Whitehorse Daily Star

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Photo by Marcel Vander Wier

READY TO GO – George Hilderman, pictured competing in the Yukon masters playdowns in December, will lead the local men’s rink at the 2015 Canadian Masters Curling Championship next week.

Masters curling championship begins Monday

The top masters curlers in the country will converge on the Yukon capital for the national championships next week.

By Marcel Vander Wier on March 27, 2015

The top masters curlers in the country will converge on the Yukon capital for the national championships next week.

The Whitehorse Curling Club will host the 2015 Canadian Masters Curling Championship, beginning with an opening ceremony Monday.

Twelve men’s and 12 women’s rinks will compete for their respective titles next week.

Headlining the women’s draw is defending champion skip Merle Kopach of Saskatchewan.

Men’s 2014 champion Eugene Hritzuk will not return.

The tournament will feature three Yukon entries, with 61-year-old George Hilderman skipping the Yukon men, and 64-year-old Ellen Johnson captaining the Yukon ladies.

Pat Banks, the 69-year-old event co-chair, has also been called into duty to skip a host rink in order to ensure even numbers for the women’s draw after a women’s rink from Prince Edward Island signed on late.

“This will be the first time the championships have been held North of 60,” Banks told the Star.

“As a member of the national masters committee, I have fought for Whitehorse to be added to the roster and it is finally here.”

Apart from the 96 curlers involved, 21 additional family members and coaches are expected to attend. That is a telltale sign to Banks that people are excited to come North.

While the event is sanctioned by Curling Canada, it is not funded and participants pay their own way, said Banks.

Hilderman’s rink will include Gord Zealand (third), Clarence Jack (second) and Richard Trimble (lead).

The veteran skipper said he was looking forward to home-ice advantage after competing at last year’s national event in Coaldale, Alta.

“I love this ice and I curl well on it,” Hilderman said after the local masters playdowns in December. “I think it’s going to fit us very well.”

Meanwhile, Johnson’s rink includes tournament co-chair Elaine Sumner (third), Ev Pasichnyk (second) and Nancy Kowalyshen (lead).

And alongside Banks, the host team is made up of Marg White (third), Val Whelan (second) and Lorraine Stick (lead).

The event includes separate events for male and female curlers over age 60. Entries are open to one team from each gender from each province or territory, as well as Northern Ontario.

The finals for the event, sponsored by Northern Vision Development, will be held next Sunday.

NOTES: Weekly game passes, including semifinals and finals are available for $20, while daily passes are $10 and single game tickets are $5. ... Limited $20 tickets are available for Yukon Night April 1 featuring Hank Carr and the Canucks and the closing banquet ($50) April 4 at the Gold Rush Inn. ... Tickets are available at the club, 667-2875.

– – –

Walter Wallingham’s senior rink earned their first victory at the 2015 Everest Canadian Senior Men’s Curling Championship Tuesday.

Wallingham – alongside teammates Zealand (third), Herb Balsam (second) and Don Duncan (lead) – beat Saskatchewan’s Glen Despins 8-3 at the Thistle Curling Club in Edmonton.

The win improved the Yukon’s record to 1-5, not good enough to compete for a championship.

The Yukon, now in last place with a 1-7 record, will play out the rest of their games for seeding purposes ahead of the 2016 event.

The territory did not enter a women’s team for senior nationals.

The seniors event – age 50-plus – is sponsored by Everest, a national funeral planning and concierge service.

Comments (6)

Up 1 Down 0

LAVERNA SRIGLEY on Apr 1, 2015 at 2:57 pm

WHERE ARE THE LISTINGS FOR THE LADIES - DRAW, RESULTS ETC.
have not been able to locate on various sites I have tried. Thank you

Up 3 Down 0

Web address on Apr 1, 2015 at 2:41 pm

Bill -- here is the link to the event: https://masters2015.wordpress.com/

Up 1 Down 0

frank weiler on Apr 1, 2015 at 10:51 am

Wishing the ladies from the island (PEI) Shirley Berry all the best luck at the Master's, hope Doug Gee makes some great ice for all at Mount McIntyre.

Up 2 Down 0

bill on Apr 1, 2015 at 10:18 am

I am unable to get the results from Ladies Master curling being held in Whitehorse Curling Club

Up 1 Down 1

Terry & Flo Oliver on Mar 31, 2015 at 10:46 am

Go team Westcott

Up 1 Down 0

Gary McEwen on Mar 29, 2015 at 8:54 pm

Go Team Westcott!

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