“There was a time when ..."
For the good folks who have launched themselves into the task of rebuilding youth curling in Sudbury and area, that five word phrase might well be the bane of their existence.
Unfortunately, it is also their reality.
The simple truth is that such was the vibrancy of the junior competitive curling ranks in this area – at one time – that a layer of potentially elite curling talent being fed by widespread grassroots development from Little Rocks program allowed pretty much every club in the region to field a rink or two across all divisions of play at what is now the U20, U18 and U15/U16 age brackets.
A steady flow of kids to watch seemed almost a given in this sport, a lineage that was still in place as recently as the road travelled by the not-quite-yet Open Women’s foursome skipped by Queen’s University sophomore Mia Toner.
And though the well is certainly not dry - siblings Kamryn and Kelton Tellier helped lead their high-school team (Marymount) to an OFSAA silver medal in 2023-2024 while also representing Northern Ontario at the Canadian U18 Championships - there is no denying that a notable hit at this level was sustained during Covid.
That is exactly the issue that is currently being addressed by the likes Christine Dubuc and David Connors and Jeff Currie and many others at the Coniston Curling Club, site of a Wednesday night gathering that sees the Little Rockers on the ice at 6:00 p.m. or so followed by a healthy contingent of teens in the ensuing junior session.
“We’ve been gradually building it up – started with a small group of kids and sent out letters to schools in this area,” said Currie, now involved for the past three years and coaching a team of teens which will compete in New Liskeard two weeks from now. “We got involved because our kids were getting into it.”
As much as any sport around, curling relies on the word of mouth through family and friends, co-workers and acquaintances to garner athletes of all ages to a pastime that offers the option of long-time club level curling, or a more competitive stream, if the kids are interested.
“I picked up curling when I was 16 years old,” said Currie. “A high-school team started up (at Héritage) and I had a couple of friends that were curling. Christine’s mom (Monique Dubuc) was our coach.”
Both Alexandra Clement and Sophie Patry are following in their parents’ footsteps, part of the Coniston junior crew that are now three weeks into the 2024-2025 season, still largely involved in practice sessions, with game play coming soon.
“In games, you really get to see how other people play,” said Patry, a grade 7 student at St Augustin. “You get to see strategies from other people which makes you better.”
And, of course, there is always that social aspect to curling.
“The most fun thing about curling is getting to know the people you are on a team with, making bonds and stuff like that,” said Clement, also in grade 7 but at Ecole St-Pierre. “A lot of the friends I have made are mostly from curling.”
With discussion on the home-front sure to involve curling at various points in the winter, the lure to take a shot a skipping a team is hard to avoid for this Coniston duo. “I am usually lead or second, but sometimes, if we’re with newer playing, I am either skip or vice,” said Clement.
“At skip, I still need to learn to mark where the rock is going to go. I still have trouble doing that. But I’ve been practicing and I think I am getting the hang of it.”
“I skipped a little last year,” noted Patry, who added that sweeping might be her least favourite part of the game. “I am usually good (at skip) because I usually have to throw takeouts – and I am really good at takeouts. I like the takeouts because they are a lot easier for me.”
With similar programs running in Copper Cliff, at the Idylwylde Golf & Curling Club and potential both in Capreol and the Northern Credit Union Community Centre, the makings of a small interclub league are now in place.
“We are trying to meet about eight times this year,” said Currie, with organizers at each facility taking on the responsibility for building the fundamentals for game plan and long-time curling coach and administrator Alan Arkilander providing key support in locating sponsors to help keep costs down.
“It’s for the more serious kids but we also invite the Little Rocks and anyone who is not as serious and we run a little day spiel focused less on competition.”
Moving beyond that for the very first time, Currie is looking forward to taking a local foursome to an NOCA Youth Challenge event in New Liskeard on the weekend of November 15th to 17th. “This is my first time coaching a team – but I’ve been doing this (working with the juniors on a weekly basis) for a few years now.”
The end goal, to some extent, is to extend the legacy of Sudbury curling that sees no less than five teams in the group of 24 women’s teams gathered this weekend in North Bay for the Swiss Chalet Women’s Curling Stadium Spiel boast nickel city content.
The international field, which includes entries from Scotland, the United States and Switzerland, also welcomes the likes of Krysta Burns, Sara Guy, Abby Deschene, Kira Brunton, Megan Smith, Lauren Rajala, Stephanie Barbeau and Jamie Smith, all of whom are very well-acquainted with the various local curling venues thanks to years of development in Sudbury in their youth.
