Six mixed teams from across Northern Ontario battled it out at the Port Arthur Curling Club in Thunder Bay on March 27-29 for the title of NOCA mixed provincial champion.
Team Fisher, of the Soo Curlers Association, was successful at claiming the crown.
Team Fisher (Ian Fisher, Lindsay Miners, Caleb Flaxey, and Chris Fortin) won the final 7-5 against Team Assad (Mike Assad, Ashley Miharija, Bryan Burgess, and Tracey Auld) from the Fort William Curling Club.
The score was tight throughout the exciting game, and was tied 5-5 after 10 ends.
The game ended with Fisher taking two in the extra end to earn the right to represent Northern Ontario at the national championships.
The 2009 Canadian mixed championships will be held Nov. 9-16 in Iqaluit.
“It will be the experience of a lifetime,” said Miners. “We’re really excited about travelling to and competing in Iqaluit.
“It will be crazy!”
The Canadian Curling Association announced back on March 10 that it will be the first sport association to host a national championship (summer or winter) in Nunavut.
Fisher advanced to the final by winning a back-and-forth tie-breaker against Team Phillips from the Sudbury Curling Club.
The game was tied 3-3 after nine ends, with Fisher scoring two with the hammer in the 10th to edge Phillips 5-3.
The other teams in the event were Team Nerpin (Marathon Curling Club), Team Currie (Port Arthur Curling Club), and Team Dumontelle (Sudbury Curling Club).
The standings after the round-robin were Assad in first at 4-1, followed by Fisher and Phillips at 3-2, Nerpin and Currie at 2-3, and Dumontelle last at 1-4.
“The event went very well, and we were treated to some exciting games and spectacular curling,” said event chairman Peter Hinz.
“We’ll be excited to follow Team Fisher in the 2009 Canadian mixed championships,” he enthused.
Fort Frances Times
Local News from Across the Rainy River District
