The Mallaig Curling Club held its annual Men’s Bonspiel this past weekend, with teams from all over northern Alberta coming out to take part.
Mallaig Curling Club president Armand Brochu said that it was a very successful event, and while it didn’t feature as many teams as last year’s bonspiel, he said the variety of competition made for a very fun weekend.
“There was quite a range in the caliber of teams in there,” Brochu said. “From your teams that are Super League caliber right to people coming in just to have fun.”
Gerald Looy of St. Paul and his teammates Henri Desaulniers, Floyd Kunnas and Charles Salomon picked up top spot in the A event, defeating the St. Paul Speedy Lube team of Gerry Jean, Adrien Jean, Richard Jean and Norm St. Arnault in the final match.
The B event saw the Mallaig B.H.A team of Brochu, Joel Michaud, Ernie Piquette and Claude Dion take down the In Laws from Bonnyville to take the championship, while the C event final concluded with the Kupchenko Farms and Unwind Massage team from Two Hills defeating the Storseth team from Mallaig.
Collin Kupchenko of the Kupchenko Farms and Unwind Massage team said he always enjoys coming out to play in Mallaig, and that this year’s tournament provided some great teams to play against.
“The community here is really good, they’re really supportive and it’s always fun,” he said, adding that the level of competition made for a great tournament. “It’s been really tight, we haven’t had an easy game that’s for sure.”
The Kupchenko Farms and Unwind Massage team opted to take part in the Mallaig Men’s Bonspiel to prepare for the imminent Zarowny Motors Super League playoffs, which will be held at the St. Paul Curling Club this weekend.
“That’s why we’re here, to try and get ready for that,” Kupchenko said.
Brochu pointed out the reason this event has thrived for so long is solely because of the continuous volunteer support that the Mallaig Curling Club receives from its members.
“That’s the only way that this can keep functioning, with all the volunteer help that we get, right from the beginning with people that take charge of the event all the way through to the people that clean up at the end,” Brochu said. “Everybody pitches in and does their part to get it all done.”
The Mallaig Curling Club will hold the Ladies’ Bonspiel from Feb. 8-10, followed by the Mixed Bonspiel from Feb. 22-24.
