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Airdrie curlers off to great start in 2020

The success of Airdrie’s young curlers was evident at the U21 provincial championships, held Jan. 1 to 5 in Lloydminster.

In the women’s division, three of the eight competing rinks are based in Airdrie, according to Airdrie Curling Club (ACC) manager Don DeLair – Team Wytrychowski, Team Cinnamon and Team Lepine.

“[It] was phenomenal, to have that much representation,” he said.

The top-placing rink was Team Cinnamon, which included members from Airdrie, Cochrane, Carstairs and Calgary. According to DeLair, the rink – which is also eligible to compete in U18 ­– went unbeaten in the round robin, before falling narrowly in the championship draw.

The team fought until the bitter end of the gold-medal match, according to DeLair, only losing on the last rock of the last end, to a measurement.

“They’re actually playing in a level above by going to the U21s,” he said. “Obviously, they did fantastic and they’re now looking forward to the U18 provincials, which are coming up…in Sexsmith, [Alta.], Feb. 26 to March 1.”

On the men’s side, another Airdrie-based rink – Team Palanuik – ended the U21 provincials with a 3-4 record.

“They qualified for provincials, but they didn’t quite make it to the playoff round,” DeLair said. “They play in our Airdrie Super League, as well.”

The success of Airdrie’s U21 curlers this season bodes well for the sport’s future in the city, according to DeLair.

“We do have a good junior program here – we have two different age groups going on – and we have some good coaches in Airdrie, which definitely helps,” he said.

“It’s fantastic to see these young teams compete at a high level.”

The first few months of 2020 will bring an assortment of action for curling fans in Airdrie to check out, as ACC has a busy schedule between January and April, with a host of bonspiels and tournaments.  

“We’ve got a lot of events coming up,” DeLair said. “By all means, people can come and watch. Viewing is free for all of those events, with the exception of the masters’ provincials.”

ACC’s next competition will be the Rocky View Schools divisional curling championships, Jan. 31 to Feb. 5. Grade-9 curlers will take to the ice Jan. 31, while athletes in grades 10 to 12 will follow suit Feb. 3 to 5. Winning rinks will progress to the South Central Zones tournament Feb. 7 in Cochrane.

Following that, ACC will host the curling competition for the 2020 Alberta Winter Games, which will take place in Airdrie Feb. 14 to 17. According to DeLair, at least one Airdrie-based rink – Team Northwood – has qualified for the U15 event.

Another highlight of the season will be March 4 to 8, DeLair said, when Alberta’s best senior curlers come to Airdrie for the Curling Alberta Masters’ Provincial Championships. He added local curler Lorne Goodman, who curls in the Airdrie Super League, will be representing the city at that event.

“We’re getting into that competitive time of the season, where everyone is qualifying for provincials,” he said.

Outside of provincial competition, other bonspiels to be hosted in Airdrie include ACC’s annual club championships Feb. 22 and 23 and the club’s yearly mixed spiel, Feb. 29 and March 1.

The season will wrap up April 3 to 5, according to DeLair, when ACC hosts the Calgary and Area Club Managers Championships.

“It’s separate from the club championships, and is more or less something the Calgary Curling Club Managers Association has put together,” he said.

“It’s more of a fun event – there are different divisions for senior men, ladies, and it’s just a matter of bragging rights for being the best among the Calgary [and area] curling clubs.”

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