I know—I know the Canucks are toast, but so are my Red Wings, Bruins and Flames…But as I peek in on the final four I see ice and I think curling…Here are some tidbits from the NHL and curling, which for many Canadians in the NHL, grew up beside a curling rink as they crafted their skills on the hockey ice.

#1 Many NHL teams when coming thru Western Canada have gone to curling clubs to foster team building and have some fun. The Kings, Sharks, Hurricanes, Red Wings, and Lightening to name some recent teams in the last few years. The Sharks spent a day in Banff a couple years back, booked the ice for a couple hours and extended it into a mini bonspiel where the Sask. born Sharks beat the Manitoba born Sharks in the final.

#2 During the famous Montreal Canadiens five straight Stanley Cups, the coach, Toe Blake, and six-time Norris Trophy winner Doug Harvey put a team in the Quebec playdowns and lost the provincial semi-final to go to the Brier – this in the middle of a playoff hunt.

#3 Detroit Red Wing coach Mike Babcock is a regular texting buddy with Kevin Martin and made sure he caught a few Olympic games here in Vancouver.

#4 The Great One, #99, Wayne Gretzky is becoming one of curling’s best ambassadors. One of the best fan reaction shots of the 2010 Olympics is #99 going nuts over one of Cheryl Bernard’s many clutch shots. And Mr. Gretzky has acknowledged one of his favourite athletes of all time was the late Sandra Schmirler.

#5 The Calgary Flames alumni are some of the best supporters for putting in teams for Calgary area curling fund raisers such as Curl for a Cure:Breast Cancer.

#6 GEWC tidbit…Winnipeg Jet captain and Maple Ridge native, Andrew Ladd’s brother’s winter sport of choice for a couple years was right here at the GEWC as Andrew honed his hockey skills right next door. Maybe that curling karma helped Andrew win his two Stanley Cups (Carolina and Chicago).

#7 Long-time Hockey Night in Canada announcer Bob Cole (40th year) has skipped two Newfoundland teams to the Brier in 1971 and ’75 as well as two mixed teams to the Canadians in 1963 and ’73.

Enjoy the playoffs,

Guy

Friday May 4 — 4:00pm – 9:00pm

Saturday May 5 — 10:00am – 8:00pm

Sunday May 6 — 10:00am – 4:00pm

The GEWC Booth is right in front of our Admin office. We have floor curling set up for the kidz (all our welcome to try). We also have a raffle for free Learn to Curl lessons in Sept. Come on down and say hi.

Cheers, Guy

Born Nov. 13, 1936 in Glenavon, Sk
Died April 21, 2012 in Mission, BC

“Shake the hand that shook the world.”

- Bill Leech

There was quite a contingent of curlers from the GEWC this afternoon at the Celebration of Life for Bill Leech. There was more people at Bill’s funeral than the town in Saskatchewan, Glenavon, where he was born and lived the first few years of his life before moving to the lower mainland in his early teens. Bill was one of our few lifetime members recognised at the GEWC for his decades of volunteering and service to keep the club running and promoting the game. He was truly one of the characters.

The heartfelt tributes shared by family and friends today captured the spirit and heart of Bill. His nephew, Ron, may have said it best, “My Uncle Bill was a larger than life figure.” Bill left you with a feeling that life is fun and relationships are important, and curling is one of the greatest sports on the planet.

Bill is one of the first people I met back in August when Sandi and I first moved to Maple Ridge. There was something about the gleam in his eye that told me I need to get to know this man. I loved his smerck. When the Masters Monday and Wednesday morning leagues began I got my education on ‘the coffee’ — always being on and ready as that was Bill’s thing.

My favorite Bill moment was the one Wednesday he had to be away. He pulled me aside and asked me to guarantee him the coffee would be ready when he was away. So Wednesday morning came and I made sure I was at the rink to have the coffee ready. I asked Don Huber what he was still doing at the rink and he said Bill had asked him to guarantee him the coffee would be ready. I go to the concession area and Bob MacKay is getting the coffee ready. Bob tells me Bill had also asked him to make sure the coffee would be ready. That was one morning I could have slept in but I have no regrets because its going to be one of my most vivid and favorite GEWC moments from this past curling season.

There is a picture up in our lounge from the 1960′s (my guess with the fashion look and the corn brooms) with Bill Leech and his comrades  after winning a bonspiel. My first thought was – that has got to Bill in his youthful prime because he instantly reminded me of James Dean if he would have curled – The king of cool. He was a character and had an aura of graciousness about him. I am truly thankful for meeting Bill this past year and will miss hearing my name being called out in French, “Hey Gee can you press the coffee button in the 6th end. Hey Gee can you check your computer and let me know what’s happening in the Provincals. Hey Gee, I think I can get the club some sponsorship from this business. Hey Gee—see you Wednesday.”

Bill made us smile. He made me smile. Sometimes I’d purposely wait till the end of the 6th end or early in the 7th just to get a reaction out of Bill. He made coming to the curling rink fun. Isn’t that the main reason to be at the rink? Bill understood the culture of the game and lived it.

On behalf of the GEWC we offer our condolences to his wife Barb, his children, grandchildren and great grandchild on the way plus the rest of his family. Whenever we have a cup of coffee at the GE we’ll think of you.

Cheers,

Guy (for today Gee)

A cool curling story out of Detroit, from Sandi (my much better half). Sandi just flew home for about three weeks to be with her ailing mom. Her parents have new neighbours — who love curling.

There is a new younger couple that just moved in next door who came over to meet Sandi yesterday. As the conversation went around – the topic of curling came up. Ever since the 2006 Olympics in Utah this family has been hooked. They’ve never been to a curling rink but they PVR all the Olympic curling because they just can’t miss a game. The couple said that curling is easily their favourite Olympic sport and wished the American networks carried more games. And many of their friends are also hooked. They said it has to be one of the better sports on TV and wished they lived closer to a curling rink. This couple has been thinking of driving almost an hour away to Port Huron (Sarnia’s American twin city) to give it a shot.

Of course Sandi being the expert curler she is now…Two big-time bonspiels — with one win under her belt and an A-Semi to her credit… The couple knew they were talking to a pro. They were especially impressed when they found out Sandi has coffee’ed with their favourite female curler, Cheryl Bernard.

Just another reminder we have a great game, always have had, and one that is in the midst of a renewal.

Cheers,

Guy

Kudos to Glenn Howard and team in winning their second World title in the last five years with the core of this current team (4th overall for Howard).

In the big picture Team Howard’s record is almost unheard of:

14 Purple Hearts (Brier appearances—13 medals)

4 Gold - 7 Silver - 2 Bronze

But in the smaller picture…Howard and his team-mates admitted 2006-2011 was a lot heartbreak mixed with pockets of gratefulness. Losing four Brier finals in five final appearances over that six year period was hard on the heart. Howard has said its pretty easy to lose perspective when you come so close that many times. One does begin to wonder if the yearly grind of staying as competitive as his team has – is worth the sacrifices and commitment. Team Howard realizes how incredibly difficult it is to even gain a Purple Heart let alone make seven straight Brier playoffs during an era of Brier depth that is at its apex.

There are curlers scattered across this fine country of ours who have Brier or Scottie talent (they may have even been once or twice) but can’t take the pain of heartbreak any more. And can you blame them? Curling is not a sport many, if any, can make a living at.  There is a curler in Calgary who lost on last rock to Kevin Martin a few years back in the Alberta final. His team received a silver tray to mark the milestone. He was so distraught it still has not been displayed or moved from his closet. He was seldom seen on the playdown trial after that loss. He was a regular fixture and we missed watching his savvy on the ice.

I have a friend in Sask. (and another one in Manitoba, too)….same thing!!! Provincial appearances, WCT success, would be comfortable filling in for a Ferbey, Martin or a Howard and their teams probably wouldn’t miss a beat. But the heartbreak has taken its toll…And you hear story after story like this….

What Team Howard has accomplished is to be commended and admired. As a curling fan Team Howard is always a treat to watch. As a student of human nature his life-lesson about perseverance is something to be documented for the ages.

Cheers,

Guy