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 won鈥檛 be happening as originally scheduled. This year鈥檚 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 鈥溾�ngoing uncertainty related to the Covid-19 pandemic鈥︹�� 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 year鈥檚 championships.
Curling Canada also stated that it鈥檚 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 Inuvik鈥檚 Pearl Gillis, who was set to skip the NWT鈥檚 girls entry at the event. She said it鈥檚 sad that she and her rink won鈥檛 be going but she understands why.
鈥淚t hurts a bit but it鈥檚 good that they鈥檙e keeping things safe with all that鈥檚 going on,鈥� 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.
鈥淲e went to a training centre in Morris (Man.) and then a bonspiel in Sherwood Park (Alta.),鈥� said Gillis. 鈥淲e had 10-hour days for training for a whole week.鈥�
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.
鈥淚 think we had a chance to do really well,鈥� she said. 鈥淲e have new players so it would have been good to play at nationals with them.鈥�
The boys rink would have been out of the Yellowknife Curling Centre, consisting of Adam Naugler, Jullian Bowling, David Dragon and Tasir Bhuiyan.
鈥淚 was anticipating that there would be an announcement about it so it鈥檚 not a total shock to me or the parents,鈥� said Tara Naugler, the boys鈥� coach. 鈥淚t鈥檚 disappointing that it鈥檚 happened for the third time but it鈥檚 happening around the world.鈥�
The key word to remember is that it鈥檚 a postponement and not a cancellation, she added.
鈥淚t鈥檚 better than hearing that it鈥檚 cancelled, but we鈥檙e just going with the flow,鈥� she said. 鈥淭here鈥檚 nothing we can do to control it so we鈥檙e just taking things day by day.鈥�
Gillis鈥� rink is doing the same 鈥� waiting to return to the ice. They aren鈥檛 able to practice because the Inuvik Curling Centre is closed.
They鈥檝e developed alternative training.
鈥淲e鈥檙e doing push-ups every day to work on our arm and core strength,鈥� said Hendrick. 鈥淲e鈥檙e also watching past games to work on our off-ice strategy.鈥�
Gillis is hopeful that with East Three Secondary set to open for in-person learning on Jan. 17, the curling centre may follow suit.
鈥淚 hope it does,鈥� she said. 鈥淲e all love curling and we can鈥檛 wait to get back out.鈥�
