LAC LA BICHE - The Battle of Alberta hockey game on Saturday night was matched by the Battle of Lac La Biche men's curling bonspiel.
On the day the Edmonton Oilers and Calgary Flames were hitting the ice in their NHL provincial rivalry, a dozen area curling teams were also icing a hockey-themed battle.
Teams from across the region payed a $200 registration fee and coloured up Lac La Biche Bold Center curling rink by wearing their favourite hockey team jerseys for the day-long event.
"It was great to have everyone out," said Lac La Biche and District Curling Club president Dylan Maskalyk following a team supper and prize presentations that wrapped up the day just as the Oilers began their second period comeback heading to a 5-2 win. "It was a good day on the ice."
The bonspiel format was skins play, where competing teams earned dollars for winning each end. At the end of the event, dollars were added up and dished out to the top teams. The Brett Skakun rink was the big winner of the day, earning $280 in skins.
Regular season league play continues at the Lac La Biche and District Curling Club for men's and open league curling until the end of February when league playoffs begin. The club also has a drop-in seniors league and regular 'learn-to-curl' social nights.