CCA Photo by Leona Arsenault: Rod MacDonald at the Canadian Seniors

Rod MacDonald skipped two provincial championship teams and one runner-up this season, going undefeated to win the Credit Unions of PEI Senior Men’s title, winning the provincial Mixed championship, and coming second in the Tankard provincial men’s. And, for the first time, he got to compete in a national championship in his home town, finishing fourth after losing out in a tiebreaker at the Canadian Mixed at the Silver Fox Curling and Yacht Club in Summerside. MacDonald and his Mixed team, which includes his wife, Karen, his sister Kathy O’Rourke, and her husband Mark, are looking forward to competing in the Canadian Mixed,  November 14-23 at the Rideau Curling Club in Ottawa.

To-date, MacDonald has won three provincial Mixed titles, two Senior Men’s, and six Tankards, winning his first playing third for his brother Peter back in 1978, waiting until 1996 for his second, on another team skipped by Peter, and skipping his own team to wins in 2005, 2006, 2009, and 2010.

PEICurling.com Photo: Mark O’Rourke at the 2013 PEI Tankard final

Mark O’Rourke played second stone for his brother-in-law Rod MacDonald on Men’s, Senior Men’s, and Mixed teams this season, winning both the provincial Credit Unions of PEI Seniors title, and the Mixed crown, and finishing as runners-up in the PEI Tankard Men’s Championship. At the national Seniors in Summerside, the team finished in fourth spot, with O’Rourke being named to the first team All-Stars, for having the highest shooting percentage (83) among seconds.

While new to the Seniors, O’Rourke is no stranger to Men’s curling, with his name on the provincial plaque 10 times, curling on rinks skipped by Rod MacDonald, Peter Gallant, Peter MacDonald, and Robert Campbell.

O’Rourke will also be competing in the Canadian Mixed,  November 14-23 at the Rideau Curling Club in Ottawa. He is a former Canadian Mixed champion, winning with Robert Campbell, Angela Roberts, and his wife Kathy O’Rourke back in 1988. The O’Rourkes  also curled at the national Mixed in 1998, with his brother-in-law Peter MacDonald and Peter’s wife Karen.

O’Rourke is also a runner, and, keeps fit at the gym and by throwing rocks at the curling club.

Photo: Shelly Bradley at the 2013 PEI Scotties

Shelly Bradley, who plays third on the Suzanne Birt rink out of the Charlottetown Curling Complex, been on six PEI women’s championship teams, and, additionally, has been an alternate at the nationals three times. The Birt rink beat the defending champion Kim Dolan team in this year’s PEI Scotties final, and went on to represent PEI at the national Scotties in Kingston ON, finishing with a 5-6 win-loss record. Bradley and the rest of team, coached by Peter Gallant, have an extensive on and off-ice training schedule.

Bradley, who, as skip, won her first  PEI women’s championship back in 1994, plays a great leadership role on the team, drawing on her decades of curling experience when called upon for advice and guidance by the team. Bradley also sits on the Board of Directors at the Charlottetown Curling Complex.

Photo: Ruth Stavert at the Canadian Stick Curling Ch’ships

Ruth Stavert is a Cornwall Curling Club stick curler, who, with her teammate Eileen Blanchard, won the 10 team women’s division at the Canadian 2-Person Stick Curling Championships at their home club in April. With teammate Gloria Clarke, she won the Provincial Women’s Stick Championship for the fourth time, the only winners in its four year history, and went on to the Maritime championships in Montague, winning it, too. With Blanchard, she won gold at the Vogue Optical Provincial 55+ Games women’s division, giving Stavert a complete sweep of Provincial, Maritime, and National women’s stick curling championship events.

In the summer months, Stavert participates in a number of sports that bear some similarity to stick curling, taking home bronze medals in the provincial 55+ Summer Games bocce and lawn bowling events last summer, and, with Clarke, winning a gold in the “washer toss” event.

This year’s ADL/Sport PEI Junior Female Athlete of the Year finalists are Katie Fullerton and Aleya Quilty, both from the Cornwall Curling Club.

CCA/Michael Burns Photography/Mark O’Neill Photo: Katie Fullerton (right) receiving second team all-star award from Canadian Curling Association governor Cindy Maddock

17 year old Katie Fullerton threw lead stones and held the broom for the skip on the Veronica Smith rink, who won the provincial Pepsi Juniors Under 21 women’s championship. At the M&M Meat Shops Canadian Juniors in Fort McMurray Alberta, the team’s first experience on arena ice, she took home second team all-star lead honours, coming within 1% of the 1^st team all-star lead’s shooting percentage. The team finished in 1^st place in the Fall Fling junior cashspiel at the Silver Fox, with a 6-1 record, and came fourth in the December spiel, also at the Fox. Fullerton showed great improvement this season, with her team practicing several days a week, and curling in the Tuesday night competitive league at Cornwall. Fullerton excels at school as well, and was awarded a 4 year, full-tuition scholarship to UPEI beginning in the fall of 2013

Photo credit – George Wycherley: Aleya Quilty at the CIS/CCA nationals

Aleya Quilty had a busy curling and coaching season, playing on both the Amanda MacLean team, the provincial runners-up at the Pepsi Juniors, and the Veronica Smith university team, who qualified for the CIS/CCA nationals with a B division win, and went on to a 5^th place finish in Kamloops, where she had the highest shooting percentage for Team PEI. The MacLean team also competed in the Fall Fling at the Silver Fox, finishing 5^th, as well as the Codiac Bonspiel in Moncton, the Maritime Junior Competitive League, and the JSI-OVCA Super Spiel in the Ottawa area, as well as practicing several hours a week, and competing in the Tuesday night competitive league at the Cornwall Curling Club.

On the coaching and instructing front, she coached boy’s teams in the Under 16 and Under 18 provincials and in weekend competitions, completed her Level 3 Coaching technical training and all six competition development and multi-sport modules,and instructed at two junior development and high performance camps. She will also be working as an instructor at the 2013 Whitecap Curling Camp at Cornwall’s APM Centre.

Quilty also excels in the sport of rowing, with three 2 hour dry land training workouts a week in preparation for competing for Team PEI in the 2013 Canada Summer Games.

An honours student throughout grade school, high school, and 1^st year university, Quilty was awarded in 2012-13 with a 2012 Joyce Myers Trust Fund Scholarship, a Community Service Bursary, and an Earl D. Foster Entrance Scholarship to UPEI.

The Junior Male Athlete of the Year finalsts are Brooks Roche from Montague, and Tyler Smith from Cornwall and Crapaud.

Brooks Roche from the Montague Curling Club poses with mascot “Slider” and  the Capital One Junior Draw to the Button trophy (Photo credit: Grand Slam of Curling)

Montague third Brooks Roche competed and finished in the top three at the provincials in three age categories this season, curling on the Cody Dixon rink, who finished third in the Pepsi Juniors Under 21, and the Tyler Smith team, who placed second in both the O’Connor Glass Under 18 and the Advantage Communications Junior Mixed under 16 division (where Roche played 2^nd stone) championships, and third in the O’Connor Glass Under 16.

Roche, who capped off his previous season by winning the Capital One Junior Draw to the Button at the Players’ Championship in Summerside in April 2012, won the Fairplay sportsmanship award in the Under 16 division at the Junior Mixed, and also at the Under 16 championships. He volunteers with the Montague Curling Club junior program and dedicated many evenings and weekends to curling. He keeps fit with cardio workouts, and both indoor soccer in the winter and outdoor soccer in summer. Being a Type 1 diabetic, he is devoted to both fitness and nutrition for his overall health, and was a top performer in fitness at the Canada Games. He is provincial spokesperson for the 2013 IWK Molly Appeal, provincial representative for the Kids for a Cure Lobby Day for Diabetes Research in Ottawa, and was chosen delegate for the 2013 Canadian Conference on Student Leadership in BC. Academically, he achieved 1^st place aggregate in Montague Junior High’s 2012 graduating class, and second in class standing at Montague High School in the fall semester.

PEICurling.com photo: Tyler Smith at the Pepsi Provincial Juniors

Former PEI Canada Games team skip Tyler Smith had another busy year, finishing in the top three in four provincial championships – coming first in the Pepsi Junior Under 21 competition, second in both the O’Connor Glass Under 18 and the Advantage Communications Junior Mixed championships U16 division, and third in the O’Connor Glass Under 16. At the M&M Meat Shops Canadian Juniors in Fort McMurray, his team finished with a 3-6 record. The second place finish in the provincial U18’s garnered the Smith rink a berth in the Atlantic U18 championships in Stephenville NL, where they finished in third place. Smith managed to curl in all four Atlantic provinces during the season, competing in junior cashspiels in Sackville NB, where they came second, and at the Lakeshore curling club in Lower Sackville NS, where they finished in third place,  in addition to the provincial and Atlantic championships. He also practiced twice a week at the Cornwall Curling Club, and participated in competitive leagues both there and in Crapaud.

The winners will be announced at the awards ceremony on May 29 at the Silver Fox Curling & Yacht Club in Summerside.

Here are the finalists for the ADL/Sport PEI Awards:

Junior Female Athlete of the Year– Katie Fullerton, Aleya Quilty

Junior Male Athlete of the Year – Brooks Roche, Tyler Smith

Female Athlete of the Year – Shelly Bradley, Ruth Stavert

Male Athlete of the Year – Rod MacDonald, Mark O’Rourke

Coach of the Year – Peter Gallant, Pat Quilty

Volunteer Administrator of the Year  – Roger Gavin, Strathcona Cup Committee

Team of the Year – Team Rod MacDonald, Team Roddie MacLean

Official of the Year – Peter Pidgeon, Cliff Poirier

Biographies will follow over the next few days.

Click for funeral announcement.

Photo (L-R): Marjorie Matthews, Danielle Girard, Marie MacDonald, Carol Sweetapple

Laura Crocker and her team will have a new look for the 2013-14 curling season.

The Edmonton-based team is pleased to announce that Erin Carmody will be added to the lineup, joining Crocker, Rebecca Pattison, and Jennifer Gates.

Sport PEI photo: Erin Carmody

She will be replacing Sarah Wilkes, who has decided to reduce her curling schedule and was unable to commit to playing a full World Curling Tour schedule, as well as the Capital One Road to the Roar Pre-Trials, presented by Monsanto, in November in Kitchener, Ont.

Wilkes, however, will be with the team throwing third rocks when it competes as Team Canada at the Winter Universiade, Dec. 11 to 21 in Trentino, Italy.

“It’s really the best of both worlds,” said Crocker on behalf of the team. “We totally understand Sarah’s decision, but we’re extremely glad that we’ll be able to keep the team together to compete in Italy. And we couldn’t be happier to find a replacement of Erin’s calibre. She is a proven top-level player and we expect her to fit right into the lineup as we attempt to win the right to represent Canada at the Winter Olympics in Sochi.”

Carmody threw skip rocks for the silver-medal-winning Prince Edward Island team at the 2010 Scotties Tournament of Hearts in Sault Ste. Marie, Ont., and moved to Calgary in 2011 and spent the past two seasons playing third for Crystal Webster.

“I’m thrilled to be able to join one of the top young teams in the country,” said Carmody. “It’s a wonderful opportunity and I can’t wait for the new season to get underway.”

Laura Crocker announced on Friday that Sarah Wilkes, the third on her talented young women’s rink, has decided to reduce her curling commitment for academic reasons and will be replaced by Erin Carmody.

Carmody, 24, recently became available when Crystal Webster’s Calgary rink added veteran Cathy Overton-Clapham, a five-time Canadian women’s champion out of Winnipeg, at third.

Both teams have berths in the Capital One Road to the Roar pre-trials Nov. 5-10 at Kitchener, Ont. Two teams will advance from that event to the Olympic trials in Winnipeg from Dec. 1-8.

“We couldn’t be happier to find a replacement of Erin’s calibre. She is a proven top-level player and we expect her to fit right into the lineup as we attempt to win the right to represent Canada at the Winter Olympics in Sochi.”

Carmody, who threw skip rocks for the Prince Edward Island team that lost the 2010 Scotties Tournament of Hearts final, moved to Calgary in 2011 and spent the past two seasons playing third for Webster.

Mark Johnson, who coaches the Webster team, said that Carmody “is a great player and has a bright future. I can say that I have never played with or coached a more dedicated player than Erin. I will miss coaching her.”

Carmody has applied to the U of A to continue her education.

Click for full story in the Edmonton Journal

Overton-Clapham will replace former Webster third Erin Carmody on the squad. Carmody, a former PEI women’s champion, has left the team.

Photo: Cathy Overton-Clapham is planning a short-term move to Calgary to practice with her new team. (MIKE DEAL / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS ARCHIVES)

Overton-Clapham told the Free Press Wednesday afternoon that Webster contacted her with the opening about two weeks ago and she had to think hard about whether to accept it or not.

“I took a few days to think about it, for sure,” said Overton-Clapham, a five-time Canadian women’s champion from Winnipeg. “But I looked at it as a really good opportunity. I’m going to get a chance to play again at a position I really love and have a passion for. And they also have a Pre-Trials spot and that’s also intriguing.”

A Pre-Trials competition next November will determine the final two women’s and men’s teams in next December’s Canadian Curling Trials at MTS Centre, where Canada’s men’s and women’s curling representatives for Sochi will be determined.

Click for full story in the Winnipeg Free Press.

“It puts us as one of the top teams again instantly,” Martin said from Edmonton on Wednesday after the pair made their announcement.

“This is an exciting time for team Martin.”

Nedohin (2nd left) with the “Ferbey Four” in 2010 (Photo credit: Russell Ott-found on Wikipedia)

Nedohin replaces John Morris, who surprised many when he departed the Martin foursome late last month after seven years. Morris then announced he was joining B.C. skip Jim Cotter’s team.

“Obviously in this situation, once the change in our team was inevitable, Dave was obviously our first choice for so many reasons,” said Martin.

His shot-making ability was at the top of the list. Nedohin joined Ferbey in 1997 and throwing final rocks helped win four Briers and three world championships.

Click for full Canadian Press story at TSN.ca.

Leave it to the off season to create some of the biggest headlines of the curling year.

Last week, John Morris walked away from Team Kevin Martin, even though they have a free pass to the Winnipeg Olympic trials in hand. Shocker? Not so much, but for the timing.

The aforementioned Morris has joined Kelowna/Vernon’s Jimmy Cotter for the Olympic run. Cotter was quick to hit social media explaining the deal:

“Just wanting to update everyone and let you know that John Morris has joined our curling team. He approached us with a five-man team option, not with the intent to replace anyone on the team. Not every day an opportunity of this magnitude presents itself, ALL of us agreed it’s a great opportunity. No one is out, everyone is 100% in,” he said.

PEICurling.com photo: Cathy Overton-Clapham

On the women’s side of the coin, Cathy Overton-Clapham’s decline of a spot: Why? Well, because she has joined Calgary’s Crystal Webster for this run. Report is Webster cut Erin Carmody in favour of Cathy O.

Webster confirmed that Wednesday, saying Carmody is no longer with the team and that Overton-Clapham will be part of Team Webster next season.

Click to read full story in the Grande Prairie Daily Herald Tribune

Photo (L-R): Gallant, Gushue, Casey, Walker

Any member club wishing to have an item of business placed on the agenda of the AGM should submit the information in writing to Executive Director Amy Duncan by May 8.

Tim Hortons Brier champion Brad Jacobs will be playing in the 2013 Capital One Road to the Roar Pre-Trials in Kitchener, Ont. (Photo, CCA/Michael Burns)

Twelve teams of each gender will play off for two berths into the Tim Hortons Roar of the Rings Canadian Curling Trials, presented by Monsanto, Dec. 1 to 8 at the MTS Centre in Winnipeg. The Trials will decide Canada’s teams to compete for Olympic gold in Sochi.

Teams qualified for the Road to the Roar through the Canadian Curling Association’s Canadian Team Ranking System. Here is the list of teams:

Men
Brad Jacobs, Sault Ste.  Marie, Ont.
Brad Gushue, St. John’s, Nfld.
Mark Kean, Toronto
Jim Cotter, Kelowna, B.C.
Steve Laycock, Saskatoon
Joe Frans, Bradford, Ont.
Jean-Michel Ménard, St-Romuald, Que.
Greg Balsdon, Toronto
Rob Fowler, Brandon, Man.
Bryan Cochrane, Ottawa
Jake Higgs, Harriston, Ont.
Rob Rumfeldt, Guelph, Ont.

Women
Shannon Kleibrink, Calgary
Laura Crocker, Edmonton
Renee Sonnenberg, Grande Prairie, Alta. (Note: This berth was originally won by Kim Schneider, but the team declined it)
Cheryl Bernard, Calgary
Crystal Webster, Calgary
Amber Holland, Regina
Val Sweeting, Edmonton
Kelly Scott, Kelowna, B.C.
Cathy Auld, Mississauga, Ont.
Tracy Horgan, Sudbury, Ont.
Barb Spencer, Winnipeg
Krista McCarville, Thunder Bay, Ont. (Note: This berth was originally won by Cathy Overton-Clapham, but the team declined it)

In addition to being officially named as a competing team in the Road to the Roar, Cotter’s team also announced on Wednesday that it has added 2010 Olympic gold-medallist John Morris to its lineup for the 2013-14 season.

The format for the Pre-Trials will see teams play a modified triple-knockout draw leading to a four-team playoff. One playoff qualifier will come out of the A-event, one from the B-event and two from the C-event. The A- and B-event qualifiers will meet in the playoffs, with the winner advancing to the Tim Hortons Roar of the Rings.

The two C-event qualifiers, meanwhile, will meet in the playoffs, with the winner advancing to play against the loser of the A-B game. The winner earns the other Tim Hortons Roar of the Rings berth.

For more information on the 2013 Capital One Road to the Roar Pre-Trials, go to: www.curling.ca/roadtotheroar/.

To purchase tickets, go to: www.curling.ca/tickets/.

Chelsea Carey (Photo CCA/Michael Burns)

“Fans can take full advantage of the Flex Pack to choose the games they really want to see,” said Host Committee Chair Mitch Tarapasky. “With four Manitoba teams now in the field, we expect to see another significant surge in new ticket purchases.”

Manitoba’s Mike McEwen and Chelsea Carey teams secured berths in the Roar of the Rings based on standings in the Canadian Team Ranking System (CTRS) at the conclusion of this season’s play. They will join previous qualifiers Jennifer Jones and Jeff Stoughton on the ice this December in the MTS Centre.

The Rachel Homan, Sherry Middaugh, Kevin Koe and John Epping teams also advanced on CTRS point totals. The other four early qualifers are Kevin Martin, Glenn Howard, Heather Nedohin and Stefanie Lawton.

The final four berths in the 16-team field will be determined Nov. 5-10 at the 2013 Capital One Road to the Roar in Kitchener.

The schedule promises excitement from the opening draw, Sunday, Dec. 1, when Jones takes on Carey, followed by a matchup between Martin and McEwen that evening.

Fans can see a rematch of the 2013 Scotties Tournament of Hearts final Thursday evening when Jones takes on Homan. The Friday morning draw will see McEwen attempt to avenge a loss to Stoughton in this year’s Manitoba men’s provincial final. Stoughton faces Howard Friday night in the last draw of round robin play.

The complete schedule is available online by clicking here.

The Flex Pack, priced at $469, consists of a minimum of 18 tickets, and is the perfect option for two or more people to attend the exact draws they wish to see. A maximum of two tickets per game can be used for the two Saturday semifinals and the two Sunday finals.

“You Gotta Be There” for the 2013 Tim Hortons Roar of the Rings when Canada’s top 16 teams compete for the right to represent our country at the 2014 Olympic Games in Sochi, Russia. Click here to reserve your seats in the MTS Centre right now.

Mike McEwen (Photo CCA/Michael Burns)

Click to read at the CCA website

Curl Atlantic has implemented a scholarship to curlers who have enrolled full time in a post secondary institution. The intention of these awards is to allow talented athletes to devote primary sources of time and energy to training, rather than extensive employment in order to fund post-secondary education. Recipients will be expected to devote a full-time, shared commitment to sport and education exclusively. This award is not intended to reward past achievements but rather a means to pursue further achievements that surpass the current level of performance. Priority will be given to athletes attending Atlantic universities, colleges or vocational schools.
Please complete the following application and forward to the Executive Director of Curl Atlantic, Helen Radford (curlatlantic2001@gmail.com), by April 30th, 2013. Along with your application please include a copy of your university or high school transcript and one other letter of reference other than your coach. Disbursement of funds to the successful  applicants will occur on October 1, 2013, upon receipt of enrolment confirmation.

Application form:

Word                     PDF

Capital Acquisition Grants

The trustees of the Joyce Myers Trust Fund have created the Capital Acquisition Grants as a means to assist curling clubs within Atlantic Canada with capital projects, such as the repair, replacement, purchase or construction of a curling facility, icemaking equipment, or special curling equipment, such as little rocks for a junior program.

Apply using the application below.  The deadline for applications is April 30, 2013.

Word        PDF

Photo (Facebook): Erin Carmody

The Dominion of Canada General Insurance Company (The Dominion) is proud to announce that the Mayflower Curling Club in Halifax, Nova Scotia will host The Dominion Curling Club Championship, running from November 24-29, 2014.

The event is the ultimate experience for club curlers. Men’s and women’s teams from each of Canada’s provinces and territories come to play each year in round robin competition, all vying for the ultimate title of the 2014 Canadian Curling Club Champions.  The teams’ entries in the event are already hard-won, with each rink having taken home the championship at their provincial or territorial play downs.

The Mayflower Curling Club is no stranger to hosting premier curling events.  The six sheet club is home to elite teams headed by Colleen Jones, Mark Dacey and Heather Smith-Dacey. The club boasts an impressive roster of hosting including 13 Canadian championships within the last 15 years, numerous provincial championships and several national events including the 1995 TSN Skins Game and the 2002 Canadian Mixed. This esteemed facility, paired with eastern hospitality promises to deliver a The Dominion Curling Club Championship to remember.

Once again, the charity of choice for the event is the Canadian Paraplegic Association (CPA) which is amidst a re-brand to its new name Spinal Cord Injury (SCI). For over 60 years, the CPA has been supporting persons with spinal cord injuries and other mobility disabilities as they live in their communities—in YOUR communities. The funds raised through The Dominion Curling Club Championship help the CPA chapters across the country continue this support; in 2014 the recipient will be CPA (NS). To date, the championship has helped to raise over $277,000 to support those living with spinal cord injury in Canada.

“Halifax is the perfect backdrop for a Canadian Championship” says Leigh Armstrong of The Dominion, “we could not be more excited to take the event back east and host at one of the country’s most renowned curling clubs”.

The 2013 championship will take place Nov. 18-23 2013 at the Fort William Curling Club in Thunder Bay Ontario.

Achievement Awards is Friday, April 26.  Please note that a person or team will not be recognized unless a nomination is received.

The ADL/Sport PEI Achievement awards recognize all the hard work, dedication and outstanding achievements that have taken place this past curling season (2012-2013).

Award categories – click category links to download nomination forms (Word format)

Junior Female Athlete

Junior Male Athlete

Senior (Adult) Female Athlete

Senior (Adult) Male Athlete

Coach

Official

Volunteer

Team

To submit a nomination, please complete the appropriate form and submit it to Curl PEI (aduncan@sportpei.pe.ca or P.O. Box 302, Charlottetown PE C1A 1P4) by the deadline.

Marc Kennedy (L) with John Morris and Kevin Martin at the Vancouver Olympics. (CP)

Even though the seeds of the Kevin Martin/John Morris split were in the wind for the last couple of years, team second Marc Kennedy was still hopeful a resolution could be reached and that the squad would remain intact for next season. In a candid interview this morning, Kennedy painted a portrait of a rink in various degrees of disintegration over the last two years or so, but one that was still hopeful of working through the obstacles that had been presented by a dissolving relationship between the skip and the third.

“The season had just finished so we were kind of looking for some time to think about things and debrief and then he kind of shocked us a bit yesterday,” Kennedy said of Morris’ announcement that he was leaving the team he’d played vice on for the last seven seasons, winning Olympic gold, two Briers and a world championship.

“We were still kind of waiting for them to work things out and get it going,” Kennedy said of Martin and Morris.

Instead, according to Kennedy, Morris decided to take his leave and was not turfed by a vote by the front end, comprised of Kennedy and lead Ben Hebert. There were rumours floating on Wednesday that the two had been asked to choose between the skip and the third, that it was their decision to make as the team reorganized and got set to make a run at next December’s Canadian Olympic Curling Trials.

“Before Ben and I could even have anymore conversations after the Players’ Championship, John pulled the plug. So, it never did come down to ‘we’re picking you or you,’ it never did come down to that. They knew that Ben and I had been quite upset and John’s the one that made a move first, I guess you could say.”

Kennedy expects the team will probably have an announcement on Morris’ replacement “within, at the latest, two weeks.” They could have had an announcement already had their first choice said ‘yes.’ Kennedy confirms that they reached out to Dave Nedohin to see if he’d be interested. “That was our first phone call. Beyond that we haven’t talked to anyone else yet.”

Click for full story at Yahoo! Sports

• Summary of the nominee’s athletic accomplishments including those outside of the school program
• Apparent need, perhaps have not won any other school scholarship or bursary and may have limited financial resources available for secondary education or other interest
• Describe other characteristics and qualities which may further qualify the individual for the award

Sport PEI will appoint a selection committee to review the applications and to determine the award recipient.
Deadline for application is the second Monday in June of each year. For more information, please contact Sport PEI at sports@sportpei.pe.ca or at 902-368-4110.

Information about Earl Frederick Smith (June 11, 1923-February 16, 2008)  http://www.peisportshalloffame.ca/personalities/personalitiy.cfm?ID=115

Photo: Earl F. Smith

The PEI Multi-Sport Course Calendar is available.  Please find the full schedule here: NCCP Course Schedule Spring 2013.

The Competition Development modules are being offered in June for anyone who still needs  any (or all) to become certified Level 3.

**ATTENTION: Potential 2015 Canada Winter Games Coaches**

Just a reminder, you will need to be fully certified Level 3 by April 30, 2014 in order to coach at Canada Games in February 2015.

Here is what you need to become certified Level 3:

Level 3 Certification Program

Make Ethical Decision (Training and Evaluation)

+
Design a Basic Sport Program Multisport Module (MSM)
(Offered in Intro to Competition B)
+
Any 4 of 6 Multisport Modules listed below
(Offered by provincial/territorial coaching associations)
Coaching and Leading Effectively
Managing Conflict
Prevention and Recovery
Psychology of Performance
Leading Drug Free Sport
Developing Athletic Abilities
+
Level 3 Technical (as currently offered by curling)
+
Level 3 Practical (as currently offered by curling)

(by Mike Johnston) Popular curler John Morris will be leaving Kevin Martin’s team after nearly eight years, Sportsnet has learned. An official announcement could come as early as Wednesday night.

Morris’ departure comes at a surprising time, with the Olympic Trials just eight months away — this December in his hometown of Winnipeg.

Team Canada skip Kevin Martin, right, and third John Morris, left, laugh while playing against Team Denmark during Olympic men’s curling action during the 2010 Vancouver Olympic Winter Games.

Martin’s team, which Morris first joined in 2006, had a disappointing outing this past weekend at the Grand Slam of Curling Players’ Championship, finishing 2-2 and losing in a tiebreaker to John Epping’s team.Click for full story at Sportsnet

Toronto’s John Epping has qualified for the Tim Hortons Roar of the Rings Canadian Curling Trials in Winnipeg. (Photo, CCA/Michael Burns)

Twelve teams — six of each gender — have now qualified for the Roar of the Rings, which will decide Canada’s men’s and women’s teams for the 2014 Winter Olympic Games in Sochi, Russia.

Two more teams of each gender will gain entry to the Trials at the 2013 Capital One Road to the Roar Pre-Trials qualifying event, Nov. 5 to 10 at the Memorial Auditorium Complex in Kitchener, Ont.

Epping’s team qualified for the Trials by virtue of his team’s result at the season-ending Grand Slam Players’ Championship on the weekend in Toronto.

His quarter-final placing in Toronto was good enough to lock up a berth through the Canadian Curling Association’s Canadian Team Ranking System (CTRS). Epping’s team was one of two — Winnipeg’s Mike McEwen was the other — to earn berths through the two-year CTRS standings, which reward teams for consistent play over an extended period of time.

Epping and McEwen join a star-studded men’s field in Winnipeg that qualified through the CTRS or by winning the Capital One Canada Cup (teams qualify for the Canada Cup through the CTRS). Also playing in Winnipeg will be Glenn Howard of Midland, Ont., (2011-12 Canadian Team Ranking System leader), 2010 Olympic gold-medallist Kevin Martin of Edmonton (2011 Capital One Canada Cup champion), Winnipeg’s Jeff Stoughton (2012 Capital One Canada Cup winner) and Calgary’s Kevin Koe (2012-13 CTRS leader).

The women’s field for the Trials is equally stellar. It consists of two hometown teams from Winnipeg: Jennifer Jones (2011 Capital One Canada Cup winner) and Chelsea Carey (CTRS two-year standings). Also competing for a trip to Russia will be Heather Nedohin of Edmonton (2011-12 CTRS leader), Saskatoon’s Stefanie Lawton (2012 Capital One Canada Cup winner), Sherry Middaugh of Victoria Harbour, Ont. (CTRS two-year standings) and Rachel Homan of Ottawa (2012-13 CTRS leader).

The 24 teams (12 male, 12 female) for the 2013 Capital One Road to the Roar Pre-Trials will be announced on May 1.

The official draw for the Trials will be announced on Friday when ticket-buyers will be able to purchase Flex packages based on when their favourite teams are playing. Go to www.curling.ca/tickets/ to purchase tickets.

Click to read this story at the CCA website