec 1985 — Saskatchewan, British Columbia 1998 — New Brunswick, Ontario 2002 — Prince Edward Island, Newfoundland 2003 — Nova Scotia, Saskatchewan 2006 — Manitoba, Saskatchewan

UNDEFEATED RECORDS 1975 — Saskatchewan, 10-0 1978 — Alberta, 10-0 1989 — Manitoba, 11-0

MOST WINS BY ONE SKIP 49 — Suzanne Gaudet, Prince Edward Island

THREE-WAY TIES FOR FIRST PLACE 1976 — Saskatchewan, British Columbia, Prince Edward Island 1986 — British Columbia, Newfoundland, Manitoba 1999 — Nova Scotia, Quebec, Saskatchewan 2004 — Nova Scotia, Quebec, New Brunswick

P.E.I. skip Suzanne Gaudet holds the record for most wins — 49 — at the Canadian juniors.

She won back-to-back titles in 2001 and ’02.

52 www.seasonofchampions.ca

TWO-TIME WINNERS Suzanne Gaudet of Prince Edward Island, skip — 2001, ’02 Kelly Higgins of Prince Edward Island, lead — 2001, ’02 Cathy King of Alberta, skip — 1977, ’78 Robyn MacPhee of Prince Edward Island, second — 2001; third — 2002 Marliese Miller of Saskatchewan, third — 2000; skip — 2003 Maureen Olsen of Alberta, second — 1977, ’78 Cathy Pidzarko of Manitoba, third — 1972, ’74 Chris Pidzarko of Manitoba, skip — 1972, ’74 Colleen Rudd of Saskatchewan, third — 1975; skip — 1976 Barbara Rudolph of Manitoba, lead — 1972, ’74 Julie Sutton of British Columbia, third — 1986; skip — 1987 BACK-TO-BACK WINNERS Saskatchewan’s Colleen Rudd — 1975-76 Alberta’s Cathy King and Maureen Olsen — 1977-78 British Columbia’s Julie Sutton — 1986-87 Prince Edward Island’s Suzanne Gaudet, Kelly Higgins and Robyn MacPhee — 2001-02

MOST APPEARANCES BY ONE SKIP 5 — Suzanne Gaudet, Prince Edward Island 5 — Marie-France Larouche, Quebec SKIPS WITH 15 OR MORE WINS 49 — Suzanne Gaudet, Prince Edward Island 42 — Marie-France Larouche, Quebec 41 — Stefanie Miller, Saskatchewan 37 — Meredith Doyle, Nova Scotia 30 — Stacie Devereaux, Nfld./Labrador 26 — Andrea Kelly, New Brunswick 25 — Melissa McClure, New Brunswick 24 — Calleen Neufeld, Manitoba 24 — Debbie Wark, Quebec 23 — Jennifer Guzzwell, Newfoundland 23 — Julie Reddick, Ontario 23 — Desirée Robertson, Alberta 20 — Nicole Baldwin, Territories 20 — Marie-Christine Cantin, Quebec 20 — Sherry Linton, Saskatchewan 20 — Krista Scharf, Northern Ontario 19 — Cathy King, Alberta 19 — Janique Berthelot, Quebec 19 — Jennifer Jones, Manitoba 17 — Alison Goring, Ontario 17 — Jill Noseworthy, Newfoundland 17 — Sylvie Robichaud, New Brunswick 16 — Michele Cowan, Territories 16 — Meaghan Hughes, Prince Edward Island 15 — Robyn Mattie, Nova Scotia

15 — Kay Smith, Nova Scotia 15 — Elaine Uhryn, Northern Ontario 15 — Patti Vanderkerckhove, Manitoba CHAMPIONS BY PROVINCE 10 — Saskatchewan in 1973, ’75, ’76, ’79, ’85, ’90, ’92, 2000, ’03, ’06 8 — Manitoba in 1972, ’74, ’81, ’84, ’89, ’94, ’95, 2008 5 — Alberta in 1971, ’77, ’78, ’88, ’96 3 — British Columbia in 1982, ’86, ’87 3 — New Brunswick in 1991, ’98, 2005 3 — Nova Scotia in 1980, ’97, 2004 2 — Ontario in 1983, ’93 2 — Prince Edward Island in 2001, ’02 1 — Quebec in 1999 1 — Newfoundland/Labrador in 2007 CHAMPIONSHIP SITES 1971 British Columbia 1972 Manitoba 1973 Quebec Alberta 1974 1975 Newfoundland 1976 Northern Ontario 1977 New Brunswick 1978 British Columbia 1979 Saskatchewan 1980 Prince Edward Island 1981 Nova Scotia 1982 Manitoba 1983 Alberta 1984 British Columbia 1985 New Brunswick 1986 Quebec 1987 Saskatchewan 1988 British Columbia 1989 Manitoba 1990 Northern Ontario 1991 Alberta 1992 British Columbia 1993 Quebec 1994 Nova Scotia 1995 Saskatchewan 1996 Alberta 1997 Manitoba 1998 Alberta 1999 British Columbia 2000 New Brunswick 2001 Ontario 2002 Prince Edward Island 2003 Ontario 2004 British Columbia 2005 New Brunswick 2006 Northern Ontario 2007 Ontario 2008 Northern Ontario 2009 British Columbia

Vancouver Winnipeg Montreal Edmonton Grand Falls Thunder Bay Saint John Chilliwack Yorkton Charlottetown Dartmouth Winnipeg Calgary Fort St. John Fredericton Noranda Prince Albert North Vancouver Winnipeg Sudbury Leduc Vernon Trois-Rivières Truro Regina Edmonton Selkirk Calgary Kelowna Moncton St. Catharines Summerside Ottawa Victoria Fredericton Thunder Bay St. Catharines Sault Ste. Marie Salmon Arm

NUMBER OF CHAMPIONSHIPS HOSTED British Columbia 8 Alberta 5 Manitoba 4 New Brunswick 4 Northern Ontario 4 Quebec 3 Saskatchewan 3 Nova Scotia 2 Ontario 3 Prince Edward Island 2 Newfoundland/Labrador 1

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The Last End

BY WARREN HANSEN

M

Y FIRST CONTACT with the sport of curling came in the 1950s, when I followed my father to the Thistle Curling Club in Edmonton, where he toiled twice a week on a not-so-great curling team.

I’m not sure what caught my fancy but I was hooked almost immediately and struggled to find every piece of information I could about the sport. Little was available in those days; a formal teaching program didn’t exist and few books had been written. Three-time Brier champion Ken Watson of Winnipeg was the authority of the day and I and other eager youngsters sought out his well-documented books about the sport and how to play it.

Though somewhat obscure in those days, curling received a good deal of respect from the local media and was second only to the Edmonton Eskimos football team in sports newspaper coverage.

The local hero of the late 1950s was Matt Baldwin, who had an intriguing smooth sliding delivery. The Brier winner in 1954, ’57 and ’58, he got a lot of coverage and I took every opportunity to read about or watch my hero play.

The game for the most part had the respect of other sports and of the community. Even famed Edmonton Eskimo quarterback Jackie Parker took up curling and, although his delivery was somewhat unorthodox, the southern United States native managed to gain enough prowess to earn himself a spot on one of Baldwin’s teams in the early 1960s and nearly won the right to play in the provincial finals.

When was the last time you heard of a high-profile athlete from another sport showing an interest in becoming a curler?

My point: For some reason, things changed. As curling began to gain a higher profile in the 1980s, it also lost some of its lustre with the non-curling public and the media. It was then that I began to hear it suggested that curling wasn’t a real sport — it was only a game, not an athletic activity.

Members of the media, desperate to appear humorous, joked that the most important thing to curlers was not the game itself but to meet in the club lounge after the game. A few reporters suggested that a number of the sport’s élite curlers were anything but finely tuned athletes and that serious competition never got in the way of a good time.

This is partly because top-level curling over the past 25 years has struggled to separate itself from league and regular 54 www.seasonofchampions.ca

bonspiel play. The water was muddied further by a lot of élite curlers also taking part in league play and smaller bonspiels.

In the early 1980s, many of us within the Canadian Curling Association worked hard to set standards of play and appearance at national championships that would distinguish these events above all other competitions.

Included were the use of game officials, game statistics, official records, professional ice technicians and matching team uniforms. While we’ve had reasonable success in achieving many of these goals at national events, the approach has only slightly spilled over to other top-level curling.

I have always believed that if you want an activity to garner the same respect as professional sports, you must look professional and act professional. I won’t ever forget the controversy that erupted in 1980 when smoking on the ice was banned at the Brier. A lot of people were very upset about the ruling. Hard to imagine now, isn’t it?

And while this and many other positive steps have taken place, I think the sport still has a long way to go. The standards for performance, conduct and appearance must be high for curlers at the élite level. It is these people, and those who surround them, who set the image for the sport of curling against which everything else will be judged.

A man from Vancouver recently asked me what opportunities might exist for his renting out his home to officials or athletes during the 2010 Olympic Winter Games.

I suggested the fact that his large home was close to the centre of the city bode well for renting to athletes who didn’t want to spend the entire time in the athlete’s village. He said he could see himself renting the house to athletes, as long as they weren’t curlers, because of their reputation for partying.

It was tongue-in-cheek, of course, but the message was delivered.

I quickly jumped to the sport’s defence, agreeing that while the average curler certainly enjoys a good time, the Olympic curlers will be athletes as serious and as finely tuned as the downhill skiers and speed skaters. His response? Oh, when did things change?

I think all of us in curling have a huge challenge still ahead to help it achieve its proper position in Canada’s sport mosaic. If we do it right in 2010, not only will all of Canada be watching but so will a large portion of the world.

Warren Hansen is director of event operations and media relations for the Canadian Curling Association and managing editor of Extra End magazine s

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