If you’ve got the curling bug but didn’t think there was still time to sign up with the Fort Frances Curling Club this season, club president Bill Gushulak has good news to share.
“We could certainly use more teams for women’s, men’s, and mixed play,” Gushulak said after the club’s annual general meeting last night. “We have a number of teams who curled with us last year who aren’t coming back, and we’re not sure why.
“We want people whose teams may have had some people hang up their brooms to know that doesn’t mean they don’t have the opportunity to play this season,” he added.
“As soon as we know who those people are who want to play and are not signed up, we can team them with other people in the same situation.”^Anyone interested in curling this season can call manager Rick Grenda (274-6667) for more information.
Meanwhile, the club still is aiming to have the first rock of the competitive year thrown Monday night, although ice preparation delays have made that start date somewhat tenuous.
“We’re scrambling around to get done in time,” said Gushulak, who added volunteers are being sought to come to the club tonight (Thursday) at 7 p.m. to help with painting the ice.
“Unless we run into some glitch, we should be ready to go for Monday,” he noted.
In other news, the local club will climb on board with the Canadian Curling Association’s move to implement international rules that will bring Canada in line with the rest of the world’s curling nations.
“The big change is our move to the four-rock rule instead of the three,” explained Gushulak. “By not curling the four-rock rule like everyone else, it was putting Canada at a disadvantage when they played in international events.
“This is the first time where everybody in the curling world will be on the same page.”^Gushulak said the four-rock rule already is partially in place at the club here as it is used by teams competing fin the U.S. men’s league Tuesday nights and the U.S.
mixed league Friday afternoons, as well as for the Falls’ annual bonspiel during Ice Box Days.
Other new rules being introduced at the club this year include curlers having to release the rock before reaching the hogline, rather than after they have crossed it; and the allowance for any burnt rock to finish its path of movement rather than being kicked out of the way to avoid having it come into play.
In that situation, the team that didn’t burn the rock will have the option of leaving the rock in play, or having it removed.
It also was decided by the membership on hand at last night’s meeting to increase annual dues by $20 per person.
A novice clinic for any new curlers, or those wanting to refresh their skills, will be conducted by Muskie curling coach Tom Fry on Saturday, Oct. 18 from 9 a.m.-2 p.m.
Those interested are asked to call the club ahead of time to reserve their spot and to allow organizers to know how many people to anticipate. The cost is $20, which can be paid on the day of the clinic.
Gushulak also confirmed the club will continue to have a designated smoking area in its upstairs lounge for the time being, pending the outcome of the challenge over smoking in public areas.
“We’ll take it day to day, and wait to see what happens with that,” he said.
Fort Frances Times
Local News from Across the Rainy River District
