"They sure put P.E.I. on the map."
Those were Errol MacNeill's words after giving Erin Carmody a hug during a gala reception Tuesday for the P.E.I. women's curling team that recently finished second at the 2010 Scotties Tournament of Hearts.
Errol and his wife, Sheridyth, were among the hundreds who came out to congratulate the team at the Charlottetown Curling Club.
Besides Carmody, who threw the fourth stones, other members of the P.E.I. rink were skip Kathy O'Rourke, Geri-Lynn Ramsay, Tricia Affleck, coach Al Ledgerwood and alternate Shelly Bradley.
Carmody and Ramsay are both from Summerside.
P.E.I. lost 8-7 in an extra end to Team Canada's Jennifer Jones in the final of the national championship Sunday in Sault Ste. Marie, Ont.
It was standing room only at Tuesday's reception as two pipers ushered in the team, along with Health and Wellness Minister Carolyn Bertram and Charlottetown Mayor Clifford Lee.
The team heard congratulatory emails and letters from family, friends and supporters from around the world.
Each team member received plaques from the province and the city and was given an opportunity to take the microphone for a few words.
O'Rourke responded to one comment that good-naturedly called her the mother hen of the team.
"I must have learned that skill set from my mother because I was the youngest of 11 children, so I had a good role model for a mother hen," said O'Rourke.
She and all the team members went on to thank all the people who supported the team and she thanked her follow team members, including Ledgerwood.
"He certainly calmed the nerves for those last three games," she said.
Affleck said the team "read every single one" of the emails it received at the championship.
"That really kept us going."
Affleck said that once they all get over the disappointment of not winning the final they will "come to realize what a great week it was."
Ramsay had special thanks for Bradley.
"I know I lost everything out there, mittens, everything, and Shelly had to find all of it."
Ramsay also thanked the fans, including "people I don't even know", and said she was amazed to see the team's Facebook page "blow up" with support.
Carmody, who threw skip stones for the team, received a standing ovation when she took the microphone.
"This means so much to me, but I would rather throw 100 last rocks than to be up here right now," she said, apologizing for her nervousness.
She went on to answer the big question for the future.
"I think we will be back, for sure," said Carmody.
Bradley said one of her jobs was to receive the emails and she loved reading them as they flowed in all day.
"It was wonderful how much support there was."
Ledgerwood recalled the time early in the curling season when he predicted good things for the team.
"There are a couple of athletes on the team and a couple of thinkers on the team like we have rarely seen," he said. "This was the most fun I have ever had."
Don Smith of Metro Building Supplies, one of the team's sponsors, probably summed it up best during his remarks before giving a gift to each team member.
"You were the talk of the town," said Smith. "You surely were the talk of the province, and you were the talk of the country.
"You are loved from east to west, and you are loved here on P.E.I. the best. I want to give you one big thank you for what you have done. You have brought claim and fame to yourself and you have brought claim and fame to P.E.I."
Hundreds turn out to cheer P.E.I.'s silver-medal Scotties team
A gala welcome home party was held for the P.E.I. team back from a silver-medal performance at the Scotties Tournaments of Hearts national womens curling championship held this year in Sault Ste. Marie, Ont. From left are lead Tricia Affleck, skip-stone E
- Published on Febuary 10th, 2010
- Published on June 19th, 2010
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Nigel Armstrong
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Comments
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- Hurry Hard
- - June 21st, 2010 at 20:18:46
Way to go girls!
I hope you stay together as a team, work really hard and make us proud again next year.
Good on ya! -
- Todd
- - June 21st, 2010 at 20:18:19
YOU DEFINATELY ARE THE WINNERS!! YOU WERE THE TALK OF PEI, THE SWEETHEARTS OF THE TOURNAMENT!!ONE JUST HAD TO HEAR THE CHANTING FOR YOU TO KNOW THAT YOU WERE THE FAVOURITES BY FAR. yOU'RE GOLDEN IN THE EYES OF SO MANY.BE SO PROUD OF YOURSELVES!!! YOU'RE GOLDEN IN THE EYES OF ALOT MORE CANADIANS THAN YOU REALIZE.
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- Raberdeen
- - June 21st, 2010 at 20:13:11
As an Islander who now lives in Vancouver, I can't tell you how nice it was to watch a curling team from lil ole pei do so well. Congrats on a job well done, and im very much looking forward to seeing you all in the Scotties next year!
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- Absolutely Impressed
- - June 21st, 2010 at 20:04:34
I hope every person on this island is overly impressed with these girls.
All the games they played were amazing and our whole family was cheering you on every bit of the way.
I agree with Charlottetown Girl that you'll get em next year.
You deserve it.
You didn't lose gold, you WON silver.
Congratulations. -
- Charlottetown
- - June 21st, 2010 at 19:45:32
I love these stories, Im so proud of these beautiful girls for all the hard work they did. You'll get em next year girls, I believe it.
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- Sheryl
- - June 21st, 2010 at 19:43:50
Congratulations to the whole team...what a wonderful success. I was so excited watching you on tv in Vancouver. Great play!
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- Blaine and Evelyn
- - June 21st, 2010 at 19:42:37
As former residents of P.E.I. we took great pride in watching the performance of these girls. They may have received the silver medal but it was most definitely a GOLD MEDAL performance!
Our congratulations to each one of them!
