This weekend will be busy from coast to coast. Team Canada holds a closed training camp in Richmond BC, while on the east coast the Atlantic provinces are holding an open training camp in Lower Sackville, NS, with anyone interested invited to participate. Coaches Helen Radford, Leslie Ann Walsh, and Chris Daw will supervise both a high performance camp and exhibition games, after which team selection for Nova Scotia and Newfoundland/Labrador will be announced.
In Manitoba two teams will compete in a playoff to determine the provincial representative. The 2008 Team Manitoba will hope to repeat as champions, skipped this year by 2009 Team Canada member Chris Sobkowicz, with Dennis Thiessen, Michael Alberg, Arlene Ursel, and with Terry Lindell as alternate. Their challengers are George Horning (Skip), Richard Dudek (3rd), Don Kalinski (2nd) and Effie Loubardias (Lead).
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
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22 comments:
And so, by CCA demand, the B.C. Team has to spread its talent to four (yes, 4) different teams, and have some type of "pseudo-playoff"....likely the only larger provincial play-off in Canada.......is this another EAST VS WEST issue...........I hope either Armstrong or Neighbour wins and takes the other to Canadians...and kicks ass.....in spite of the ridiculous rules....
I guess Atlantic Canada does not have the restrictions that B.C. has........let's get a level playing field, people........let TEAM CANADA secure its position at the Nationals....rather than watering down B.C.'s chances at the Canadian championships..........let everyone see how they measure up against Armstrong, Neighbour, et al...........rather than wondering if a provincial team is actually competitive................
What would happen if a province "rented" someone like Armstrong (LIKE BODNARCHUK DID IN THE 90'S) to win the Canadian Championships? Lots of funding for a winning province..........
If any province "rented" or tried to "rent Armstrong, his response would be as it was with Bodnarchuk......DROP DEAD......the Brier, as likely will develop in Wheelchair Curling, will thrive on true inter-provincial competition.
Armstrong will advocate for the betterment of our sport forever.
Once again please put ur name to ur post....what are u afraid of????
The same rule applies across Canada ....it just so happens that Team Canada is made up of mostly BC curlers....if Team Canada was made up of mostly Nfld curlers then the same rule wud apply.
FYI Ontario currently has five (5) competitive teams however for some unknown reason the Ontario Curling Association has decided to limit the provincial playoffs to only four (4) teams resulting in a regional playoff which will eliminate one team from the provincials....is that correct or fair when we are trying to grow/expand this sport???
I do not believe that whoever wins a provincial championship can fortify their team by picking up someone they defeated unless perhaps for some very unusual circumstances.....
For those with short memories...it was only a few weeks ago that Alberta, without their top shooter, Bruno, won the Richmond spiel. Here is a trivia question for you....Who did they beat in the final????
Lets Rock 'n Roll
Bruce
So cn Sobkoicz play for Manitoba, or will he be at camp with Team Canada?
I don't know if you realize this but the only people that are impacted by the CCA rules regarding provincial play downs are the people making up the team Canada pool and all of the members of the pool are from Manitoba westward - so this is no where near a East-West issue! Also, my view is that if Team Canada plays at Nationals they should be prepared to give up the title if they lose.
I agree,,,,ket Team Canada get back to the Natonals, ,similar to the Scotties, and they have to WIN to retain their position...to br fair, maybe a best of three final to start??????
It is time (post 2010), to either have Team Canada compete directly at the nationals, or alternatively, they could be challenged by the national winner.
National winner shoud be able to challenge Team Canada, post 2010
Can you imagine, if Chris Daw represented Newfoundland, won the nationals, then beat Team Canada?
Ottawa wuld have to deal with im all over again...........
Ok, Be smart enough to back you comment up!
What are you saying about me????
I have a great relationship with Ottawa and very few problems wih any one in the program.
So why are people going to have such a tuff problem dealing with me.
Becareful what you say because it is border line beginnings of slander!
Chris, just get ready to play post 2010.
I suspect both Jim Armstrng and Darryl Neighbour are looking beyond next year, and you should keep training.
With Armstrong's guidance, and his specific wheelchair experience by then, it could start a dynasty.
Hey, Chris, lighten up......could be the writer meant that your return to the program would but the staff in their correct place.
Okay, now we are bac to the obvious ongoing qestion:
Is Jim Armstrong (with existing support) good enough to put Canada on the podium.....this year?????......next year??????
What do Canadians think?????
What does the rest of the World think??????
It isn't a matter of whether Jim Armstrong is good enough, it is a question of whether TEAM CANADA is good enough. Curling is a team sport and there are more than just one person who could skip the current team to the podium. One must always remember that in curling anything can happen in one game, one weekend or one spiel. The current team will have games where they curl trememdous and they will also have games when they won't curl so well both as a team and individually.....they are just ordinary people who curl...they are not curling gods...I am sure they will try to curl their best and represent CANADA very well...what more can we ask.....One day we hope that the CCA will see the light and allow the winner of the National Championship to be Team Canada....
Lets Rock 'n Roll
Bruce Cameron
Fair enough. Thank you for the encouraging words. I apologize if I offened anyone. Perhaps I did take it out of context.
Good Luck to everyone at Worlds.
And you never know we just may see you at nationals.
Team Canada's best shot at improvement lies with Jim Armstrong. You are right, Mr. Cameron, that it is a team effort, but I will bet that all involved in the Program will admit that he biggest impact on the Program, both on AND off the ice is Jim, and everyone expects his impact to be felt (maybe not even this season), at the International level. He has to have (assuming ego is not an issue) impacted the Program already. How about asking his team-mates?????
Hey, Bruce,
Name the person that will skip Team Canada to the podium.........that is, other than Armstrong
Canada has been dry at the podium since 2006,
Other teams have obviously improved, as I hope Team Canada has.
Team Canada has two (one-half) new members.
I personally don't think Jim can do it this year.
Maybe with the same team and a year of seasoning, next year.
It is asking too much for a new team to outperform teams that hve had years of experience together. That is the reason I truly hope that the coachs will decide on a team and let them work together for at least a year.
Armstrong not GOOD enough??????
WHHAATTTT?????
Check out all the threads......EVERYONE IS AFRAID HE IS GOOD ENOUGH......
I, for one, HOPE he is, but that is too much, uncalled for, unnecessary pressure.
I wish mim and his team well, and enjoy the experience.....
For the person who wants me to name those who cud skip the team to the podium.....here's the deal....as soon as u step out from behind "anonymous" and give ur background....are u a wheelchair curler or able bodied curler(competitive or rec), where do u
curl, are u a qualified curling coach, have u worked with disabled or able bodied athletes, have u curled with or against any of the current Team Canada or any of the pool curlers, have u curled against any of the other countries' National teams in the past two years, have u competed in ur provinces playdowns or selection camps as I suspect u are a "left" coaster....once u come "clean" and I expect honesty, I will be glad to provide a list of those who I believe cud skip the current Team Canada to the podium.....
Lets Rock 'n Roll
Bruce Cameron
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