Fort William CC hosts Northern Ontario Provincials Feb 25-27

The Shoppers Home Health Care NOCA Wheelchair Provincial Championships begin Friday February 25th 1030AM at the Fort William CC in Thunder Bay.

Defending champion Team Ficek, out of Kenora and Dryden, are hoping for a third consecutive appearance at the Nationals in Edmonton in March. He admitted his team underperformed last year, going 3-6 after making it to a playoff tie-break game the year before. This year, after a couple of warm-up wins over Manitoba, he says his team is raring to go.

To win he will have to get past home club Team Levesque, coached by Dave Kawahara who was instrumental in bringing wheelchair curling to Northern Ontario. Carl Levesque skipped the first provincial team, which included Wayne Ficek and Mark Wherrett, now his competitors. Fort William CC is also fielding a team skipped by Gino Sonego.

Sudbury joins the oarty this year, sending a team of rookie curlers but experienced athletes skipped by Steve Daniel.

Tournament format is a round robin with the top two teams playing in the final, 10.30AM Sunday February 27.

The club has installed webcams - try the club website. You can also follow scores on playdowns.com

An event poster, team rosters, schedule and information is available HERE

Alberta and N. Ontario Championships underway

Current champion Wayne Ficek took 6 in the 3rd end of a 9-3 victory playing Thunder Bay's Carl Levesque on home ice in the opening draw of the Shoppers Home Healthcare 2010 N. Ontario Championship at the Kenora CC.

Levesque had a chance to get back on track in the evening draw, facing fellow Fort William curler Richard Dawid. Steals in end 3, 4 and 5 saw him cruise to a comfortable 11-2 win.

Results will be posted HERE.

Teams
Wayne Ficek - Skip, Mark Wherrett 3rd, Chester Draper 2nd, Cindy Hoffstrom & Denise Miault - alternate at lead, Tom Wherrett - Coach

Carl Levesque - Skip, Ron Brunelle 3rd, Rick Bell 2nd, Sharon LaFroye - lead, David Kawahara - Coach

Richard Dawid - Skip, Gino Sonego 3rd, Terry Lynch 2nd, Linda Kontunen - lead, Mike Bergquist - Coach


In the Alberta Championship at the Jasper Place CC, Edmonton, defending champion Jack Smart beat  Edmonton's Nuspl 8-3 in the opening draw, and fellow Calgarian Keith was doubled up by Edmonton's Donaldson  7-14.

In Draw 2 it was Smart over Keith 14-2 and Nuspl over Donaldson 8-4.

Teams

Calgary
Jack Smart - Skip, Anne Hibberd 3rd, Martin Purvis 2nd. Bridget Wilson - Lead
Tony Zummack - Coach

Dale Keith - Skip, Bruce Matthews 3rd, Ron Pawlyk 2nd, Wanda Pizzinato - Lead, Curtis Junor - Alternate, Glen Brunelle - Coach
 
Edmonton
Cliff Nuspl - Skip, Warren Fleury 3rd, Mike McMullan 2nd, Shawna Walsh - Lead,
Romeo Johnson - Alternate, David Jerke - Coach
 
Don Donaldson - Skip, Doug MacEachern 3rd, Don Munroe 2nd, Bonna Gerlitz - Lead, Marie Laframboise - Alternate, Wanda Crawford - Coach