Author Archives: gerry

@CurlingZone at the Brier by Gerry Geurts
The Tim Hortons Brier returns to Saskatoon for 2012, and this year presents us with a very intriguing field with two obvious favourites: Alberta’s Kevin Koe, and Ontario’s Glenn Howard.  These teams, along with four others, could reach the playoffs and make some noise on the weekend.
Howard is 1-4 in the last 6 years in Brier finals, add an upset loss to Stoughton in the 2009 semifinals, and an overall 3-7 record in Brier Finals when including his games with brother Russ and you wonder how this stains his reputation on an elite team.
"Choker [...]

Remember Sandra Schmirler's team of 1998, winners of the Olympic Gold Medal in Nagano, Japan? It's been a some time since then, and while all players are seemingly "retired" from competitive play, they're still proving they've got game.
The remaining three players from the lineup, Jan Betker, Marcia Gudereit and Joan McCusker reunited this weekend with Sherry Linton for a special invitation to play in the International Bernese Ladies Cup in Switzerland. And qualified! The team began listed under Betker, but after a tough first game, Joan McCusker took over the skipping duties.
Mike Harris' knowledge rubbing off on her a little?
The [...]

It's the time of the year for the biggest event in the City of Toronto, as the TCA hosts the 117th Annual Toronto Men's Bonspiel, dubbed the Goldline TCA Men's. Goldine is honoured to be involved in such a prestigious event, the biggest event in Toronto.
Play continues through Sunday in the Open, Seniors and Senators divisions, and the Main event is drawing to a conclusion. Tonight's Quarterfinals in the Open event have Steve McKerihen of High Park taking on Brent Swain of Brent Swain of Richmond Hill, Tom Dearie of High Park against John Leermakers of Dixie, Mike Maddin of [...]

TSN Skins Wrapped up yesterday, if you haven't followed up yet, Anil Mungal of The Curling News had coverage all weekend.  Koe wrapped up the title with a big shot in the 8th end, in another game they control but came down to the last end yet again. Globe and Mail wrap here.
In other exciting news coming out of Rama, The Dominion will take over the sponsorship of the TSN Skins game, bumping it back to $100,000 and offering the fans a way to vote in their favourite players. Another interesting concept and I'm looking forward to it. Fans pitch [...]

In a well fought match at the TSN Skins Game at Casino Rama that Kevin Koe's team had control of throughout the game, it still took a couple miscues in the eight end by Kevin Martin to for Koe take the win.
This is really beast of skins, you can play well all game and when your opposition puts on late pressure, it can come down to making the last few shots in the game. Martin knew this, and kept their composure for most of the game, even though they seemed to struggle at times.
An interesting moment in the game, when [...]

Susie Dunlap and Randy Czarnetzki would be the first to call their upcoming March wedding “a crazy idea.” In fact, that’s exactly what they do call it.
When Dunlap walks down the aisle this March, it will be on the ice at the Willmar Civic Center in Minnesota. The couple is planning to lay carpet and place chairs on either side of the “aisle” for close friends and family, and the rest of the guests will sit in the warming area. More on the story here.
Some Quick Hitters:
USA Regionals coverage from Titletown, as the teams hit the ice after Day 1.
Ontario [...]

Imagine being teenagers and offered the opportunity to compete for Canada on the International stage?
The dream is a reality for four young Canadian kids who will compete at the Youth Olympic Games in Innsbruck, Austria running January 13 to 22. The squad, selected by the Canadian Curling Association from across the country include to compete include Thomas Scoffin of the Yukon, Corryn Brown of Kamloops, BC, Derek Oryniak of Winnipeg, and Emily Gray of Prince Edward Island. Brown was also honoured with the task of carrying the Canadian Flag in the opening ceremonies.
The mixed squad was put together last season [...]

As the United States Playdowns open this weekend, with coverage on CurlingZone.com as well as USACurl.org, a little controversy is coming out of Green Bay's Midwest South Regional as two entries have dropped out late, resulting in multiple efforts to rework the schedule.
David Brown of Madison, Wisconsin and Josh Bahr of Bemidji, Minnesota dropped out in the last two days and the event is still awaiting a reworked final schedule as play begins in less than 24 hours on Thursday at 2pm Central time.
The result of this has lead people to call for sanctions and this is not unheard of [...]

A made for TV showcase goes again this weekend at Casino Rama outside Orillia, Ontario as four of curling's name teams are invited to battle for $75,000 in cash in the TSN Skins Curling Game. You can follow the action this weekend on TSN.
While it does have many great teams on the ice in Jeff Stoughton, Glenn Howard, Kevin Martin and Kevin Koe, it will be missing curling's #1 ranked team as brought up in the comments section. A very good question indeed.
McEwen will be working on extending his points lead on the Order of Merit and CTRS this weekend [...]

Garnet Campbell, the "Little General" of the famous Campbell curling clan passed away December 30th, the winner of the 1955 Brier as the first Saskatchewan team to bring home the title. Instrumental in putting the Avonlea Curling Club in Saskatchewan on the map, Campbell even auctioned off carspiel proceeds and help to build a new three sheet club in 1951.
Representing Saskatchewan at 10 National Championships, Garnet Campbell was one of the game's early legends.
Some Quick Hitters:
Calendar girl Laura Crocker invests her time in a charitable cause, spearheading a food drive over the holidays to collect donations for the WLU Food Bank.
If you [...]