CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. — A large number of familiar faces with loads of successful curling experience are coming to Charlottetown later this month for the 61st Canadian FireFighters Curling Championships.
Ten teams are now confirmed for the national event following recent provincial playdowns. They include two-time defending champion Gregg Tarasoff of Saskatoon, Sask., who won the 2019 event in Kelowna, B.C. Chris Haichert, who has played with the Northwest Territories at the Brier, is a member of the Saskatoon-Swift Current squad.
“It’s a good field with a lot of strong teams,” said tournament co-chairman Peter MacDonald of the Crossroads Fire Department.
Alan Brown of Charlottetown Station One defended his provincial title last month and will represent P.E.I. from March 26-April 4 at the Charlottetown Curling Complex (CCC). Other members of the Brown foursome are third Will Callbeck, second Mike MacRae, lead Winston Bryan and alternate Kevin MacArthur.
The P.E.I. association is hosting the nationals, last held on the Island in 2009 when Saskatchewan won the 50th annual bonspiel. Organizers had expected 12 teams to compete in Charlottetown, but Newfoundland and Labrador will not be sending a team while the Northwest Territories still might be attending. All other provinces are coming while Ontario sends a north and south team.
Leading the Quebec representatives from Howick is skip Ken McRae, who returns to the firefighters event after an absence of several years. He is joined by mate Dale Ness, a member of Guy Hemmings powerhouse teams which represented Quebec at multiple Briers.
Chad Stevens from Chester, N.S., is rated as one of the teams to beat in Charlottetown. The well-known curler on the Maritime bonspiel circuit was runner-up in this year’s N.S. Tankard playdowns.
Veteran Joe Vautour of Saint John is back, after representing New Brunswick in 10 out of the last 11 national firefighter events.
Rob Bushfield skips the defending Ontario winners from the Ottawa area while the Northern Ontario reps are also repeat winners, led by skip John Russak from Thunder Bay.
Skip Len Krisko of Winnipeg is no stranger to firefighters curling as he was a member of previous Manitoba teams at the event. His team’s return to national competition includes lead Cindy Ceasar, the lone woman — although not the first — in the curling championships.
The Alberta champions from Edmonton are skipped by Aaron Bartling, who has won the firefighters national title several times during his successful career.
Dean Thulin of Campbell River skips the British Columbia champions, which includes players from several area departments. Thulin, who has been to the firefighters several times and is a former national champ, is also the vice-president of the national firefighters curling association.
This year’s championship kicks off with opening ceremonies Friday evening, March 26, at the CCC. Several guest speakers, provincial and municipal government representatives, fire officials and sponsors will be on hand. Organizers expect 10-12 national life members to be present with several heading out on the ice to take part in the ceremonial first-rock throw.
A unique ladder draw involving two aerial fire trucks takes place immediately after the opening ceremonies to determine the opening matches starting the next morning.
Each team will play nine games in the weeklong, round-robin format. The top four teams advance into a page playoff the following Friday and Saturday. A gala awards banquet will conclude the national event Saturday, April 4, at the Rodd Charlottetown.
Awards will be presented to the top three teams, along with all-star awards and the prestigious Aubrey Neff Memorial Award, which recognizes sportsmanship on the ice and diplomacy off the ice. Neff, a B.C. firefighter, was the founder of the national event more than 60 years ago.
P.E.I. has won the Neff award four times during the past 25 years, with recipients including MacDonald, Bill MacPhee, Leo Stewart and Gordon MacFadyen.
A donation will be made to support the work of the Canadian Fallen Firefighters Association, one of several charitable groups supported by the curling championships.
Tourney co-chairman Winston Bryan, a Charlottetown fire inspector, said most of the heavy lifting for the nationals is complete, with the souvenir program going to the printers shortly.
“We look to be in good shape,” said Bryan, noting the host committee was overwhelmed with the show of support from the business community, various governments and volunteers.
The CCC has undergone a number of recent upgrades and improvements to make the club brighter and friendlier for curlers and fans at the national event.
– Compiled by Bill McGuire.
