In case you havenSA国际影视传媒檛 heard, there was no Nunavut entry in either the boys or girls at the recent Canadian U18 Curling Championships in Sherwood Park, Alta. The NWT was there, as they always are, but no Nunavut.
ItSA国际影视传媒檚 a shame because it looks like a fun event not only for the amount of good curling the future gets but because of everything involved in it. Curling Canada does a great job of putting on events like this and really makes a show of it, almost a precursor of sorts for what these kids can expect if they decide curling is for them later in life.
The one thing I can live without, though, is Terry Jones of the Edmonton Sun and his seemingly annual crapfest on Nunavut curling, or lack thereof, as he likes to make you believe. I donSA国际影视传媒檛 care that heSA国际影视传媒檚 a member of the Canadian Curling Hall of Fame and I could care less that heSA国际影视传媒檚 a respected curling writer.
For some reason, Jones likes to take a shot at Nunavut whenever he can and this is where I come in.
In his latest pile of garbage knocking Nunavut curling, Jones made light that the venue which hosted the U18 nationals had twice as many sheets as the Iqaluit Curling Club and two more than the entire territory. He is right about that but to him, thatSA国际影视传媒檚 merely a punchline. Nunavut only has six functioning sheets of curling ice SA国际影视传媒� letSA国际影视传媒檚 have a right good laugh about that.
One thing you would have noticed in JonesSA国际影视传媒� article is that Heather Nedohin, the eventSA国际影视传媒檚 organizer, mentioned that Yukon didnSA国际影视传媒檛 send a boys team. Not a word in jest about that. Guess they arenSA国际影视传媒檛 Nunavut so who cares, right, Terry? Just an oversight, ISA国际影视传媒檓 sure.
Jones seems to have a problem with Nunavut being involved in anything having to do with the national curling circuit. After all, heSA国际影视传媒檚 called NunavutSA国际影视传媒檚 entry into the Brier SA国际影视传媒渢he ultimate free space on the new Brier bingo card.SA国际影视传媒� The very presence of Nunavut at events like the Tim Hortons Brier and Scotties Tournament of Hearts is nothing more than a chance for Jones to lament about the fact that Nunavut even exists in the world of curling.
ISA国际影视传媒檓 sure more than a few people will be little pissed off at people like Terry Jones thinking that because Nunavut doesnSA国际影视传媒檛 have as many sheets as the rest of the country or because we donSA国际影视传媒檛 send teams to events or because we may not be as good as other provinces that we shouldnSA国际影视传媒檛 be there.
Other teams may not say it publicly SA国际影视传媒� Brad Gushue has publicly stated heSA国际影视传媒檚 no fan of the 16-team, two pool format at the Brier nor does he like the format at the World MenSA国际影视传媒檚 Curling Championship (essentially, heSA国际影视传媒檚 not a fan of anything that doesnSA国际影视传媒檛 suit him, it would appear) SA国际影视传媒� but you know the moment they can rid the competition of those pesky hangers-on like Nunavut, the NWT and Yukon or any other team which doesnSA国际影视传媒檛 meet the standard Jones and Gushue have set for the national stage, the better off it will be for them in their minds.
The standard will go up, the crowds will come back, the Brier and Scotties can return to the glory days of 20,000 or so at the Saddledome in Calgary for the final and all will be right with the world of curling. We just need to show everyone that Nunavut and others like them belong in an event where they donSA国际影视传媒檛 disrupt things and cause teams to play eight or 10 meaningless ends, right?
Nunavut has every right to be at a national championship, just like every other province and territory. ItSA国际影视传媒檚 a Canadian championship and itSA国际影视传媒檚 open to all members of Curling Canada, whether Jones likes it or not. Sure, there have been blowout games but that happens in every sport, no matter what the event. If they choose not to go or to not send a team, thatSA国际影视传媒檚 their choice. Nedohin and her crew found a way to fill the gap and good for them.
As much as Jones and his verbal flatulence can be Ex-Laxed into the dumpster of history, this is where we have to pick up our socks.
The easy answer is to build more curling rinks but easier said than done. If we canSA国际影视传媒檛 build houses why would be build curling rinks? Construction of a curling rink should be near the bottom of the list.
If we donSA国际影视传媒檛 want to listen to Jones and people like him crap on the North because we donSA国际影视传媒檛 meet their standards, we need to get big on development and use what we have. Kerry Galusha once told me that if things donSA国际影视传媒檛 improve on the womenSA国际影视传媒檚 side of the sport in the NWT, it would be slim pickings for the future. ThereSA国际影视传媒檚 a couple of good junior teams in Inuvik and Fort Smith coming through the pipeline and hereSA国际影视传媒檚 hoping they stick with it and keep on going.
In Nunavut, we have Sadie Pinksen, who has been a wonderful curling soldier for Nunavut and someone who has plenty of national experience and will make a fine skip one day at the Scotties, if she decides to go down that road. I hope she does. Christianne West, Kaitlyn MacDonald and Melicia Elizaga also have plenty of experience along with Pinksen. Put those four together and thereSA国际影视传媒檚 a good squad for plenty of Scotties to come.
Schools can play a big role as well. ISA国际影视传媒檓 not suggesting phys-ed classes based around going on the ice but there is something called Rocks and Rings that is tailored to phys-ed classes. If you havenSA国际影视传媒檛 seen it, itSA国际影视传媒檚 curling without the ice with special rocks and floor mats with the outline of a set of rings. ItSA国际影视传媒檚 quite the set-up and is fun to do (ISA国际影视传媒檝e played it before). This one idea, more than any others, will work wonders to get the grassroots of the sport growing. Getting them out on the ice is the optimal goal, sure, but for those who are nervous, Rocks and Rings at least shows them what the sport is all about and will generate some curiosity.
And letSA国际影视传媒檚 exploit JonesSA国际影视传媒� assertion that the Brier is a free space on a bingo card for the North. Why not, eh?
If it is a free space on a bingo card, then we need to tell curlers that. Tell them that thereSA国际影视传媒檚 the chance to go to a national championship of some sort if theySA国际影视传媒檙e good enough. It starts at the club level, then the territorial level and ending at the national level. ItSA国际影视传媒檚 a dangling carrot waiting to be eaten and since people like Jones think weSA国际影视传媒檙e only there to make up the numbers and keep things politically correct SA国际影视传媒� something else he likes to mention when crapping on Nunavut SA国际影视传媒� why not do it?
And the best part? Curling Canada will even pick up the tab for you to travel. ISA国际影视传媒檓 sure Jones and his ilk love that part of it.
I know that some people reading this will have their own opinion and thatSA国际影视传媒檚 fine. ISA国际影视传媒檓 simply here defending Nunavut from those in the south who would much rather have us watch instead of play. I know that not everyone feels the way Jones does about seeing teams from the North but since Jones has a platform to make us all read his thoughts, ISA国际影视传媒檒l use mine to rebut it.
To the next teams that travel to the Brier or Scotties, make sure you tell Mr. Jones I said hi and canSA国际影视传媒檛 wait for my next chance to clap back.
