Another local curling season has now come to an end and year-end award nights have been held for the various club divisions. First up was an evening to recognize the Nanaimo Curling Centre’s top men’s teams from the past year.
From the Tuesday men’s group, coordinator Frank Voysey reports that it was an extremely successful season for skip Steve Waatainen and his entry in the 26-team league. The Waatainen foursome claimed the league aggregate trophy based on total points over the entire year of play. As well, Waatainen also won the year-end playoffs between teams who had won one of the four squares of A division competition during the season. In actual fact no playoffs were required, as the dominant team had won all four squares. Sharing success with skip Waatainen was third Bart Sawyer, second Craig Burton and lead Keith Clarke.
Also from Tuesday competition, B division square playoffs were won by skip Jason White and his team of Bob Cavezza, Glyn Doyle and Brendan Plamondon. Winners of C square playoffs were Rick Ringma along with teammates Scott Maclean, Don Lutes, Collin Morgan and Mike Gallo. Top team emerging from D division square playoffs was that of Travis Fritz, Rod Hanson, Lincoln Silk and Darren Brosseau.
It was my pleasure to coordinate this past season’s Thursday men’s league consisting of 15 teams that played in a round-robin format followed by separate A and B divisions for the final part of the year. Winning the round-robin, as well as becoming aggregate point champions over the entire year was the team of skip Frank Voysey, third Garry Smith, second Brian Cocks, lead Patrick Belanger, fifth man Tom Stromar and sixth player Glyn Doyle.
Capturing the A square title was the team of Bruce Willgress, Tim Cullen, Murray Norby, Greg Norby and Mike Chahley, who narrowly edged the foursome of Craig MacRae, Louis Cavezza, Paul Merkel and Tom Weinreich.
Taking the B square trophy was skip Louie Papp and his teammates Paul Konyer, Dave Bandy and Brendon Plamondon.
This year’s men’s club championship playoffs involved 16 teams from the Tuesday and Thursday leagues. The final came down to a match between Tuesday squads skipped by Steve Waatainen and Mac Pawliuk. After holding a tight 2-1 lead after four ends, Waatainen broke things open with four in the fifth and pulled away to an 8-1 victory. Pawliuk was backed by Russ Pawliuk, Todd Belton and Dhillon McKinley.
Following the end of Tuesday and Thursday league play, teams wishing to extend their season took part in a cash mini-spiel. The A event final resulted in a 4-2 win for Rick Ringma, Scott Maclean, Don Lutes and Collin Morgan over skip Gerry Adams and his team of Randy Gummer, Mike Gallo and Gary Howk.
In the B event final, it was 6-5 for Dave Perpeluk, Scott Peffers, Arthur Cantelon and Jarrod Noble over the foursome of Ian Cook, Dave Fraser, Ross Barnard and Lee Venables.
In future weeks we’ll highlight award winners from women’s, seniors’ and mixed curling leagues.
Whatever your sport, a reminder in closing to play your hardest, play fair, and show good sportsmanship.