Ice goes in before the game goes on at the Players’ Ch’ship (Journal)

World-class ice maker Mark Shurek prepares Grand Slam sheets

SUMMERSIDE – With $400,000 in prize money on the line for the Players’ Championship of the Grand Slam of Curling, teams expect the best ice possible, and Mark Shurek is in the city to make certain it happens.

© Michael Nesbitt / Journal Pioneer

Ice technician Mark Shurek rolls out a decal on the ice of the Players’ Championship of the Grand Slam of Curling at Eastlink Arena, while volunteers on his crew make sure the hose doesn’t disturb other decals before flooding. Other volunteers prepared the rest of the venue for the event, in cooperation with Credit Union Place staff.

Shurek, head ice technician for the event, is based just outside of Winnipeg Manitoba but has made his career on ice, being involved with the Grand Slam of Curling since its inception in 2001.

He has also been icemaker at the European championship, the Canadian Curling Association Scotties and Brier, and the World championship. He has built on the experience and traditions inspired by a mentor, award winning icemaker Hans Wuthrich, who is from Gimli, Manitoba, where Shurek grew up.

Typically, Shurek arrives at a Grand Slam venue with one assistant, because he likes to have at least one familiar person to work with, but he needs a crew of at least eight to create the ice, and six to maintain it during the event.

The total preparation team of about 20 involves mostly local volunteers, but is sometimes augmented by visitors to the event such as Eldie Benson who came to Summerside from Collingwood, Ontario.

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