SHAUNAVON — Another season is underway at the Shaunavon Curling Club. Registrations have increased slightly from last year with one additional team in each of the regular leagues.
Tuesday’s Men’s League hits the ice at 7 p.m. each week with seven teams registered. The Mixed League plays Thursdays at 7 p.m. with nine teams.
Super League began Nov. 10 with games played every Sunday at 4 p.m., concluding with playoffs on Dec. 15. Six teams entered this year including two Shaunavon rinks, Selvig and Thienes, joined by the Coupe rink of Ponteix, Frontier’s Evenson rink, Brad Service of Gull Lake and Colin McCuaig from Eastend.
The junior program is led by Della Moffat and Tyler Wilson, along with a slate of volunteer coaches, with two divisions practicing on Mondays after school. The younger group has 27 curlers registered and had to cut off registrations due to the high curler-to-coach ratio.
"Curl Canada recommends a 4:1 ratio for optimal instruction,” Moffat explains.
“Additional coaching volunteers are welcome. If you have some curling experience and an hour or two to spare on Mondays at 4 p.m., please give me a call."
There are seven teenage students in the intermediate division and they are also entered in the Thursday evening league.
“It’s all about developing a lifelong love of the game,” says Moffat of the junior program.
“This is a sport for all ages and all skill levels. Everyone can go out and have fun. The kids learn etiquette and it’s not all about winning; it’s about being part of a team and part of a community.”
To kick off the bonspiel season, Moffat has planned the inaugural Curling Cornhole Classic Bonspiel for Nov. 30 starting at 1 p.m. Teams will play two four-end games with varying ‘wacky’ activities including an indoor round of Cornhole (beanbag toss). Teams or individuals of all ages and skill levels are invited to register.
Bonspiel season will continue in January with the Ladies’ Bonspiel scheduled for Jan. 23 and 24, a Junior Bonspiel on Feb. 1, Men’s Bonspiel Feb. 28 to March 1, a Family Funspiel on March 9, Farmers’ Bonspiel March 13-15 and the return of the Oilmen’s Bonspiel, after a one-year hiatus, on March 22.
CurlSask hosted an Assistant Ice Technician course, a Recreational Curling Instructor Course and the Viterra Prairie Curling Camp the weekend of Nov. 23 and 24 at the Shaunavon Curling Club. The Viterra Prairieland Curling Camp was for curlers ages 10 to 18.
Long-time icemaker and club manager, Kent Elmgren, has relocated to Alberta and the Town of Shaunavon’s Wellness and Leisure Department has taken over ice-making and ice maintenance duties. There is still a pro shop available with equipment for sale including sliders, pants, grippers, brooms, toques and some gift items.
Anyone interested in putting their name on the substitute player lists can call: Men’s League (306-297-7717) or Mixed League (306-297-9021). Contact Della Moffat at 306-294-7339 for information on the junior program, or to volunteer as a coach. Register for the upcoming Classic Cornhole Curling bonspiel by contacting Moffat at 306-294-7339 or Marlene Amon at 306-297-9021.
