Bearcats hockey season ends
Kay Smith rink – Canadian curling champions 40 years ago
Last Friday, because of the threat of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Maritime Hockey League cancelled the 2019-20 Canadian Tire Cup playoffs.
Saturday morning at the Rath Eastlink Community Centre, I spoke with Truro Bearcats defenceman Jacob Bourchier.
“We had a team dinner Thursday night,” Bourchier, 20, of West Kelowna, B.C., said. “That was the first indication that the season might be ending. Early Friday afternoon we found out the entire playoffs would be cancelled immediately.
“Shock was the biggest thing for us players 20 years of age and younger. It is something that hasn’t settled in yet. We’re still coming to grips with it. But, this is something that is bigger than hockey, bigger than sports; it is a global concern and we’re concerned for the safety of players, officials and fans. The COVID-19 pandemic is affecting a lot more people than me, than just people in sports, essentially everyone in the world.”
Bourchier (pronounced Bo-chur) joined the Bearcats on Jan. 9 after he was acquired from Melville Millionaires of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League.
“I was super excited to be with the Bearcats. There was a bit of nerves, I just showed up, I was thrown into action and I got right into the swing of things. We clawed our way back into a playoff position, we were all looking forward to seeing how far we could go.
he veteran, who contributed to Truro’s defence in a big way, took online courses through Athabasca University of Calgary while in town.
“Education-wise for the future I’m enrolled in a fouryear bachelor of business administration at Okanogan College, the Kelowna campus. It’s still in the air whether I’ll play hockey next year.”
Bourchier said he was looking forward to a Bearcats closing banquet Monday night. It would be an opportunity to say good-bye to
teammates, coaches and people he got to know during his half season in Truro.
••• Saturday, March 14 ties in with local sports history.
On that date, 40 years ago, – Kay Smith skipped a young Truro rink to the Canadian junior ladies curling championship.
Besides Smith, Krista Gatchell was mate, Cathy Caudle was second and Peggy
Wilson was lead.
As Bill Gatchell coached the Canadian championship team, I felt fortunate to be visiting with Bill and his wife Greta last Friday afternoon. The next day would mark 40 years since the huge win at the Charlottetown Curling Club.
“The team had gone to the Canadian junior championship two years earlier in Chilliwack, B.C.” Gatchell recalled. “We finished third, this time around we were ready, I had a good feeling.”
Carefully, Gatchell took me through the game results. The Truro rink had opened with three wins before losing their fourth game to Manitoba
11-9 and their fifth game to Saskatchewan 5-4.
“We came on for five straight wins,” said Gatchell. “With a record of 8-2 we played Manitoba in the final. We won the game 7-4 to win the Canadian championship. Overall, the girls had a record of 9-2.”
Realizing Bill would be celebrating his 89th birthday the next day, March 14, I asked about the significance.
“The thing I recall is, the team had won the provincial title on Krista’s birthday and the day they won the Canadian championship, it was my
birthday. I guess I’ll be celebrating a couple things tomorrow.”
Kay (Smith) Zinck lives in Halifax. Krista (Gatchell) Baker lives in Bridgewater, Cathy (Caudle) Walter, a former RCMP officer, lives in
Regina and Peggy Wilson resides in Dartmouth.
The outstanding rink was inducted into the Nova Scotia Curling Hallof Fame and the Colchester County Sports Hall of Fame, while being paid tribute to by the CEC Wall of Fame.
Bill Gatchell, a retired 35-year teacher, coached 31 provincial curling champions and took teams to nationals 14 times. Being involved with numerous curling programs over the years, he is always quick to speak up for great people who worked behind the curling scene.
Gatchell applauded Allan Stewart and others.