There is perhaps no group at the national level of curling that has suffered the brunt of cancellations and postponements more than the U18 category.
For the third year running, Curling Canada announced that the Canadian U18 Curling Championships wonSA国际影视传媒檛 be happening as originally scheduled. This yearSA国际影视传媒檚 event was scheduled to take place in Timmins, Ont., from Feb. 6 to 11 but the plug was pulled earlier this month.
In making the decision, Curling Canada stated that SA国际影视传媒淪A国际影视传媒ngoing uncertainty related to the Covid-19 pandemicSA国际影视传媒A国际影视传媒� led to the national body trying to find alternate dates and a new host city as there are no more available dates in Timmins in which to host it this year. Timmins will be the host city for the 2023 edition, which is scheduled to take place on the same dates as this yearSA国际影视传媒檚 championships.
Curling Canada also stated that itSA国际影视传媒檚 continuing to consult with local, regional and national health authorities in preparation for the remainder of its 2021-22 championship events.
The news was tough to take for InuvikSA国际影视传媒檚 Pearl Gillis, who was set to skip the NWTSA国际影视传媒檚 girls entry at the event. She said itSA国际影视传媒檚 sad that she and her rink wonSA国际影视传媒檛 be going but she understands why.
SA国际影视传媒淚t hurts a bit but itSA国际影视传媒檚 good that theySA国际影视传媒檙e keeping things safe with all thatSA国际影视传媒檚 going on,SA国际影视传媒� she said.
Gillis, along with her rink of Adrianna Hendrick, Tamara Bain and Tyra Bain, earned the right to represent the NWT by virtue of winning the NWT U18 Championship in Yellowknife last January. They had put in plenty of work leading up to Timmins, including a road trip that saw them hit both Manitoba and Alberta.
SA国际影视传媒淲e went to a training centre in Morris (Man.) and then a bonspiel in Sherwood Park (Alta.),SA国际影视传媒� said Gillis. SA国际影视传媒淲e had 10-hour days for training for a whole week.SA国际影视传媒�
Gillis and Hendrick have plenty of national experience under their belt. Hendrick, who plays second for the rink, felt they would have put forth a good showing.
SA国际影视传媒淚 think we had a chance to do really well,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淲e have new players so it would have been good to play at nationals with them.SA国际影视传媒�
The boys rink would have been out of the Yellowknife Curling Centre, consisting of Adam Naugler, Jullian Bowling, David Dragon and Tasir Bhuiyan.
SA国际影视传媒淚 was anticipating that there would be an announcement about it so itSA国际影视传媒檚 not a total shock to me or the parents,SA国际影视传媒� said Tara Naugler, the boysSA国际影视传媒� coach. SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 disappointing that itSA国际影视传媒檚 happened for the third time but itSA国际影视传媒檚 happening around the world.SA国际影视传媒�
The key word to remember is that itSA国际影视传媒檚 a postponement and not a cancellation, she added.
SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 better than hearing that itSA国际影视传媒檚 cancelled, but weSA国际影视传媒檙e just going with the flow,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淭hereSA国际影视传媒檚 nothing we can do to control it so weSA国际影视传媒檙e just taking things day by day.SA国际影视传媒�
GillisSA国际影视传媒� rink is doing the same SA国际影视传媒� waiting to return to the ice. They arenSA国际影视传媒檛 able to practice because the Inuvik Curling Centre is closed.
TheySA国际影视传媒檝e developed alternative training.
SA国际影视传媒淲eSA国际影视传媒檙e doing push-ups every day to work on our arm and core strength,SA国际影视传媒� said Hendrick. SA国际影视传媒淲eSA国际影视传媒檙e also watching past games to work on our off-ice strategy.SA国际影视传媒�
Gillis is hopeful that with East Three Secondary set to open for in-person learning on Jan. 17, the curling centre may follow suit.
SA国际影视传媒淚 hope it does,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淲e all love curling and we canSA国际影视传媒檛 wait to get back out.SA国际影视传媒�
