LITTLE CURRENT—For two of the rinks competing in the Northern Ontario Curling Association men’s championships in Little Current this week, it will truly be a family affair and a time to enjoy coming back and curling on the Island. The father and son duo of Chris and Matthew Gordon will be playing on the Assad rink based out of Copper Cliff, while Jordan Chandler will skip a rink that includes his brother Kyle. Both the men’s and women’s Northern Ontario Curling Association Championships will be played in the NEMI arena from January 23-28.
“Oh yeah, this is a pretty fun opportunity to play in Little Current with family on hand and remembering all the time I grew up and spent time on the Island,” said Matthew Gordon. “I wasn’t born on the Island, but my grandparents are Helen and Bruce Gordon of Little Current, and as a kid we used to visit my grandparents a lot and camp at Maple Point. I spent a lot of my time growing up on the Island, and I’m very familiar with the Island.”
Chris Gordon’s mother, Helen, coached young curlers in the Little Rock program at the Little Current Curling Club for many years.
“We’re really looking forward to be playing together on the same team, and in my hometown,” said Chris Gordon. “I lived on the island until the end of high school.”
“I have been curling since I was about 10 years old. My parents got me into curling,” said Chris Gordon, who was on a rink that went to the men’s curling national championship about 10 years ago. “And last year the rink I was on went to the provincial final in the men’s senior championship, where Al Hackner and his rink beat us out.”
“Just last weekend I played in the provincial masters division,” said Chris Gordon last week. “Matthew started curling when he was young and has made it to the provincials a number of times. My daughter Chloe is also a curler, so we are a real family of curlers. Matthew and I played in one other provincial championship together, and Matthew played in the NOCA provincials in Little Current in 2018.”
“It’s going to be great playing in my hometown, and Matthew considers it his hometown as well,” said Chris Gordon. “Mike Assad is the skip of our rink and Jason Strelezki is vice.”
Chris noted his parents have given the Gordon rink the use of their house for the NOCA provincials. “Yes, they’ve given us their house for the week. They are moving across the street (in NEMI Little Current) to my sister, Bonnie Cook’s, place. I can’t wait, it’s going to be a great event to take part in.”
“My dad and I have played in a couple of different events, and we played in the mixed event with my sister Chloe,” said Matthew Gordon. “Dad coached me when I was young, he taught me everything I know in curling.” The Assad rink is from the Copper Cliff Curling Club.
“I played in Little Current the first time the provincials were played here,” said Matthew Gordon. “It is my favourite provincial championship I’ve taken part in. It was a great event and it was definitely my favourite provincial to take part in (he has also taken part in the men’s provincials in Thunder Bay and Kenora previously).
“Yes, absolutely, we are looking forward to playing at home in front of family, friends and fans,” said Jordan Chandler, skip of the second family team, the Chandler rink. “Especially at home on Manitoulin.” Two years ago, Mr. Chandler played for the Brad Jacobs rink out of Sault Ste. Marie that won the NOCA men’s provincial championship and a berth in the Brier. “I went to the Brier with Brad Jacobs rink, as second on the rink.”
Brother Kyle Chandler. just earlier this month, “won the Northern Ontario Police Curling Provincials in North Bay. Charlie Robert, Steve Muenier and Nick Servant were on the rink. The rink will be going to the national championship in April.
Jordan has been to the provincials between 10-15 times. He and Tracy Fleury won the mixed provincial championship in 2010. And while at Manitoulin Secondary School he went to the provincial championships.
The Chandlers and the rest of the rink competing this week took part in a World Curling Touring Event this past weekend in Phoenix, Arizona. “Yes, this is the first time all the members of our rink will be playing together at the provincials. It is a good group.” The rink includes skip Jordan Chandler, vice Connor Lawes, second Charlie Robert and lead Kyle Chandler.
“We played in one event in October and went 4-1. The team we lost to had played five events this year, so it is a good sign for our team,” said Jordan. He had only started his curling season about two weeks ago after suffering a back injury.
“Oh, for sure I’m looking forward to the provincials (in Little Current),” stated Kyle Chandler. “It’s going to be good being on Manitoulin where we grew up and curled,” he said, pointing out as young players the Chandler brothers curling base was at the Providence Bay Curling Club.
“Jordan and I played together at the provincials last year and several times before that,” said Kyle. “We’re looking forward to (this) week.”
