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Nugget Column #25 – Tuesday March 15th, 2016
Earning a medal that isn’t gold in colour can be bitter sweet. Just ask Team Jacobs from the Community First Curling Centre in Sault Ste. Marie and they’ll tell you that while they are disappointed in the fact that their 11-game winning streak came to a screeching halt on championship weekend, winning a bronze medal is something that they will be proud of.
Northern Ontario curling fans were on the edge of their seats Saturday night when the semi-final game between Jacobs and Koe came down to a measurement. North Bay’s own Claude Peloquin was the official tasked with deciding whether an Alberta rock teetering on the edge of the rings was counting or not. It was.
It’s difficult (and arguably unnecessary) for the semi-final loser to go back on the ice Sunday and not be playing for the Brier trophy. Many say that the bronze medal should be automatically awarded to semi-final runner-up; after all Jacobs could have gone 11-0 in round robin and walked away with nothing. So kudos to the team for putting forth their best effort and earning Northern Ontario a fourth national medal, out of seven available thus far in the 2015-2016 curling season. We’ll be cheering for green and gold at three more Canadian championships: The Canadian Senior Men and Women, and Wheelchair.
Despite being able to cheer for our own territory in Sunday’s championship final, the excitement and shot-making provided by Canada’s top two ranked teams was second to none. And while it would have been nice to see Brad Gushue win his first Brier in thirteen attempts, Koe’s Alberta foursome was undeniably the best team on the ice.
The 2016-2017 season of champions is starting to take form as some provincial qualifying events get underway late the season before.
North Bay’s Joanne Come and Bobby Ray took a shot at a trip to the 2017 Canadian Mixed Championships as part of Team Assad but were outplayed by a strong field in Fort Frances. Congratulations to Trevor Bonot, Jackie McCormick, Kory Carr and Megan Westlund who will represent the Northern Ontario Curling Association in Yarmouth, Nova Scotia.
A few North Bay Granite Club members took off to Sturgeon Falls this past weekend for a St. Patrick’s Day themed curling event.
Congratulations to Mark Dobbin, Stacey Dobbin, John Davis and Val Davis who won their first bonspiel, and only in their second year playing the sport.
Chris May, Lynn May, Kevin Hughes and Kristen Hoffman, also from North Bay, won best dressed team. You can see their creative costumes on our Facebook page /NBGraniteClub.
We are looking forward to hosting our own event this weekend with thirty-two teams registered for the Coldwell Banker Open Bonspiel. Remember there is live entertainment Friday (March 18th) and Saturday (March 19th) from 9pm – 1am that is open to the public. Come out for a good time and to support the club.
Bobby Ray General Manager North Bay Granite Club