It was an Athabasca sweep, as local teams walked off with all three event titles this past weekend at the annual Men's Open Bonspiel at the Multiplex. Although, it didn't come easy for a pair of rinks.
It was an Athabasca sweep, as local teams walked off with all three event titles this past weekend at the annual Men's Open Bonspiel at the Multiplex.
Although, it didn't come easy for a pair of rinks.
The rink of skip Kurtis Wiselka, third Kevin Senyk, second Butch Drozdiak and lead Josh Wiselka were in great shape to easily win the A-event, scoring two each in the first, third and fifth ends while only giving back one to their opponents in the second and fourth, the Gerald Pelltier rink from Legal.
That all changed in the sixth with far too many rocks left hanging around that enabled Pelltier to get right back in the game by putting a four spot on the board to tie it up.
Wiselka was forced to a single, then had to have Senyk make a great freeze to a rock sitting on the button behind cover, sending it to an extra end.
From there, the Pelltier rink had difficulties getting past a bunch of rocks out front and without last rock, couldn't remove the two yellow Wiselka rocks sitting in the house, giving them the 8-6 win.
In the B-event final, the foursome of skip Paul Kunnas, third Chris Peirson, second Tim Purkess and lead Lee Moisan defeated the local rink skipped by Ed Deren 8-6.
This game featured a number steals, with Deren taking a 3-0 lead with one in the third end, before Kunnas took one in four then stole three in the fifth then gave the three right back in the sixth.
Kunnas would grab a pair in the seventh and gave the Deren rink fits in the last end, eventually managing to steal two and the victory.
And in the giving spirit of the day, not only did the C-event go that extra mile, but the winning rink stole their way there.
The rink consisting of skip Wayne Schinkinger, third Bill Kump, second Stan Lyle and lead Glen Kucey started out poorly, allowing the Jarvie rink skipped by Al Burchett to open the game by scoring three.
The teams would then trade singles before blanking both the fourth and fifth ends.
Schinkinger would cut the lead in half with a single in the sixth and then came the rousing comeback.
The local rink then stole one in seven and another in eight to force an extra end.
That's when it got a bit leery for the Burchett foursome, who seemed to be snake bitten.
In that extra end, they couldn't seem to make even the easiest of shots.
Meanwhile, the Schinkinger rink was putting their stones in the right place and even getting a few breaks to go their way.
In the end, Burchett had a last chance in-off to get at two Schinkinger stones in the four foot, but the shot skated by the stones and out of the house to hand Schinkinger a steal of two and the 8-6 win.
Fay Stevenson with Athabasca Curling Club stated this was an excellent way to close out the season and wanted to express the club's sincerest thanks to all of the various sponsors that provided their assistance during the season.
