It was a coming-out party of sorts for an Okotoks rink, unfortunately, a more experienced team spoiled the soiree.
Led by skip Kyle Morrison, the team of Kathleen Steele (lead), Brett Jones (second) and Janelle Steele (third) shocked the field at the Okotoks Mixed Bonspiel to reach the A finals on Sunday.
The young team, ranging in age from 15 to 18 years old, won their first three games versus more experienced opponents before falling in the finals.
The winners, Team Ulrich, claimed the title on the strength of a five-point third end in the bonspiel’s final game.
The Ulrich rink was lead by skip Bob Ulrich, third Marilyn Ulrich, second John Hodgson and lead Laura Young.
The Calgary squad was happy to come away with the victory and credited some lucky bounces for their decisive victory.
“We got a couple of breaks,” Ulrich said on Sunday.
After falling behind 6-1 in the third end, Morrison’s rink could not manufacture enough points to get back into the game.
Unfortunately, Morrison noted, the game came down to some poor shots in that critical end.
“We just had a bad end and didn’t recover from it,” he said.
Ulrich said he was impressed by the performance of his young Okotoks opponents.
“They’re going to be an awesome team one day. I don’t want to meet them five years from now,” Ulrich said.
Despite their youth Morrison said he was not surprised by his team’s result over the three-day event. The fact they were turning heads along the way did not seem to register with the runner-up.
“We just played our normal game,” he said.
The Morrison rink, which curls out of the Okotoks Curling Club, does not plan to compete in too many more bonspiels this winter.
With the loss on Sunday, they have shifted their focus to the only remaining mixed tournament.
“We’ve got zones coming up in two weeks,” Morrison explained.
As the winning skip explained, the show put on by the Okotoks Curling Club was certainly a memorable one. So much so the reigning champ plans to come back and defend his title next year.
“This is just one of the best bonspiels we’ve ever been at,” said Ulrich. “The organization, the friendly people here, it’s just fantastic. We’re coming back next year.”
Although another bonspiel is in the books, curling enthusiasts in the Foothills area should still have one more date circled on their calendar.
The 2011 Boston Pizza Cup, the Alberta Men’s Provincial Championships, which will take place in High River from Feb. 9-13 at the Recplex.
Tickets are still available for the event which features the best curlers in Alberta, including reigning Olympic gold medalist Kevin Martin. Tickets for the Boston Pizza Cup can be bought online at www.2011albertamenscurling.ca or by calling 403-649-6286.
