Brookfield Curling Club open house next week
Local players are Atlantic collegiate baseball champions
In kicking off a new season, the Brookfield Curling Club will hold an open house Oct. 28 through Nov. 2 at the Don Henderson Memorial Sportsplex.
Monday night’s curling will take place from 7 to 9 p.m. Activities will continue through Saturday, Nov. 2. There will be no curling Thursday, Oct. 31 because of Halloween.
The local club extends an open invitation to anyone with an interest in trying curling.
“A lot of people have never been inside a curling rink,” Darrell Robinson, of Shubenacadie, said. “If someone might wonder what it’s like to join a curling club, the open house is a good opportunity.
“We’ll have instructors each night allowing newcomers to get out on the ice for an introduction, to learn about curling. It’s also a good occasion for club members to get back on the ice, get the rust off and see some old friends.”
Robinson, who has curled at the Brookfield club for 10 years, said a free learn-to-curl program will be held on Friday nights, 7 to 9 p.m. and Saturday mornings 9 to 11 a.m. during the month of November.
Regular league curling takes place Monday and Tuesday and Thursday nights and Wednesday mornings.
“We’ll have a drop-in league on Friday nights and special ‘fun spiels’ on weekends,” added Robinson.
Kent Loughead is commissioner of the Wednesday morning mixed league. Curling takes place from 9.30 to 11.30 a.m. Approximately 25 curlers participate on a regular basis.
“We are open to anyone and everyone interested in curling,” Loughead said. “Once everyone has arrived, I randomly choose the teams, keeping in mind everyone’s preference for rock position on the team. All but a handful of our curlers are members, but we welcome nonmembers at any time; the dropin fee is $15.”
Loughead said the Wednesday morning group also competes against other communities, home-and-home events usually take place on Fridays.
“Our first Wednesday of the new season will be Oct. 30 during open house week,” Loughead explained. “We are excited about some changes at the club, additional new lights over the ice surface, along with new hacks and it is my understanding Wi-fi will be available at the club.”
Colchester County was well represented as the UNB Reds won the recent Atlantic Collegiate Baseball Association championship in Fredericton.
Hosted by the University of New Brunswick, the champion Reds lineup included outfielder Luke Smith of Great
Village, outfielder Justin Ferguson of Onslow and second-baseman Zach Phillips of Masstown. All three players are products of the CEC Cougars baseball program under coaches Scott Macgillivary and J.P Wood.
The championship game was a close 3-2 UNB win over Acadia Axemen.
“It was definitely really exciting,” Smith, a second-year student studying software engineering, said. “We had held a 3-0 lead from early in the game, Acadia scored two runs in the last inning and had the tying run on third base. A groundout, back to the pitcher, ended the game. At first, the feeling was, we had survived a close call; excitement soon took over.”
Ferguson, likewise was excited.
“It’s a good feeling to be back to back Atlantic champions.”
Smith fondly recalled playing three years with the CEC baseball team.
“I remember we won regionals all three years,” said Smith. “In my Grade 12 year we won provincials. I recall that it was a lot of fun. Scott (Macgillivary) and J.P (Wood) had a really well-run baseball program. It was a lot about winning, the CEC team’s success came first.”
Several people have shared their enjoyment regarding last Saturday night’s junior A hockey game – Truro Bearcats vs. Pictou County Crushers.
A wide-open contest played at the Rath Eastlink Community Centre, the game featured a ton of exciting scoring power and crowd-pleasing goalmouth action. Through regulation time, it was a 7-7 deadlock.
It took both overtime and a shootout for Weeks to finally earn an 8-7 verdict. Notching hat tricks were Pictou County’s Sullivan Sparkes, and Ben Higgins of the Bearcats. Truro’s Spencer Blackwell was also outstanding with a goal and three assists while handing out several effective body checks.
Lyle Carter’s sports column appears weekly in the Truro News. If you have a story idea, contact him at 902-673-2857.