The rink representing Thermo Design Engineering won the “A” Championship in the 33rd annual Bonnyville Oilmen's Bonspiel this past weekend.
The tournament, which ran from Thursday to Sunday in Bonnyville, saw 48 teams compete for over $10,000 in prize money.
Each team was guaranteed three games in the Bonspiel as the tournament tiered out into A, B, C and D groups after the initial set of games.
The Thermo Design Engineering rink with skip Ernie Maurier, third Mark Hildebrand, second Craig Pilipchuck and lead Joe Rushton topped Flashpoint Electric Ltd. 9-5 to win the A Final.
The B Final was won by the rink from Electric Engineering Ltd., which included skip Norm Hempel, third Leonard Gadowski, second Larry Hempel and lead Glenn Strawson. They narrowly defeated Bonnyville Neighborhood Inn 6-5.
Skip Perry Wardle, third Charles Michaud, second Murray Lothian and lead Jeremy Poole representing Baker Hughes captured the C Final with a 6-1 victory over Strawson Engineering.
Xtreme Oilfield Technology won the D Final. Their rink, which consisted of skip Sheldon Ballas, third Robyn Moroziuk, second Dave Cousins and lead Bernie Parenteau defeated the rink from Scorpion Industries 5-3.
The event was sold out early, something which organizer Guy Lapointe attributed to the quality of entertainment they were able to bring in.
The banquet on Nov. 16 saw over 800 people pack into the C2 Field House to see comedians Pete Zedlacher and Peter Kelamis, along with the Canadian rock band Kenny Shields and Streetheart.
There were some big prizes as well, with a snowmobile and several quads handed out at the banquet.
“Everything went really well,” said Lapointe, who had already starting planning for next year.
“This year was a rock theme with Kenny Shield and Streetheart, next year we are going to get a country band,” said Lapointe. “Perhaps a big name country band.”
November 13 to 16 has been set as the dates for next year's bonspiel, with Lapointe saying the organizing committee is thinking about using the rink in Mallaig in order to accommodate more teams.
Lapointe added, “The Oilmen would like to thank all of our sponsors.”
