CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. — John Likely has won at almost every level of curling in Prince Edward Island.
He’s a nine-time mixed champion and a three-time men’s champ while also winning once each at the junior and senior ranks. He holds the record for appearances as a skip (nine) and wins (55) at the Canadian mixed championship and represented P.E.I. at the 1979 Canada Games in Brandon, Man.
Likely will take his spot amongst the province’s elite tonight when he is inducted into the Prince Edward Island Curling Hall of Fame and Museum.
Likely started curling at the Charlottetown Curling Club in 1973 and success has followed him for the past 40 years.
He won the junior championship in 1979 with skip Peter Jenkins, third Billy Dillon and lead Richard Kays. That same year he won the right to skip the Island squad at the Canada Games with Kays at third, second Doug MacGregor and lead Bill Tinney.
- Need to know
- Prince Edward Island Curling Hall of Fame and Museum class of 2019
- Who – Mike Dillon, John Likely, Shelley Muzika, Leslie MacDougall and Wayne Matheson.
- Induction ceremony – Tonight at Charlottetown Curling Complex beginning at 7 p.m. Tickets are $10 at the door.
Mixed titles
Likely won his first mixed title in 1984, skipping a team of third Marion Partridge, Dillon and lead Judy Lund. His second came in 1992 with third Susan McInnis, second Mark Butler and lead Gail MacNeil. That team stayed together and won the 1993, 1994 and 1997 titles.
John’s sixth win was in 2000, again with McInnis and Butler, but with Nancy Cameron at lead. He was named the all-star skip at nationals that winter. The following year he teamed with Kathie Gallant, Butler at second and Krista Cameron to capture the Island crown. And he won his third straight title in 2002 with McInnis back at third, Butler at second, and Nancy Cameron throwing lead stones. In that three-year run, Likely’s teams placed third, third and second, respectively, at the nationals. Likely won his ninth mixed provincial title in 2004 with third Janice MacCallum, Butler and lead Nancy Cameron.
Likely won the Island’s men’s championship in 1985, 2002 and 2019. The first victory came while playing second with skip Wayne Matheson, third Doug Weeks and Dillon at lead. He skipped the 2002 squad of third Robert Campbell, second Eric Brodersen and lead Jeff Smith. The most recent success came while skipping the team of third Anson Carmody, second Steve Burgess, lead Rob Doherty and fifth Matt Nabuurs. Likely played third for MacDonald’s 2013 winning squad at the senior championship. Mark O’Rourke was the second and Peter MacDonald the lead. Likely was named all-star third at the nationals. Likely volunteered during the 1984 Scotties at the Charlottetown Forum and served on the 1999 Scott Tournament of Hearts committee. He started the Ultramar Cashspiel in 1987, managed the Charlottetown Curling Club from 1994 to 2000 and served two terms as club president.
