Three local teams started the quest. Two made it to the weekend. One hung in until the final end.
But when all was said and done, there will be no local representation at the provincial men’s curling showdown in Thunder Bay next month after the conclusion of last weekend’s district playdowns in Kenora.
Fort Frances skip Lorne Jackson and his team of third Don DeBenedet, second Derek Jackson, and lead Wayne Beacham came within a heartbeat of their second-straight provincial appearance.
But after winning three-straight games to make it to Sunday afternoon’s last-chance final, it was not to be for Jackson, who fell 4-3 to Scott Henderson (Fort William Curling Club).
Henderson also sent Fort Frances skip Raymond Roy and his rink of third Tim Nordin, second Bill Carroll, and lead John Commine home with a 6-4 victory Saturday night during the double-knockout portion.
Roy, who made it to the final eight by beating Jackson 12-11 on Friday night, had lost 10-5 earlier Saturday to Bruce Melville (Port Arthur Curling Club) to put himself in the must-win situation against Henderson.
Stratton’s Craig Armstrong, along with third Bryan Bonot, second Terry Lee, and lead Mark Loney, were ousted Friday in a 10-7 loss to former world champion Al Hackner (Thunder Bay).
The Armstrong squad split their first two games, but were edged 10-8 by Bryan Burgess (Fort William Curling Club), who also qualified for the provincials along with Kenora’s Murray Affleck, before being eliminated by Hackner.
Fort Frances Times
Local News from Across the Rainy River District
