A team representing the Edmonton Fire Department was victorious this past weekend at the 53rd Alberta Firefighters Curling Championship Bonspiel hosted by the St. Paul Fire Department and Town of St. Paul.
Led by skip Aaron Bartling, who was a member of the team that won the nationals last year, Edmonton Fire went undefeated throughout the tournament and eventually beat Ron Darling's team from the Calgary Fire Department to win the bonspiel.
“We had some really tight games that we maybe shouldn't have won, but we managed," Bartling said after the final.
“I think it was our patience as a team. Even when we got in a little bit of trouble we didn't panic and overcame it."
Although the team, which consists of Bartling, Cory Henderson, AJ Rankel and Jim Henderson, had little practice time before the bonspiel, the experience each member brought to the ice was sufficient.
“We hadn't practiced together as a team before we got here," Bartling explained.
“AJ and me played together before and the three of them were on a team last year. For a firefighting curling team we're very strong. My team played outstanding."
The Edmonton Fire Dept. team will now head to Nova Scotia next month to compete in the Canadian Firefighters Curling Championship.
“The tournament was an astounding success once again," said St. Paul Fire Chief Trevor Kotowich, who participated and helped organize the tournament.
“The success of this event is because of all the volunteers," he added. “We had a very strong organizing committee led by Mayor Glenn Andersen. We can't say enough about the curling club who donated the facility to us. From the shuttle drivers to all the businesses that contributed … none of it would be possible without all these people coming together."
St. Paul hosted the provincial bonspiel in 2006 and, according to Kotowich, players are hoping the event will take place here again soon.
“All we heard at the wrap up banquet from the players was how much they love St. Paul," he said. “Their biggest question is when can we come back. They're already nudging us and giving us the hint they want to come back."
