The Airdrie Curling Club (ACC) hosted its final event of the season from April 6 to 10, hosting the Nature's Bounty Alberta Club Provincial Championship for both ladies and men.
ACC’s men and women club representatives made it to provincials and started the weekend off strong with several wins.
The women’s rink, led by skip Melanie Puzzie, finished second in their pool after winning four of their five matches.
Unfortunately, they lost their first playoff draw against a team from Okotoks on Sunday, putting them out of the championship.
Team North Hill, led by skip Vanessa McConnell from the North Hill Curling Club in Calgary, took home gold in a tight match that went to an extra end. They will represent Alberta at the 2022 Canadian Curling Club Championships held Nov. 20 to 26 at Ice Palace in the West Edmonton Mall.
On the men’s side, ACC’s team, led by Skip Dale Goehring, didn’t get a chance to curl in the playoffs. Team Goehring won their first two matches but lost the next three, putting them out of contention.
The men’s gold medal draw also finished in an extra end. The men's representative at the 2022 Canadian Curling Club Championships will be Team Irricana, led by skip Robert Johnson.
“Oddly enough, two of their four players in Irricana play in our super league here,” said Don DeLair, manager of the Airdrie Curling Club.
DeLair explained that the Nature's Bounty Alberta Club Provincial Championship is a little different from the highly competitive provincials for men and women, in that it’s hosted specifically for club curlers.
“It's made for those who don't go to the big provincials and it gives a chance for regular club curlers to strive for something,” DeLair said.
The event featured 24 teams from across the province, who curled their way through three qualifying bonspiels in March to make it to the provincial championship.
DeLair said he received a lot of good feedback from umpires about the event and ice conditions at Airdrie’s curling club.
“It seems like everyone was happy on those fronts from our perspective,” he said.
ACC’s ladies team was made up of skip Melanie Puzzie, third Elysa Crough, second Karen Dobler, and lead Shelley Crough.
The men’s team included skip Dale Goehring, third Jeff Phenix, second Fred Edwards, lead Andrew Brotherhood, and alternate Michael Roy.
