Wednesday, February 20, 2008

Scotties notes














So what’s up with the Scotties, the Canadian women’s curling championship?

Kelly Scott and Jennifer Jones are both 3-4, oh my. But certainly not out of it. Two Wednesday wins from both squads are definitely in order.

The NBs are out of it, but they were a surprise to begin with. Nice photo, by CP’s Paul Chiasson, of skipper Sylvie Robichaud above. And some quotes from her are located here.

Michelle Englot’s host team is in the running, and wrestled a big and distracting night on Tuesday. The standing ovation as the team left the ice after losing to NS was heartwarming – we also note this local editorial a few days ago – and we can easily forgive the skip and team from declining media interviews after the match. That had to be a first for the media-savvy Englot.

Did you know that Joan McCusker has been blogging daily on the Scotties? You can see her Extra End columns here.

Did you also know about Saskcurl.com? First of all, Sask alternate Lori Kehler, a long time Englot teammate and confidante, is blogging at there (look for Daily Diary) and we also agree with Murray McCormick – check out his robust blogging, too – regarding saskcurl.com’s overall Scotties coverage. They have a fellow, labelled Farmer, who does a fine job updating each end with comments from every game on exactly how the points were scored. A great companion to cbc.ca for the morning games (webcasted) and TSN TV for the afternoon and evening draws.

Of course, the other regulars are active; Al Cameron has incisive commentary and lots of interviews at On The Rocks and while Bob Weeks is not in Regina – we expect he would be flying out soon? – he is fairly active with STOH musings on his blog. He also had a nice piece in the Globe and Mail on the Schmirler legacy.

Yes, we remember Cory, from the last Regina Brier. So does the CCA, as his image appears on a few curling promotional materials. He’s also mentioned in this McCusker blogpost on the CCF (Crazed Curling Fans) ...

Speaking of Crazed Curling Fans, don’t forget the pinheads; Regina is, after all, the home of legendary curling pin manufacturer Laurie Artiss Ltd ...

DID YOU KNOW: that Team BC has two “other sport” stars in their lineup? Lead Amanda Brennan – only in her second year of competitive curling – is a former all-Canadian in university soccer... and her aunt is multiple New Brunswick champion skip Heidi Hanlon. Meanwhile, teammate Karla Sparks is a world-class fastball player.

And finally, over $170,000 has been raised for the Sandra Schmirler Foundation, and they still have to pass the donations bucket in the stands during the playoffs. A great total so far, and nice to see familiar faces during Sunday’s TSN telethon: Lindsay Sparkes, Al Gilchrist, Shannon England (of course) and even CCA chief Greg Stremlaw all worked the phones. Watch for the big cheque to be presented during Sunday’s final.

And in other news ...

Kevin Martin beat Randy Ferbey three times to book his Alberta tickets to the Brier. Quote of the week from the Journal’s Dan Barnes (discuss if you like):
“(Martin) had to eat a steady diet of glowing Ferbey press clippings for many years, and some of them were actually warranted. But the new book on Ferbey exposes his team as a little past their prime.”

Kerry Burtnyk will be the home team in Winnipeg. Here’s the scoop, and here’s some cool Manitoba men’s highlights packaged by Ty Dilello. Burtnyk gets a Brier reception at his home Assiniboine Memorial Curling Club Friday at 8:00pm, while the Pembina CC hosts a worlds sendoff for Kaitlyn Lawes and her Manitoba and Canadian Junior champion squad this Saturday, at 7:00pm ...

• Who won New Brunswick? Nope, it wasn’t Russ Howard, but we will offer congrats to his former third and the NB skip way back in 1997, Jim Grattan ...

• Another $3,000 was raised for the SSF during last weekend’s TCA Energizer Mixed bonspiel, aka the Toronto city mixed championship. Len McNicholl was the winner, with Alison Goring at third and fourth-place Ontario men’s finisher Rob Lobel sparing for some key games.

It’s been quite a year for Goring, the 1990 STOH champion. The jolly skip, who now throws lead stones and calls the game, led her women’s team to a third-place finish behind Sherry Middaugh in Ontario ...

• The Scottish championships are under way, both men and women, and CurlingZone is in the house ...

• What? Curling is losing an online poll? To... indoor soccer?! Come on people, vote here (left side of page) ...

• They’re still celebrating the wheelchair bronze in the U.S... with video located here:

• Here’s those incredibly young Philly gals, again (both story and video)... turns out they put up a decent fight at junior nats ...

• It was a “once in a lifetime event” ...

• Listen to LIO, curling skeptics. He tried it, and has learned ...

• Nova Scotia christened a new club championship on the weekend, complete with “heart” crests for the champs ...

• Blasts from the past: congrats to former world champs Pat Sanders and Christine Jurgenson, who are off to the national Seniors

• Blast from the past II: remember this guy, who declared curling to be “erotic”? ...

• Finally... did South Park’s Cartman really go calf curling? Anyone?

3 comments:

sloan said...

I liked you column, but think you might have used a more flattering picture.

TCN said...

We like this photo! It's a great facial expression you rarely see in curling action pix.

Pat Hiver said...

Here's a new blog commemorating the performance of the Saskatchewan team.

Englot Rocks!

Those who wish Michelle and her family well are invited to sign the Guest Book.