Sophie Blades – member of Cornwall Curling Club, member of UPEI curling team, and For Love of Curling Scholarship recipient – hosted the For Love of Curling Scholarship Fundraiser Funspiel this weekend at the club and it was a resounding success.

Over $1400 was raised to put back into the scholarship program!

Hans Wicki, Gloria Turner, Bill McGuire, and Derek MacEwen squeaked out a narrow victory over the Cruz Pineau/Schut Brothers team.

There were lots of great curling shots (and if you watched me you saw some bad ones too!), wonderful food, lots of laughs and future generations of Canadian junior curlers will continue to benefit from this wonderful program.

Thanks to everyone who came out to curl, who donated items and who came to purchase items – and GREAT JOB Sophie!!

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Former club member Eric LeBlanc recently passed away.  The club and our members wish to extend our condolences to his family. 

Eric H. LeBlanc, 90, of Lakeburn, passed away on Friday, February 23, 2024, at The Moncton Hospital. Born in Moncton, he was the son of the late Edouard and Exelda (Cormier) LeBlanc

Prior to his retirement, Eric worked for Veterans Affairs. He enjoyed golfing, spending time in curling rinks, and traveling. He was a member of RCAFA Air Force Wing in Goose Bay, NL,  Charlottetown Wing #201, Royal Canadian Legion, and ROTO Club in PEI.

He is survived by two children: Diane Mortimer (David) of Greater Lakeburn and Denis (Cindy) of North Dakota; one stepson, Gregory Bogle of Albert County; one sister, Donalda Cormier (late Ulysse) of Moncton; two grandchildren: Jessica Mortimer (Marcus Kessler) and Christopher Mortimer (Samantha Cameron) all of Dieppe; three great-grandchildren: Norah, Jack, and Isla, as well as many nieces and nephews.

Besides his parents, he was predeceased by his wife, Ferne LeBlanc; a stepson, Robert Bogle; three sisters: Aurella Landry, Dolores LeBlanc, and infant sister, Aurella LeBlanc; one brother, Donald.

The family will receive condolences at Frenette Funeral and Cremation Centre, 88 Church Street, Moncton (506-858-1900) where the funeral service will be celebrated on Thursday, February 29, at 3 p.m. Visiting hours are Thursday from 1:30 p.m. until the time of the funeral. Interment will be in Our Lady of Calvary cemetery in Dieppe. In memory of Eric, a contribution to the Friends of The Moncton Hospital Foundation would be greatly appreciated.

https://www.frenettefuneralhome.com/obituaries/176111?fbclid=IwAR0gZ6PrpjyfcDgKJwk3CEcBszy93MYtjY9QrpCItLeD3oBbwFlH49w0OyU

Cornwall’s Lauren Lenentine to play in largest event on GSOC tour

By Bill McGuire
Public Relations Chair
Cornwall Curling Club

The best curlers in the world, including Cornwall’s own Lauren Lenentine, are Prince Edward Island-bound as the Grand Slam of Curling is poised to take over Charlottetown this October.

Cornwall’s Lauren Lenentine speaks during a press conference Thursday (Feb. 29) at Charlottetown City Hall where it was announced that UPEI will play host to the Hearing Life Tour Challenge, the Grand Slam of Curling’s biggest event of the 2024-25 season, from Oct. 1-6, 2024.

The two adjoining ice surfaces at the Bell Aliant Centre on the campus of the University of Prince Edward Island will play host to the Hearing Life Tour Challenge, the Grand Slam of Curling’s biggest event of the 2024-25 season, from Oct. 1-6, 2024.

The 2024 Hearing Life Tour Challenge will feature the top 32 men’s and 32 women’s teams in the world, competing in a two-tier event at Bell Aliant Centre. The field will include Olympic medallists, world champions, and Canadian favourites. This is the first time a Grand Slam of Curling event has been held in Charlottetown, with Summerside having played host to two previous Slam events, the latest in 2014.

It is anticipated that the Cornwall Curling Club, and adjacent clubs like Montague and Crapaud, will assist the huge GSOC event which will attract over 250 top curlers from around the world, by providing their clubs for practice sessions and games.

The announcement was made today (Thursday, Feb. 29) at Charlottetown City Hall by Charlottetown Mayor Philip Brown. Other guests in attendance included Cory Deagle, Minister of Fisheries, Tourism, Sport and Culture; legendary curler and Olympic gold medallist Jennifer Jones; and Lenentine.

Canadian curling legend Jennifer Jones, left, answers a question during a press conference in Charlottetown Thursday. Feb. 29 where it was announced that UPEI will play host to the Hearing Life Tour Challenge, the Grand Slam of Curling’s biggest event of the 2024-25 season, from Oct. 1-6, 2024. Also in photo are event master of ceremonies Robbie Doherty, a member of the Cornwall Curling Club, and Jones’ teammate Lauren Lenentine of Cornwall.

Jones and Lenentine are fresh from a silver medal finish last Sunday at the Scotties Tournament of Hearts Canadian women’s curling championships in Calgary.

“Welcoming all of these world-class curlers is an incredible opportunity for us to demonstrate just how well-suited we are to hosting major sporting events,” said Mayor Brown. “We’re excited to welcome athletes and their teams, as well as visitors, to beautiful Charlottetown and we plan to sweep them away with a rocking good time! Attracting events such as the Hearing Life Tour Challenge, the biggest event in the Grand Slam of Curling series, reflects our commitment to strategic economic growth through sport tourism.”

“This is a very exciting announcement for PEI and builds on our reputation as a top destination for high calibre sporting events,” said Minister Deagle. “We are proud to see Charlottetown picked as the host city for the Grand Slam of Curling’s Hearing Life Tour Challenge. Sport tourism is an exciting way to grow PEI as a four-season tourism destination.  And for curling fans, it is thrilling to be able to watch the top curling teams in the world compete.”

More details, including 150 volunteer opportunities, qualified teams, and schedules will be announced later date.

Early bird full tournament passes are now on sale at www.thegrandslamofcurling.com/tickets. On sale dates for weekend passes and single draw tickets will be announced in the coming months.

Owned and operated by Sportsnet since 2012, the Grand Slam of Curling is an elite series of men’s and women’s curling events, featuring the best teams from across Canada and around the world. Awarding equal purses to both men’s and women’s teams since 2015, Grand Slam of Curling presents $2.1 million in total prize money each season.

More information about the upcoming Grand Slam season and the Hearing Life Tour Challenge please visit: www.thegrandslamofcurling.com

Our ParaSport Minispiel is scheduled for Saturday, March 16th with draws at 2pm and 4pm with a pizza social at 5:30pm.

This event is a partnership between ParaSport and Recreation PEI and our Club, in which para-athletes and Club members team up to play two four-person per team six-end games.

Besides the two games, your $10 entry fee includes a pizza dinner as well, plus a chance to win prizes too! 

There are limited spots available, so signup NOW, in advance of the March 13th deadline to avoid missing out!

FINALS WATCH PARTY!

Everyone is invited to watch the finals together at the club.  The game starts at 9:00pm but the club will be open if you want to come early. 

Club member, Lauren Lenentine, and her teammates will be in the finals against Team Homan.

Bring some snacks/desserts to share if you want!

The bar will be open and there will be lots of opinions from the crowd on what shot should be taken next.

The club now has 2.5″ stickers in stock with the club logo on them!

One of our junior curlers, Sophie Gallant, and her friend run a small business called Sopley’s Art Market and one of their products is stickers. 

We have purchased a first run of the stickers to gauge their popularity and will be selling them at the bar.  

We currently are stocking 2.5″ stickers – which are the perfect size for broom handles, computers, notebooks, car windows, etc!

Cornwall members attending almost any provincial event will have seen Amanda Bulger, who volunteers often as scorekeeper. 

She has entered into a Curling Day in Canada contest and we want to support her. 

While I shared this on our Facebook page over the weekend some people haven’t seen it since it wasn’t on the website. 

VOTE FOR AMANDA HERE

From the Curling Day in Canada website: 

I started into curling in my late teens first by watching and than volunteering with different events. When I was younger I didn’t have many friends in school and was very shy. I started curling of and on in my home community in parts of junior and high school in my home community of O’Leary eventually graduating and being home and always wanted to watch events. Few years after graduating moved to Summerside and didn’t curl first year but that first year I was around the club and the club had a couple national events that year and meant some great friends still today friends with. Next year starting curling and at one of the events was asked if I be interested in doing some livescoring for some events and this is where things started getting busy and loved doing it. From provincials to some national events cashspiels I would spend my free time going throughout province helping out even some outside PEI and still do it and loving and it’s brought to different events in the maritime and country with some help to watch. Sovereign meeting some many people I have been more confident and willing to help out wherever. Even though not curling more due to be busy with a job that many have helped me get took me awhile b3cause of some learning issues and being busy scoring and watching. Love the game and will continue to help out and go watch wherever. Thanks. Amanda Bulger Summerside, Prince Edward Island

Each year the For Love of Curling Scholarship Program provides 11 scholarships to curlers.

This year, Sophie Blades – who is attending UPEI and is a Cornwall Curling Club member this season – received one of these scholarships!

As part of the scholarship program, each scholarship recipient is required to do a fundraiser to support the For Love of Curling Scholarship Program as a way to give back.  

Sophie has decided to host a Funspiel Fundraiser here at the Cornwall Curling Club for her fundraiser.

The event will be held on Saturday, March 2nd, with games starting at 9:00am.  The cost for entry is $35/person or $140/team and includes lunch, two games, as well as door prizes. 

We’ll also be having a 50/50 that day.

Proceeds from the event will go to the For Love of Curling Scholarship Program.

Registration is now open at the club on the bulletin board and is available to teams or single-entry (though preference will be given to teams so we can more easily fill in all the slots). 

Limit of 16 teams – open to curlers from any club!

You can also register by emailing the club.  

From https://www.curling.ca/foundation/youth-scholarships/

The For the Love of Curling Scholarship Program is intended for young Canadian athletes who excel in curling, maintain a good level of academic standing, and demonstrate a strong commitment to their community through leadership volunteer activities. The purpose is to give talented junior curling student athletes the support to pursue their curling and academic dreams.

It’s thanks to the generous support of the curling community across Canada, including the Governor General’s Curling Club Members, that we can play this collective role in supporting the next generation of passionate, talented, and caring curlers.

Each year, eleven scholarships, one of which is presented by the Governor General’s Curling Club, and each valued at $2,500, are awarded to student curling athletes who have been accepted into a post-secondary education program.

Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs have nothing on Danny Kneabone, who has won back to back Monday Night Mixed Rounds – he’ll be going for the threepeat in the final draw which started this week.

Joining Danny on the winning team are Cody Whynot, Mike Wilson, and Theresa Finkle. 

Round Three Winners: Mike Wilson, Danny Kneabone, Theresa Finkle, and Cody Whynot

Congratulations!

Huge shout out to Karen Currie and Countryview Golf Club for donating free rounds of golf as the prize for this round!

Plant Down – Club Currently Closed

The plant is down – we are working hard to get it fixed but at present ice conditions are not safe for curling

There is NO Novice today

We HOPE to have our evening draw but will make an official announcement by 530pm

Round Three of the Monday Night Mixed begins tonight.  

23-24 Monday Night League (Round 3)

We had 52 junior curlers from Cornwall, Summerside, Montague, and Crapaud Curling Clubs this Saturday participate in our annual U13 Funspiel.

There was some great curling, great pizza from club sponsor Sam’s Restaurant, and ADL donated a ton of milk and water for the event!!

Our development coordinator, Sarah Doak, did an awesome job with the event. 

She, and the club, would also like to thank all the coaches, volunteers, and parents who made the day a success – as well as our ice tech, Ron Matters for having the ice in top shape.  

Congratulations to Team Power who won the 2024 Cornwall Curling Club’s Women’s Club Championships with a 10-3 victory over Team Creighton.

Team Power is comprised of Amanda Power, Sara Spafford, Emily Best, and Janique LeBlanc.

2024 Women’s Club Champions, Team Power

Team Creighton – the other finalists, is made up of Melissa Creighton, Jenine Bodner, Sharon Campbell, and Angela Sanderson.

Team Power will represent Cornwall at the Provincial Club Championships at the new West Prince Curling Club from March 13-17th.

Good luck – we know we will be well represented!

The club’s WiFi was upgraded today.  

We now have double the speed and connections should be improved.

While the WiFi is still named Cornwall Curling and the password is the same (see bulletin board) – you’ll have to re-enter the password to connect since it’s new hardware. 

The annual U13 Funspiel is THIS Saturday, February 10th and we are excited to have 56 curlers registered for a fun day of curling!

Below are the teams and draw schedule:

The third round of our Thursday Mixed League begins this week. 

Below are the teams and draw schedule.

Thanks once again to Jana Cheverie for taking on the drawmaster position!

Downloadable PDF’s

Round 3 – Thursday Teams

Round3 – ThursdayDrawSchedule

Due to improving road conditions the club will open it’s doors at 11:30am today

The schedule for the day is:

• 12:30pm – 2:30pm: 4-person Drop-in curling
• 2:30pm – 3:00pm: Ice Maintenance
• 3:00pm – 5:00pm: Stick Curling Drop-in
• 5:00pm-6:30pm: Ice Maintenance
• 6:30pm – Close:  Upstreet Tuesday Competitive League

As always, road conditions vary by location and the Club recommends using your own judgment based on where conditions are at your location and your comfort level.

NOTE:  There is NO Novice Program today as Club policy is when the schools are closed the Junior Programs are closed. 

We have received the following information from CurlPEI:

With the recent notification that the provincial plows are coming in from secondary roads for the night and will not be returning until early morning tomorrow the decision has been made to not play tomorrow.  We will instead start the event on Wednesday morning at 9am with Draw 1. Round Robin play will finish on Friday and Championship Day will be played on Monday.

Club schedule for tomorrow will be announced by 8am in the morning – we do hope to get some curling in tomorrow, but will make decisions based on road conditions, recommendations from provincial sources, etc.  

Thank you for your patience!

We are aware that as Stick Curling has become more popular on the Island and in the Club that we are often faced with several days where our drop-in stick curling is going well beyond the 2 versus 2 game that stick curling is designed to be.

We are looking at some options for next season to ease this overcrowding.

One of those ideas is a regular stick curling league (much like our Wednesday Daytime League). 

In order to see how this might work, gauge interest, and work out kinks for next season we have decided to implement a Tuesday Stick League for the remainder of the season.  (Due to some club and outside conflicts a couple of the weeks will take place on Thursdays). 

This will guarantee that, at least one day per week, we can guarantee traditional 2 versus 2 stick curling games. 

At present, for this season, the league will be limited to the first 16 teams that reach out to me via email or in person.

• Preference will be given to full teams but if you can’t find a partner let me know. 
• Preference will also be given to teams with members of the club (as opposed to drop-in tickets).

The league will count as a daytime league – so if you have a two-day membership, it would simply be one of your days.

Again – this is just the first step in some plans we hope to implement in the coming season to help ensure more regular 2v2 stick curling is happening. 

Due to current conditions and expected continued snow and winds the club will remained closed today – Sunday, February 4th.  

The Cornwall Curling Club’s 2024 Club Championships will take place this weekend with eight men’s and three women’s teams vying for the opportunity to represent the club at the Provincial Club Curling Championships at West Prince Curling Club in March.  

Thank to Ryan Giddens who is once again heading up the event for us this year. 

Good luck to all the teams!

Downloadable PDF Files:

2024 Cornwall Curling Club Championship – WOMEN

2024 Cornwall Curling Club Championship Bracket – MENS

2024 Cornwall Curling Club Championship Draw Schedule

Club Championship Rosters

Cornwall Curling Club’s U13 Funspiel is February 10th

Enjoy two 4-end games, pizza, and prizes!

64curlers/16 teams – single or team entry

Doors open 9am, first draw at 10am

Sign up at the club or by emailing manager@cornwallcurling.com

The club is operating on a NORMAL schedule for the evening of Monday, January 29th.

As always with bad weather the club recommends using your OWN judgement based on conditions where you are and to drive safely if you do decide to come in.

Current forecast says the winds will remain steady but no further snowfall is expected until later this evening.