Page 36 - Sports Energey News - Issue No 99, Cornwall, Mike Piquette

36 Issue #99 March 2021 www.sportsenergynews.com

Tee Line Talk

with Alex MacDougall

t’s exactly one year since the closure of the among the players regarding the format, but I kind
ICornwall Curling Centre due to COVID-19. of like it. The format forces the teams to play well
The premature closing on March 15th, 2020 was right from the 1st game and rack up as many wins
certainly unexpected, but we all agreed it was the as possible to advance to the championship round.
right thing to do. During the summer, as COVID
Keri Einarson (the defending champ) and Rachel
continued to affect many activities that brought Homan both finished with a 10-2 record; however,
people together, the decision was taken to cancel
with Homan defeating Einarson in the round robin,
the popular Shorty’s September Competition and she advanced to the final. There was a tie for 3rd
it became evident that the Curling season was in and 4th place, which forced a tiebreaker between
jeopardy.
Alberta’s Laura Walker and Manitoba’s Jennifer
During the summer and into the curling season, Jones.
the Cornwall Curling Centre’s Board of Directors
In semi-final action, Jones was up 8-6 coming
worked tirelessly to get the curling centre open home without hammer when Laura Walker scored
while at the same time, following the Curling Scotties Champions a 3 ender in the 10th to win 9-8 and earn a spot
safety protocols prescribed by the Eastern Ontario L to R; Keri Einarson, Val Sweeting, Shannon
Birchard, Briane Meilleur Photo Submitted in the semi-final against Einarson. Einarson
Health Unit, Curl Ontario, and the Canadian dominated the Walker team with the teams shaking
Curling Association. not to commit to return, as well as the fear of the hands after 8 ends.

When the membership was asked to show their virus. Hopefully COVID numbers will continue to The final (a repeat of last year) had Einarson
intention to join the centre and start the curling go down and the vaccine will roll out sooner than figuring out the ice early on before and leading
season (once we were permitted), the level of later. We are all missing the sport tremendously 7-4 after 7 ends. Homan put a scare into Einarson,
interest wasn’t enough to justify the cost of and are looking forward to getting back on the ice taking a single in the 8th and steeling 2 more in the
opening the centre. A huge part of the sport is the in the fall and throwing rocks at houses.
9th to tie the game at 7. Einarson with hammer saw
social aspect and getting together after the game Last year’s Ladies’ and Men’s World Curling Homan throw her last rock through the house and,
to enjoy a beverage with the opposition. This was Championships were both cancelled due to COVID not having to throw her last stone she repeated as
not going to be possible due to COVID. This may and the remainder of the Grand Slams were also Scotties Champion. During this writing, the Ladies
have impacted on many of the members’ decisions put on hold. World Championship that had been cancelled
Looking for... Association was needed to stage the Scott was resurrected and is scheduled to take place in
A lot of hard work by the Canadian Curling
Calgary at the Winsport Arena in April.
job search help? Tournament of Hearts, the Tim Horton’s Brier, and This was anything but the usual Scott’s
the Home Hardware Mixed Doubles at Winsport
Arena in Canada’s Olympic Park in Calgary. For Tournament of Hearts with curlers having to take
extraordinary measures to find ice time, stay in
months, the curlers had been sitting around like the shape, and prepare for the event. Staying mentally
rest of the country - without being able to practice sharp for the nine-day event was as much of a
properly and in most cases, teams didn’t even play challenge as participating. The curlers were faced
in their respective Provincial or Territorial play with strict COVID regulations and were basically
downs. The majority of teams were handpicked to locked down when not on the ice.
represent their area of the country. With the new
format being used in both the Scotties and Brier, Botcher a Bridesmaid
getting off to a solid start was very important
because nobody knew what to expect after so much No Longer
See what our clients are saying about us! time away from the sport. The Tim Horton’s Brier was staged immediately
following the Scotties in the same venue with 18
“Very helpful and definitely supportive. Einarson Defends Scotties Title
I am really happy I took the step forward to go into this teams including 3 wild card teams. The teams were
agency for assistance!” Eighteen teams including 3 wild card teams were placed in 2 pools of nine. The format was organized

“The agency’s team is very helpful. in the same way as the Scotties and COVID rules
Full of great suggestions!” entered in the 40th Anniversary Scotties, organized and regulations were also enforced.
Connect with us today using a different format for this year’s event.
There were two pools of 9 teams, with the top 4 Changes saw Wayne Middaugh skip the Glenn
in each pool advancing to the Championship round. Howard team as Howard broke some ribs in a
The teams also carried their preliminary round snowmobile accident and wasn’t able to participate.
record with them into the championship round. Other changes saw John Morris join Kevin Koe at
Following the championship round, the top team the 2nd position, with Colton Flasch leaving the
This Employment Ontario service is funded in part by the Government of Canada and the Government of Ontario.
144 Pitt St., Cornwall 530 Fred St., Suite B, Winchester went directly to the final, while the 2nd and 3rd team to start his own team. Another change had
613-933-9675 613-774-JOBS (613-774-5627) place teams played a semi-final, with the winner Ontario’s Scott McDonald skipping the Nova
www.jobzonedemploi.ca advancing to the final. There were mixed feelings Continued on page 37