The curling spotlight is on Fort Frances this week as the local club is hosting the NOCA men’s provincial playdowns—providing district residents a chance to watch some top-notch action on the sheets while also showcasing our facilities and hospitality to the rest of Northern Ontario.
Mother Nature tried to throw a curveball at organizers earlier this week when freezing rain delayed the arrival of some rinks, including Tim Phillips of Sudbury, whose flight was diverted to Calgary before they could head back east to Winnipeg and then drive on to Fort Frances in the wee hours of Tuesday.
Fortunately, all 16 teams eventually arrived safely, with only one match having to be rescheduled to accommodate the travel woes, and hopefully everything else will run smoothly until the champion is crowned Saturday night.
It’s too bad a local rink didn’t qualify for the provincials and have a chance to compete for a berth to the Tim Hortons Brier in front of a hometown crowd, as Bryan Bonot of Stratton did back in 1997 when Fort Frances last hosted the event, although there’s still a district flavour as Trevor Bonot plays second for the Brian Adams Jr. rink and Rob Sinclair Jr. is the second for Art Lappalainen.
There’s no reason to believe a local rink can’t qualify for the provincials again down the road—and perhaps even snag that elusive Brier berth. NOCA changed the format last year so that 16 rinks now vie for a trip to the Brier instead of just eight, which obviously means local teams have more opportunities to get in, as well as have a better chance to shake off a slow start than was the case before.
Equally important, though, is the strength of local programs for young curlers—starting with the “L’il Rockers” and on through the Bantam, high school, and junior ranks. Former Muskie curler Mike Badiuk of Devlin, for example, played lead for the Dylan Johnston rink of Thunder Bay, which reached the final of the national junior men’s championship on Sunday evening before coming up just short against P.E.I.
Many others also have shone on the provincial and national stage of late, whether suiting up for the Muskies or with other rinks after moving away to pursue post-secondary education.
So for young curlers watching the action from the bleachers, why not dream about being out on the ice yourself someday? Anything is possible if you put your heart and mind to it no matter where you may hail from.
In the meantime, welcome to all the curlers competing here this week. Good luck and enjoy your stay in Fort Frances.
Fort Frances Times
Local News from Across the Rainy River District
