#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

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

“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)

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

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

The legend Tosh Nagai, 95 years old, spent almost 12 hours with us. What a gracious classy gentleman.

A very nice Awards Dinner and program to celebrate this past curling season.

An outstanding job by our volunteers as they pulled it off once again.

What a fun way to end the GE 2011/12 curling season.

Stay tuned.

Cheers,

Guy

We are in the homestretch of the 2011/12 GE curling season. Leagues are wrapping up. Rentals are winding down. Skins nights and the final Stick event (good mini fun spiel yesterday) are history. We have a church and hockey team coming in today and our second group of Japanese exchange students on Tuesday.  We had 26 students  last week and 47 more coming this week.

We also have four people from the GE down in Seattle this weekend at the 50th Annual International Tankard. This is a curling trip and information gathering couple of days as we are hosting the 51st Annual Tankard next March.

And we have our wind up Awards Dinner this coming Saturday at 6pm following the annual Tosh Nagai spiel. There is still a few spots open for the spiel and always more room for the Awards Dinner. I believe we have 10 teams and a bit for this coming Saturday.

Hope you all have a good Sunday….I think I’m pulling for Switzerland versus the Swedes in the Women’s final later this afternoon. Don’t ask me why—I’m just leaning that way. It was exciting watching the Koreans scare the field and almost grab a medal. Having these Asian countries hitting elite status is doing wonders for the exposure and growth of our sport. And, remember the Men’s World’s starts next Saturday.

Cheers,

Guy

The GREEN was out Saturday night, St.Patrick’s Day, for the 2nd Skins fun night. This seems to becoming a hit.  Once again we had all ages and a good time visiting up in the lounge afterwards. Andrew King’s comment was, “We should try and do this at least monthly. I love hanging out at the club. Its my favourite place to kick back and enjoy good people. It’s my place.”

Sunday we had 47 people show up for Learn to  Curl. Having the Scotty, Brier and now the Women’s World’s on TSN gets people thinking CURLING. The comments were encouraging.  We had ten of our own instructors who all do a wonderful job, along with 2009 BC Brier skip, Sean Geall. I love the one comment about Sean – “He’s got such a nice way of explaining things without you feeling like an idiot.” We were all encouraged by seeing the front and back sheets all filled up with our enthusiastic visitors. Everybody stayed for the whole three hours plus.

We have a great product that sells itself and a good atmosphere that you our GE members create with your presence.

Thanks,

Guy

9:00 – Coffee and registration

10:00 – First game 5 ends – “Vanilla Curling”

12:00 – Lunch

1:00 – Second game 4 ends – “Stick-O-Rama” everybody uses a delivery stick

2:30 – Break

2:45 – Third game 4 ends – “Choose Your Own Adventure” mystery scoring for each end

4:00 – End of Tosh Spiel

6:00 – Awards dinner

Cost       $40/person – includes curling, lunch and awards dinner

$25/person – includes curling  and lunch

$20/person – awards dinner only

We come back here every year because of the ice. Yes the spiel is outstanding but your ice….I wish we lived in Maple Ridge or at least a lot closer. This is by far some of the best ice we have ever curled on…year after year. We’ve curled in most of the States that have curling and most of the major curling clubs in western Canada. You guys have no idea how lucky you are.

- Team Clark from Seattle

8X USA Mixed Champions

4X USA Mixed Doubles Champions

I know what Team Brady speaks of. I have curled for ‘a few years’ and have played in almost 100 clubs and the GE is easily in that top 5% of all curling clubs. And what we sometimes take for granted is how good the ice is whether its a spiel or just league play. Some clubs impress only during their spiels, but Don and Rick care as much for league play as spiels.

 Kudos to our Ice Tech Don Huber and his trusty assistant Rick Jarrett.

Cheers,

Guy