LITTLE CURRENT—Both the Men’s and Women’s Northern Ontario Curling Association Championships are coming to the Island thanks to the Little Current Curling Club’s (LCCC) successful bid to host the games and the ability to host the games in an arena.
Local point man for the championships is Joe Cooper. Mr. Cooper dropped into The Expositor Office last week to chat about the event.
“The Little Current Curling Club hosted the Men’s Championships before (in 2018),” noted Mr. Cooper. “This time we have both the Men’s and the Women’s Championships taking place in the NEMI arena.” The games will run from January 23 to January 28.
“The permission of the town council was an important factor in the club’s successful bid,” said Mr. Cooper. “They want to be able to hold the games in an arena.” To that end, the main ice surface will be tied up two weeks and unavailable to rent for hockey games or figure skating. “The ice has to be prepared for at least a week before,” said Mr. Cooper. The arena can seat up to 500.
The bonus of that is the Baxter Cup teams will be able to try out the professional pebbling efforts of master pebbler (his official title is chief ice technician) Tom Leonard from Curl Sudbury (Sudbury Curling Club), who is arriving this week with a team of assistants drawn from across the North (some as far as Thunder Bay).
“There are 14 men’s teams and six women’s teams coming,” said Mr. Cooper. The winner of the playdowns will go on to compete in the Nationals in Regina in March, then, who knows? Maybe onto the Worlds at the end of March in Schaffhausen, Switzerland.
The men’s rinks include the Horgan out of the Northern Credit Union Community Centre (NCUCC—aka Sudbury Curling Club), MacEwan, NCUCC; Bonot, Fort William Curling Club (FWCC); Chandler, Little Current Curling Club; Adams Jr., Port Arthur Curling Club (PACC); Warkentin, PACC; Burgess, PACC; Minogue, North Bay Granite Club (NBGC); Silver, FWCC; Assad, Copper Cliff Curling Club; Hunt, NCUCC; Rajala, NCUCC; Deschene, NCUCC; and O’Bright, NBGC.
A number of local connections are on those rinks, look for a story by Expositor scribe Tom Sasvari in next week’s edition for details.
The Women’s Rinks include Johnstone, NBGC; McCormick, Idylwyld Curling Club; Deschene, McIntyre Curling Club; Burns, NCUCC; Despins, FWCC; and McCarville, FWCC.
Games begin on Tuesday, January 23 at 5:30 pm in the NEMI arena main ice surface and continue through the week, ending with the final game at 1:30 pm on Sunday, January 28. Two pipers will enter with the traditional ‘Scotland the Brave.’ “NOCA insists on it,” smiled Mr. Cooper.
A nine-minute pre-game practice begins a half-hour before game time. The hammer will be determined by a draw to the button at the end of the practice time.
The Little Current Curling Club being able to host the NOCA championships is being made possible by a great response from local businesses, said Mr. Cooper. “This wouldn’t be possible without Manitoulin Transport,” he added. “They are our pivotal sponsor.” The club can still use a few more volunteers if someone has a bit of spare time on their hands during the playdown dates.
Interest in the playdowns is intense and Mr. Cooper strongly advises Islanders who wish to take in the games get their tickets fast. “We are probably going to sell out,” he said, noting that as of last week 200 tickets had already been booked. “There are going to be a lot of people there.”
If you are unable to secure tickets, or can’t make the days of play, all is not lost. “Sheet C will be livestreamed,” said Mr. Cooper. That thanks to the good offices of Manitoulin Secondary School.
Tickets are $100 for a full event pass, with day passes costing $20. Tickets can be purchased online at: 2024 Men’s and Women’s NOCA Provincial Curling Championships (ticketspice.com) or at the door.
