Curling in the spotlight
As evidenced by photos hanging in some local institutions, high school curling has a long history in this area. In recent years I’ve been happy to see the steady presence of a city high school league. Just last year, Catholic Central presented the Alberta Schools Athletic Association provincials at the new Lethbridge Curling Club venue.
One constant on the regional high school curling scene is the South Zone championships. The event has been presented by Winston Churchill at the Lethbridge Curling Cub (old and new sites) steadily in this era. It will hit the finely-groomed pebbled ice once again next Tuesday and Wednesday, Feb. 13-14.
The initial level of South Zone curling, badminton and track and field is district play. There are six districts, North, South, Central, West Lethbridge and Medicine Hat. All should have determined their zone reps by this juncture.
Beyond zones, the final ASAA curling frontier is provincials. This year’s event is in St. Albert, March 2-3. ••• One local high school basketball tournament has got me their info for this weekend. It’s the Immanuel Christian Senior Varsity Boys Classic.
It’s a truly eclectic group of entrants, too. Wow.
Teams range from 1A-4A in provincial classification, plus a junior varsity team. Not sure I’ve seen that mix too often — if ever.
Immanuel hosts (Taber, I presume) St. Mary’s, Calgary Christian, Winston Churchill JV, Stirling, Calgary Bishop Grandin, Claresholm Willow Creek and Kainai. Sounds like fun. ••• One point that has been driven home to me recently yet again by circumstances is that even in basketball, local high school sports really could use more game officials. Not just more actually, but officials who are constantly available, too. For me, one factor that would surely help the scarcity situation in basketball would be more regular-season league games and less tournaments. Yes, I understand the alure of tournaments. But, not having enough carded officials is surely a drawback, too. ••• Now, I’m all for major invitational high school basketball tournaments that are truly special! I remember some trips dating back to relative antiquity.
My personal favourite is the Luther Invitational boys event
in Regina. It’s just wonderful. No negativity from the spectators is tolerated, certainly a breath of fresh air.
I see the Cardston and Magrath lads are off to LIT this week. Lucky them.
As well, with the recent construction of a second (bigger actually) gym at Luther, I’m happy to note LIT has an eight-team girls component, too. The Cardston and Magrath girls are in that field. Sweet. WELLSIE’S WORLD —
Have to say I am intrigued by the University of Lethbridge winning a bid to host the 2018-19 U Sports Men’s National Hockey Championship next March at the Enmax Centre. There is absolutely no doubting the calibre of Canadian university hockey, but it has never been able to establish a strong fan following in Lethbridge, even back to the 1986-87 season where there was no major junior local franchise.
This is truly an amazing opportunity. I’m sure U of L president
Mike Mahon, currently the chair of U Sports board, played a big role in landing this showcase. There can be no doubt he’s a strong proponent of Pronghorn Athletics.
I’m very pleased to see the U of L women’s basketball team, with 10 area high school products, in the playoffs this week. They are visiting UBC for a one-game play-in round showdown. (Playoffs are spread over four weeks in the 17-team loop.) First time the team has finished above .500 in Canada West since 1993-94. Only one player in her last year of eligibility, too. I think a rise to national relevance is certainly plausible starting next season.
As for the U of L men’s hoops squad, they are nationally relevant right now. They have earned a first-round playoff bye and host a best-ofthree quarter-final series that starts next Thursday at U of L, opponent yet to be determined. Like the women, the men often start four area high school products and only have one player in their final year of eligibility.
Over at Lethbridge College, Calgary’s Ambrose University will be in town for basketball action Friday, with the SAIT volleyball crew invading Saturday night.
I am very hopeful both LC volleyball teams make the playoffs this season. Men’s basketball hosts that Final 8 playoff event.
I really respect all the LC court sport head coaches, who often put in full-time hours for a sliver of full-time fiscal compensation. Their teams habitually accentuate local high school grads, too.
No question I’ll be frequently tuning into the fivering Olympic circus from South Korea over the next fortnight-plus.
Go Canada!