Either there are an awful lot more Sudbury and area curlers who are kick-starting their season of play much earlier than was the case some twenty years ago, or I am simply far more aware of who all the Sudbury curling connections are these days who are strewn across the province.

Actually, both of these statements are quite likely true.

That would explain in large part why as temperatures hover around the 30 degree Celsius mark as we enter just the second Saturday of September that rinks with some form of notable Sudbury flavour who have already enjoyed bonspiel play is quickly nearing double digits.

The Krysta Burns foursome, in their current incarnation (Jestyn Murphy, Sara Guy, Lauran Masters) are now in year two together, seriously looking to take that next step.

“I think we are going into this season with more confidence, more confidence in each other, more confidence in thinking that we can actually win provincials,” noted Burns, the 28 year-old Marymount Academy graduate and skip of the team that dropped a 6-4 decision to the Krista McCarville powerhouse in the Northern Ontario Scotties final last January.

“Each year, we’ve gotten a little bit better – and last year was super close. We’re less concerned about getting to know each other now and we can focus more on the technical and strategic aspects of our game.”

Given that Team McCarville have ten NOCA banners to their name since Northern Ontario was added as a “province” in the national Tournament of Hearts structure in 2007, that kind of improvement will be critical – as will be overcoming any kind of mental block when going up against a team that has continually proven to be a legitimate playoff contender at Canadians, despite playing in far less high caliber bonspiels than many of the other teams on hand.

“We’re excited about all of the bonspiels this year and really excited for provincials,” said Burns. “In previous years, I think we always had that voice in the back of our heads: can we really beat Krista McCarville? That voice isn’t really there any more.”

Like the McCarville rink, Team Burns have opted for a very healthy life / curling balance, adding just one bonspiel to their schedule in 2024-2025. “We have all agreed to put a cap on that because we all have full-time jobs and are more focused on our careers, in that sense,” said Burns.

“We all agreed that we are not going to be one of those teams that plays every other weekend. Some of us have other priorities in our lives that we are just as passionate about.”

Still, they walk a line, going toe to toe with the bulk of the top teams in the province in an effort to strive for even more consistency in their game. Earlier this month, Team Burns were part of the 24-entry field participating in the Stu Sells Oakville Tankard, a bonspiel that was captured by the Swiss rink led by Xenia Schwaller.

The local quartet representing the Northern Credit Union Community Centre (formerly Curl Sudbury) posted a 1-3 record without the benefit of any practice time whatsoever, beaten 13-3 by Sayaka Yoshimura (Japan), edging fellow northern rink Lauren Mann (North Bay) 5-4, and losing to both event finalist Kayla Skrlik (Calgary – 7-3) and Laurie St-Georges (Montreal – 9-2).

“It didn’t go amazing but it was our first time out with no practice which is not the same for a lot of those teams,” said Burns, who suggested consistency at a higher level is the one “must-add” for her group to match up better against the truly elite.

“That (consistency) can be the most difficult thing when you’re not playing as often as everyone else.”

Regardless, Burns has no intention of losing site of her end goal.

“I really like what my priorities are in the game,” she said. “A lot of people go hard for the win – that’s what they want. That’s what I want too, but for me, it’s really about enjoying it. That’s the reason I do this.”

“You’re always told when you’re young to “have fun, have fun” – and it’s kind of hard when you’re a kid to really get what that means,” Burns continued. “Now I know that I have to enjoy myself – or what’s the point.”

Team Burns is back in action at the Stu Sells Toronto Tankard on Thanksgiving weekend, just as ice will be ready for play at her home venue.

A good chunk of local talent are currently in Cornwall, site of the AMJ Campbell Shorty Jenkins Classic that gathers 24 men’s teams and 18 quartets on the ladies side of the draw. Jake and Tanner Horgan have teamed up this year with veteran skip John Epping and previous teammate Ian McMillan, splitting their first two outings this week.

Now considered a Toronto-based rink, Epping and company bested Xiao Ming Xu (China) 8-3 in game one but were clipped 7-6 by the James Craik Scottish rink in game two.

A more Canadian-based women’s lineup (10/18 teams vs 10/24 for the men from Canada) is littered with Sudbury-trained curlers, including defending world champion Tracy Fleury who is back with Rachel Homan and company (Emma Miskew / Sarah Wilkes).

Also in attendance are Kira Brunton, serving as vice-skip to the Danielle Inglis Ottawa crew this winter as well as the afore-mentioned Laura Mann northern squad, with Collège Notre-Dame graduate Stephanie Barbeau at lead.

Locals were actually up and running by late August as Megan Smith, Jamie Smith and Lauren Rajala joined skip Emma Artichuk at the U25 NextGen Classic in Alberta, reeling off five straight wins before being eliminated in quarter-final action.

Meanwhile, the Mixed Doubles tandem of Kira Brunton and Jake Horgan mirrored that performance at the same bonspiel, running the table in round robin play before being sent packing by the Edmonton duo of Zoe Cinnamon and Johnson Tao.