A sea of hockey jerseys filled the Lac La Biche Curling Club on Saturday as a group of curlers, many of whom were from the local area, gathered for the annual Men’s Bonspiel. The event, which got underway in the morning, coincided with Hockey Day in Canada and the Battle of Alberta between the Edmonton Oilers and the Calgary Flames.
As is part of the tradition of the Men’s Bonspiel, competitors were decked out in their favourite hockey jerseys. While the Edmonton Oilers were the preferred team, a few others were represented as well, including the Florida Panthers and the Toronto Maple Leafs along with the jerseys of the Portage College Voyageurs, Lac La Biche Clippers, and even Team Canada.
Sliding into the action
The tournament used a skins format, meaning that teams played three six-end games during the day, with money available to be won at every end and $90 at stake in every game. This year’s event featured 10 teams.
Prizes were given out at the end of the day. Later in the evening, the competitors gathered to watch the Battle of Alberta Hockey game between the Edmonton Oilers and the Calgary Flames.
