Whenever Niklas Edin plays a world curling championship in Canada, chances are extremely good he’ll be taking a gold medal with him back to Sweden.

Sweden’s Niklas Edin captured his record fifth World Men’s Curling Championship on Sunday in Calgary. (Photo, Curling Canada/Michael Burns)

Edin made history Sunday night at WinSport Arena at Canada Olympic Park in Calgary as he skipped Sweden to the gold medal at the 2021 BKT Tires & OK Tire World Men’s Curling Championship, presented by New Holland, with a 10-5 win over Scotland’s Bruce Mouat.

With the victory, the 35-year-old Swede becomes the first skip ever to win five world men’s championship gold medals — he’d shared the record for skips with the legendary Ernie Richardson.

Edin, backed up by vice-skip Oskar Eriksson, second Rasmus Wranå, lead Christoffer Sundgren, alternate Daniel Magnusson, team coach Fredrik Lindberg, national coach Maria Prytz, won a world championship on Canadian soil for the fifth time in his career — four in men’s play (this year in Calgary, 2019 in Lethbridge, Alta., 2015 in Halifax and 2013 in Victoria) and one at the World Juniors (2004 at Trois-Rivières, Que.).

“It feels super special,” said Edin, who with his teammates also became the first players ever to win three consecutive world men’s championships. “Going for three straight, and five titles (in his career), both of them were huge goals and obviously this is all leading up to the Olympics, which is the ultimate goal. So this was a huge step for us. Especially after a season like this — we’ve been practising OK, but not playing a lot of games, so we really didn’t know our form going into this. So obviously not competing much worked out well for us.”

The Scots, seeking their country’s first world championship since their national coach David Murdoch won in 2009 at Moncton, N.B., took Sweden down to the wire on Sunday and were in a 5-5 tie going into the ninth end.

But in the decisive ninth, Edin made a runback double takeout with his final stone to score five, and the Scots conceded defeat.

Edin made numerous game-savers on Sunday night; in the first end, he had to make a cold draw to the side of the button, looking at four Scottish counters. In the fifth, he drew for a single looking at a pair of Scottish counters; and in the seventh, he drew the button with three Scottish counters in the rings.

“Pretty gutted,” said Mouat, whose team is rounded out by vice-skip Grant Hardie, second Bobbie Lammie, lead Hammy McMillan, alternate Ross Whyte, team coach Alan Hannah and Murdoch. “It’s hard to express how I’m feeling to be honest, but very proud of where we got to. To reach the final was a great achievement for us; I felt like we played well enough to win. We just had a few misses that really shouldn’t have come. But we’ll try to learn from it and move forward.”

It capped a unique World Men’s Championship staged in a fan-free bubble with a record 14 teams competing, many having had little or no competition prior to arriving in Calgary.

“The whole year was just awkward with no games,” said Edin. “We didn’t really know if we were still that good. So coming here, we had a lot of pressure on ourselves, a lot of nerves going into it. We’re normally super confident going into events like this, but we just couldn’t really know that our form and will to win was still the same. So winning this one feels unreal in a way.”

It was Sweden’s 10th gold medal, second only to Canada’s 36. 

In the bronze-medal game, Switzerland’s last-rock thrower Benoît Schwarz drew to the four-foot with his final rock of the game to complete a 6-5 victory over RCF’s Sergey Glukhov.

It was a fourth world-championship bronze medal for Swiss skip Peter de Cruz (who throws second stones). His team was rounded by Schwartz, third Sven Michel, lead Valentin Tanner, alternate Pablo Lachat and team coach Håvard Vad Petersson.

Action in the bubble will pause as the facility is prepared for two Pinty’s Grand Slam of Curling events — the Champions Cup begins on Wednesday, followed by the Players’ Championships, April 20-25.

After the Slam events are completed, the bubble series of events will conclude with the LGT World Women’s Curling Championship, presented by BKT Tires, April 30-May 9.

Click to read at Curling Canada

After a complete event shutdown and extensive COVID testing regimen, the 2021 World Men’s Curling Championship has been given permission by Alberta Health to continue the competition.

The championship was paused on Friday night after three positive (and asymptomatic) tests involving teams not participating in the playoffs came to light.

A further fourth positive test involving an athlete from a playoff team was received on Saturday morning.

All athletes, coaches, and event officials deemed to be in close contact with athletes, were tested on Saturday morning, with every test coming back negative.

Despite that negative result, the player who had previously tested positive — and had that result run through confirmatory testing to ensure it was a true positive — will not be able to participate in the remainder of the championship due to Alberta Health regulations.

Today’s schedule will consist of the final Qualifying Round game at 11 a.m. MT, between John Shuster of the United States and Peter de Cruz of Switzerland; the semifinals (matchups will be determined following the Qualifying Round game) at 4 p.m. MT; and the gold- and bronze-medal games at 9 p.m. MT.

The World Curling Federation and Curling Canada will continue to be guided by professional medical advice from Alberta Health and the event medical officers to ensure the continued health and safety of the athletes, officials, event staff and the host city of Calgary is maintained.

Broadcast details will be confirmed later today.

A Senior Women’s curling tour to the Eastern US is being organized by Curling Canada and is planned for November 2021. The decision to hold or postpone will be made in June 2021. Anyone who applies and is chosen for the 2021 dates will go if it is postponed to 2022. The deadline for applications is April 30th, 2021.

Background:

Since 1990 groups of women from both countries have travelled to take part in friendly competition. In 2018 a USA group visited Atlantic Canada. In 2021 the plan is to have curlers from the Atlantic provinces visit and play in the Eastern USA.

More:

Curling Canada has accepted an invitation from the US Women’s Curling Association for 16 Canadian senior women (50 years of age and older) to visit the Eastern United States for a 12-day curling tour in November 2021. Understanding it may become necessary to reschedule the tour to 2022 due to pandemic travel restrictions, it has been decided to continue with participant selection and planning at this time.

Currently, the estimated cost of this tour is $4,000 per person. This amount will cover the cost of air travel, ground transportation, hotel accommodations, official uniform and other associated costs. This amount may change due to fluctuations in currency.

Having hosted the last tour of US Women to Canada, female curlers from the four Atlantic provinces of Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and New Brunswick are eligible to participate in this Tour. Representation from each of the 4 provinces will be a criterion used in the selection process. Should additional selections be required to fill the team quota following the deadline date for applications (April 30), the Tour Coordinator appointed by Curling Canada reserves the right to fill positions regardless of candidate’s home location.

It is important to note that the curling on this trip will be extensive with an eight-end game being played daily. 

More details:

Number of Participants: 16 (4 from each Atlantic province)

Dates: Monday, November 1st to Friday, November 12th, 2021 (planned)

Travel Arrangements: The tour will depart from and return to Halifax. Each team member will be responsible for their own travel arrangements and costs to/from Halifax.

Travel Insurance: Team members will be responsible for their own travel insurance.

Tour Cost: It is challenging to provide a precise cost of the Tour; however, at this time, it is estimated at $4,000. Included in this projected cost are:
• Airfare (Halifax to Boston and return)
• Land costs while in the US (Coach travel)
• Accommodations (a combination of home hosting and hotel)
• Team Clothing (on-ice uniforms and off-ice clothing)
• Social events (sightseeing and banquets)
• Curling equipment
• Tour pins (2) and Bannerettes; and
• Special gifts.

Tour Itinerary: Eight, 8-end games will be played in various US curling clubs. At this time, clubs in Massachusetts, Maryland, Pennsylvania and New York are committed. The schedule will provide free time for a little sightseeing and shopping along the tour. Already the US team has plans for touring Boston and Washington DC.

Team Selection: All applicants (minimum – 50 years of age) must complete the Tour Application to outline their involvement and contribution to curling, confirm they are an active curler at a Curling Canada affiliated curling club and agree to pay all costs involved with being a participant on the tour.

Contact:
Kathy Siddall
Tour Coordinator
902-300-9915
siddallkathy@gmail.com

Submit application by:  Email: kryan@curling.ca, Fax: (613-834-0716) or mail to Tour Application, Curling Canada, 1660 Vimont Court, Orleans, Ontario, K4A 4J4.

Click link to download Application Form (Word format): Application Form – 2021 Sr. Women’s Friendship Tour to the USA

On a night when it was needed most, Team Canada delivered its most complete performance to date at the 2021 BKT Tires & OK Tire World Men’s Curling Championship, presented by New Holland.

Thursday night at WinSport Arena at Canada Olympic Park in Calgary, Brendan Bottcher’s Edmonton team put together a near-flawless 10 ends of curling en route to a 6-4 win over Norway’s Steffen Walstad (7-5).

Team Canada skip Brendan Bottcher delivers a shot during Thursday night’s victory. (Photo, Curling Canada/Michael Burns)

With the win, Bottcher, vice-skip Darren Moulding, second Brad Thiessen, lead Karrick Martin, alternate Marc Kennedy, team support Patrick Janssen, team coach Don Bartlett and national coach Jeff Stoughton improved to 8-4 in the 14-team round-robin standings and officially locked up a spot in the playoffs, which get underway on Friday night — an accomplishment that wasn’t confirmed until well after the game ended following some number-crunching by the World Curling Federation.

Equally significant was that the playoff spot secures a berth for a Canadian in the men’s curling competition at the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing.

CLICK HERE to read this story at Curling Canada

Marie Toole, 1974 finalist skip at the Canadian Women’s Curling Championship and a six-time PEI women’s champ, as well as a three-time PEI Mixed champ and a 2008 inductee into the PEI Curling Hall of Fame, has passed away at The Mount Continuing Care facility in Charlottetown at the age of 94.

Marie Toole receiving her 2008 PEI Curling Hall of Fame induction certificate

Marie Toole Funeral Announcement:

1926-2021

Peacefully at the Mount Continuing Care Community on Tuesday, April 6, 2021 of Marie Toole of Charlottetown age 94 years.

Born in South Melville she is the daughter of the late Peter and Byna (Malone) Toole.

Marie enjoyed sports, especially curling and golf and liked to keep up with events like the Masters and the Scotties Tournament of Hearts. She was an avid golfer and curler having been runner up in 1969 and a six-time participant in the Scotties Tournament of Hearts.

Marie is lovingly remembered by her brother Gavin Toole (Elaine deceased) and many nieces, nephews, grand nieces and grand nephews.

She was also predeceased by her brother Ellison Toole (Della) and nephews Eugene and Kevin Toole and Dan Fortune

Resting at the Hennessey Cutcliffe Charlottetown Funeral Home. Due to current restrictions a funeral mass (by invitation only) will be held at the Church of the Most Holy Redeemer and will be available to public viewing via live stream on Friday, April 9th at 10:00 a..m by visiting Marie’s obituary at www.islandowned.ca and clicking on the link provided. Interment later in St. Joseph’s Parish Cemetery, Kelly’s Cross.

If so desired memorial contributions may be made to KidSport PEI. On-line condolences may be made at www.islandowned.ca.

Click here to View Condolences

Here is her PEI Curling Hall of Fame writeup:

2008 Hall of Fame Ceremony Photo (L-R): Jerry Muzika, Chair PEI Curling Hall of Fame and Museum, inductee Al Ledgerwood, inductee Marie Toole, John Squarebriggs Jr., son of posthumous inductee John Drake Squarebriggs, inductee Freeman Miles.

Marie Toole
Curler

Marie Toole began curling more than 50 years ago to pass the winter months while the golf courses were closed. She launched what would become an outstanding career as a competitive curler.

Marie began her career at the Charlottetown Curling Club and it wasn’t long before she was on a team, playing third, that won the PEI Mixed Championship in 1966. Her skip was Dougie Bell, and her team mates were Bill MacGregor and Marion Partridge.

The next year, 1967, she was playing third on the team that won the PEI Women’s Championship along with skip Elizabeth Macdonald, Barb Squarebriggs and Peg Dalziel. As well, that same year, she was a winner of the PEI Mixed Curling Championship, playing third on the Allan Smith skipped team, with Bill McGregor and Pauline Johnston.

Two years later, in 1969, another PEI Women’s Curling Championship. This time, she skipped the team with third Jennie Boomhower, second Mary Acorn, and lead Pauline Johnston. The Canadian Championship was held in Thunder Bay, Ontario and the Team finished third.

She was the provincial winner again for the next three years straight, with third Jennie Boomhower, second Cathy Dillon, and lead Pauline Johnston.

In 1973, she was a winner once again, as a member of the PEI Mixed Curling Championship Team, playing third for Doug Cameron, alongside Bill McGregor and Pauline Johnston.

In 1974, she was back again as the winner of the PEI Women’s Championship with her same team of Jennie, Cathy and Pauline. The team placed second at the Canadian Women’s Curling Championship in Victoria that year —- the very best showing any Island women’s team has accomplished to date.

Marie Toole was also active in the administrative side of Curling, serving as the Charlottetown Curling Club’s delegate to the PEI Ladies Curling Association, from 1962 to 1964 and again as the clubs provincial delegate, 1977/78, and 1978/79. Marie was the Secretary/Treasurer of the PEI Ladies Curling Association in 1962/63.

At the club level, Marie served as Vice President, Charlottetown Ladies Curling Club, 1972/73, and as President for the 1973/74 year. She also Co-convened one of the club’s major fund raisers in those days, the 1975 Charlottetown Ladies Curling Club Fashion Show.

All in all, six provincial women’s championships and three mixed championships – Marie Toole, worthy of induction into the Prince Edward Island Curling Hall of Fame in the curler category this 20th day of October 2008.

The PEI Curling Club Championships wrapped up Sunday evening with the Silver Fox Curling Club team skipped by Darren Higgins going undefeated to win the Men’s title at the Montague Curling Club, while the Charlottetown Curling Club rink skipped by Shelly Bradley won the Women’s championship at the Crapaud Community Curling Club with a 5-1 win-loss record.

Men’s

PEI Men’s Curling Club Champions from the Silver Fox Curling Club in Summerside (L-R): Tim Hockin (3rd, throws 4th), Darren Higgins (skip, throws 3rd), Mike Spencer (2nd), Jonathan Greenan (lead)

The Silver Fox men’s team, which also includes Tim Hockin, who plays third but throws fourth stones, second stone Mike Spencer, and lead Jonathan Greenan, had three chances to defeat the 2020 Champions, who are also from the Silver Fox, and win the 9-team men’s event — the “C” Final of the modified triple knockout draw, and two Championship Round games, but they did it on their first try, stealing a triple in the final end to win the “C” final by an 8-4 score. The 2020 Champions team includes skip Edward White, third Gordon MacFadyen, second Darrell Thibeau, and lead Corey Montgomery.

Under the rules, the “Finalist” team is the foursome who played in the “A” section final against the Silver Fox team i.e. the Crapaud Community Curling Club rink of skip Alan Inman. third Daniel MacFadyen, second Nathan Hardy and lead Matthew Hardy (no photo available).

Women’s

PEI Women’s Club Champions from the Charlottetown Curling Club (L-R): Shelly Bradley (skip), Amanda Power (3rd), Pat Quilty (Coach), Aleya Quilty (second), Jodi Murphy (lead)

In the six-team women’s championship, the winning Shelly Bradley-skipped team from the Charlottetown Curling Club were tied with the 2020 PEI Champions rink, skipped by Veronica Smith out of the Silver Fox in Summerside, and the  Montague team, skipped by Lynn Anne Brousseau, at the end of round-robin play, all with 4-1 win-loss records. Last stone delivery results were used to break the tie, giving the Charlottetown squad first place and a bye to the Sunday evening final, while second place Smith and third place Brousseau played off in the afternoon semi, with the 2020 champs winning 7-3 to advance to the championship game, which Bradley and her Charlottetown team won by a 7-5 score. Other members of the winning Charlottetown rink are Amanda Power (3rd),  Aleya Quilty (second), Jodi Murphy (lead), with coach Pat Quilty.

Finalist team, the 2020 PEI Champs from the Silver Fox are (L-R) Veronica Smith (skip), Sabrina Smith (third), Emily Gray (second), and Katie Fullerton (lead)

Rounding out the Veronica Smith -skipped 2020 Champs Finalist team from the Silver Fox are third Sabrina Smith, second Emily Gray, and lead Katie Fullerton

The winning Silver Fox men’s and Charlottetown women’s teams will now advance to the 2021 Everest Canadian Curling Club Championships at the Ottawa Hunt & Golf Club from Nov. 28-Dec. 4, 2021.