Fort Frances Curling Club

The first rock is still six weeks away but the Fort Frances Curling Club already is gearing up for another busy season.
Registration for all leagues will be held next Tuesday (Sept. 11) from 7-10 p.m. upstairs at the curling club.
“We’re hoping all our regular members will return,” enthused club committee member Kevin Busch, one of the 450 members from last year. “Hopefully new interested people will come out, too.”
In addition to running more than 15 leagues, Busch said the club is looking to introduce a business league Saturday nights as well as hold an open golf/curling bonspiel on Oct. 12-13 with Kitchen Creek Golf and Country.
This bonspiel will involve combining a player’s score on the links and the ice.
“[The business league] is a way of thanking local businesses for their support,” he said. “The golf is something we tried last year but couldn’t get off the ground.
Busch also will guide the “L’il Rockers” and junior curling programs this winter. Kids aged seven to 10 are eligible for the “rockers” and those 11-19 can register as juniors. Cost is $60.
Curlers in the other leagues should expect a registration incr-ease of about $10, club president Bill Gushulak said. League games should begin by their regular time–the week after Thanksgiving.
Meanwhile, the curling club will be distributing ‘807’ telephone books in Fort Frances during the first week of October as a fundraiser. This is the first year it will be handing out the close to 5,600 books to local residents and businesses.
“The more the volunteers, the smaller the job,” said Gushulak.
Of course, the club always is looking for new curling enthusiasts. Gushulak noted “newbies” can sign up for basic training programs, with loaner brooms and sliders being provided.
“It’s a great game, we’re a friendly group, and everyone is absolutely welcome to give it a try,” he enthused.
In related news, the North-western Ontario association meeting will be held this Saturday (Sept. 8) in Thunder Bay. If anyone is interested in attending, they should call Busch at 275-9015 or the curling club at 274-6667.