(by Al Cameron)

The first steps toward the 2018 Winter Olympics will be taken in early December at Encana Arena in Camrose, Alta., and a who’s-who of Canadian curling will be on hand.

Olympic champs Brad Jacobs, left, and Jennifer Jones are headed to Camrose for the 2014 Canada Cup of Curling, presented by Meridian Manufacturing. (Photos, CCA/Michael Burns)

The 2014 Canada Cup of Curling, presented by Meridian Manufacturing, scheduled for Dec. 3-7, will not only feature both defending Olympic gold-medal teams (Brad Jacobs of Sault Ste. Marie, Ont., Jennifer Jones of Winnipeg), it will feature the reigning champions of the Tim Hortons Brier (the former Kevin Koe team of Calgary, now skipped by John Morris) and Scotties Tournament of Hearts (Rachel Homan of Ottawa), in addition to giving curling fans a peek at some intriguing new lineups that are starting down the road to the 2017 Tim Hortons Roar of the Rings Canadian Curling Trials and the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea.

A total of 14 teams (seven men’s, seven women’s) will be in Camrose, playing for their share of the $140,000 purse ($14,000 to each winning team, $9,000 to second place, $5,000 to third, and $2,000 for each round-robin win), in addition to the berths in the 2015 World Financial Group Continental Cup (Jan. 8-11 in Calgary), the 2015 Canada Cup of Curling (Dec. 2-6, location TBD) and the 2017 Road to the Roar Pre-Trials (dates and location TBD).

The Olympic, Brier and Scotties champs will face stiff tests in Camrose. On the men’s side, Jacobs and Morris will be challenged by new teams skipped by Koe and four-time world champ Glenn Howard. Koe’s new team from Calgary features third Marc Kennedy and lead Ben Hebert, both of whom won gold with Kevin Martin in 2010 in Vancouver, and second Brent Laing, who won two world titles playing with Howard. Howard, meanwhile, shuffled his Penetanguishene, Ont., lineup in the off-season with the departures of Laing and third Wayne Middaugh (retirement). His new lineup features the return of Richard Hart to vice-skip (the two combined to win the 2007 world title) and Jon Mead at second; Mead was a member of the Jeff Stoughton team that won the most recent Canada Cup men’s title in 2012 in Moose Jaw, Sask.

The men’s field is rounded out by Jim Cotter of Vernon, B.C. (the runner-up team, with Morris skipping, at the 2014 Tim Hortons Brier), 2006 Olympic gold-medallist Brad Gushue of St. John’s (with former third Mark Nichols returning to the lineup) and Mike McEwen of Winnipeg.

The women’s field will feature six of the teams that were in the final stage of qualifying for the 2014 Winter Olympics, including Tim Hortons Roar of the Rings champ Jones and runner-up Sherry Middaugh of Coldwater, Ont.

As well, Scotties runner-up Val Sweeting of Edmonton (with seven-time New Brunswick women’s champ Andrea Crawford moving in at third) is entered, as is 2012 Scotties champ Heather Nedohin (with new third Amy Nixon) of Sherwood Park, Alta.

The women’s field is rounded out by three-time Canada Cup champ Stefanie Lawton of Saskatoon, and 2014 Ontario women’s champion Allison Flaxey of Listowel.

The teams will play a single round-robin draw, with the top three teams advancing to the playoffs. The first-place team in the round-robin will advance directly to the championship final, while the second- and third-place teams will meet in the semifinal.

Click here for the complete list of teams, and click here to purchase tickets for the 2014 Canada Cup of Curling.

Olympic silver-medalist Cheryl Bernard will retire from competitive curling, it was announced today. The Alberta-born curler has strong ties to Prince Edward Island. Her father, Thayne, was born in Freetown and several aunts, uncles and cousins live on the Island.

Bernard won a silver medal at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, curling with third Susan O’Connor, second Carolyn McRorie (Darbyshire), lead Cori Morris (Bartel), alternate Kristie Moore and coach Dennis Balderston.

She will now devote her energies to her family, her charity endeavours and to public speaking.

“To retire from the game I absolutely love is one of the toughest decisions of my life” said Bernard.

“But it’s time to be satisfied with what I have accomplished in the sport and walk away with some amazing memories and incredible relationships. I don’t think you ever really leave the game, I am sure I will stay involved in some capacity going forward.”

“It’s now time to give back to my family and continue my work with my two favorite charities, the Brain Tumor Foundation of Canada and World Vision Canada. As well, I will continue to do keynotes across the country speaking about the parallels that exist between sport and business.

I  am excited about all the possibilities out there. ”

In addition to her Olympic appearance, she appeared in four Scotties Tournament of Hearts Canadian women’s championships skipping Team Alberta (1992, 1996, 2007, 2009), including a runner-up finish in 1996 at Thunder Bay, Ont.

“Standing on the podium in Vancouver and winning a medal for Canada with three other outstanding women was the most incredible feeling — a dream come true for all of us,” she said. “It’s been an amazing career and I have so many people to thank. Specifically my common-law husband,Terry Meek, my family, friends, fans and sponsors, as well as the exemplary coaching and friendship I received from Dennis and from sports psychologist Penny Werthner.

They all provided amazing support and enabled our team to compete at the highest level.”

Bernard extended her curling career beyond the ice. She co-authored a book (with Guy Scholz) called “Between the Sheets: Creating Curling Champions” in 2005, and also created and co-chaired the annual Curl For a Cure charity bonspiel in Calgary, which raised more than $1.3 million for the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation between 2003 and 2007.

OTTAWA – The Sandra Schmirler Foundation today announced the successful applicants for the 2014-2015 Spirit of Sandra $5,000 junior curling scholarships. “Once again, we were thrilled with the applicants and had a very difficult time selecting just 6 scholars”, said Theresa Breen, Foundation Chair. “Last year’s scholars all enjoyed success both at school and on the curling ice. They also all held highly successful fundraising events and showed a wonderful commitment to building Sandra’s legacy and awareness of the Foundation’s mandate”

PEICurling.com Photo: Veronica Smith

This is the second year for the $5,000 scholarships which will be funded from crowd sweeps at the Scotties Tournament of Hearts in Montreal, the Tim Horton’s Brier in Kamloops and Roar of the Rings in Winnipeg. “The Foundation is indebted to the Canadian Curling Association and the entire curling community for providing this opportunity for competitive curlers to engage with fans at these major curling events and collect money to fund these scholarships,” stated Breen.

The 2014 Spirit of Sandra Scholars are: Kristen Streifel from Clavet, Saskatchewan; Katherine Doerksen from Morden, Manitoba; Corryn Brown from Kamloops, BC; Veronica Smith from Breadalbane, PEI; Renelle Humphreys from Saskatoon, Saskatchewan; and Jestyn Murphy from Mississauga, Ontario.

World Champion curlers Jon Mead and Cathy Overton-Clapham will once again volunteer as mentors to the scholars. “Cathy and I are honoured to continue to mentor these young competitive curlers and help them however we can to realize their own dreams”, declared Jon. Added Cathy, “Jon and I thoroughly enjoyed working with last year’s scholars and look forward to meeting and getting to know this new multi-talented group. We hope that together we can help them to build their competitive skills while balancing curling with school”. The 6 Scholars will join Cathy and Jon in August for a 2-day training session.

Each of the Scholars has committed to organizing a fundraiser in their local community to build awareness and raise money to support the mission of the Sandra Schmirler Foundation, which is to donate to Newborn Intense Care Units (NICUs) in hospitals across Canada for the purchase of life-saving equipment for babies born too soon, too small or too sick.

About the Sandra Schmirler Foundation:

The Sandra Schmirler Foundation was created in January, 2001 as a legacy to three-time world curling champion and Olympic gold medalist Sandra Schmirler, in recognition and celebration of her love of family. The Foundation raises and donates funds across Canada for the care of premature and critically ill babies recognizing that all “Champions Start Small”. The Foundation has now donated over $2.5 million to 34 newborn intensive care units in hospitals across the country.

For more information contact:

Robin Wilson

Leadership Director

Sandra Schmirler Foundation

(604) 230-5871

[email protected]

The eighth annual Fall Fling Junior Cashspiel is set for the Silver Fox Curling and Yacht Club in Summerside Nov. 14-15-16 2014. The junior women’s event is already full, so new entries will be added to the waiting list. The junior men’s side currently has only one spot left.

Details:

$125.00 PER TEAM
Open To The First 12 Ladies and 12 Mens Teams.
GUARANTEED 5 GAMES
DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS – NOVEMBER 1, 2014
(NOTE: IF ENTERED EARLY PLEASE POSTDATE CHEQUES TO NOVEMBER 1, 2014)

HOST HOTEL
QUALITY INN, SUMMERSIDE
1-800-265-5551
EMAIL – JACQUI GRADY
[email protected]

ENTRY FEE MUST BE PAID WITH ENTRY FORM
SEND MONEY AND ENTRY FORM TO
SHEILA COMPTON
268 ALL WEATHER HIGHWAY
SUMMERSIDE, P.E.I.
C1N 4V4
PHONE 902-436-5629
e-mail [email protected]
PLEASE POSTDATE YOUR CHEQUE AND MAKE IT PAYABLE TO:
THE SILVER FOX CURLING AND YACHT CLUB
CLOSING DATE NOVEMBER 1, 2014

Click to download poster with application form

The annual Journal Pioneer Cashspiel, part of the Atlantic Curling Tour (ACT) takes place November 21, 22 and 23, 2014 at the Silver Fox Curling and Yacht Club in Summerside PEI.

First Draws are at 12:30 and 3:00 pm Friday (with16 teams)
Format: 16 teams for full draw. Games are eight ends, and three games are guaranteed. The top 4 teams advance to the championship event on Sunday. There is also a consolation event.

$6600 in prize money  (with16 teams). OPEN TO ALL TEAMS: MENS, WOMENS, MIXED.

ENTRY FEE: $450 + $31.50 ACT Fee

NOTICE: Please Pay Entry Fee By November 8th.,2014

MAIL POST DATED CHEQUE TO:
SILVER FOX CURLING AND YACHT CLUB  110 Water St., SUMMERSIDE,PE   C1N1A9

Please Make Cheques PayableTo:THE SILVER FOX CURLING AND YACHT CLUB
For  More Information or to Enter a Team Contact:
Blair Jay
1-902-436-5994 (Home)
or
Carl Delaney
at
1-902-436-4842
or
Email:
[email protected]

CO-SPONSOR: Quality Inn Hotel

ACCOMODATIONS
(902) 436-2295

Standard Room $99.99 + taxes
2 Double Beds

The Crapaud Community Curling Club is pleased to announce that they will once again be running pre-season curling.

Last year’s first pre-season was a great success and could not have been made possible without the support of Island curlers.

This year’s pre-season will begin on Monday September 8th, 2014 and run until October 31st, 2014. The cost for a pre-season membership will be $115 (HST included). This fee will give you unlimited access to the ice on a first come – first serve basis, upon advance booking with Miranda Ellis, the pre-season coordinator. The club will also be running a league night so teams can get in some great games before up-coming competitions. Please remember that the pre-season is not just for competitive curlers, we welcome everyone to join us and get on the ice early.

To join Crapaud Community Curling Club’s pre-season curling please register by email:  [email protected] or by phoning Miranda Ellis at (902) 940-9264.

Deadline for pre-season registration is August 1st, 2014.

Photo: ice in final preparation stages at last year’s pre-season curling