Team Clendenan

Whether it is the facility, the stones, the masterful icemakers or a combination of all three, Glendale Curling club is rumored to be the closest to arena curling ice that a player may find in a club facility. The advantage of this arrangement is that teams are treated to a phenomenal amount of curl with hard finishes that lend themselves to tucking rocks just about anywhere you want them to. The challenge, however, is that careful attention is needed to determine where to put the broom for the intended result and the throwers are held to a minimal range of variation in their releases in order to benefit from what the ice conditions have to offer.

When Team Clendenan faced their first opponent (McMenemy – Coldwater) it wasn’t long before the arena type game play developed a pattern of rocks over-curling and disbelief seemed to compound the punishment quickly and mercilessly including a four-pointer in the third end in the opposition’s favour. There were moments of resilience that followed but the elusive spark that usually travels with the purple girls was further muffled by absent communication and strategy that could have been better and a loss of 9-5 resulted.

Mark Twain said that “Education consists mainly of what we have unlearned” and after a good lunch and a short practice (during a game spot that was changed to a bye at the last minute) Team Clendenan did their best to identify and acknowledge what went so wrong in their first game. True to Twain’s thoughts, an “unlearning” of mistakes was just what was needed to regain their groove and in the next three games against the home club team (Nunes) and two other rivals (Walsh and Reimer) the good guys only allowed points scored against them in five ends out of twenty four. The team communication was so strong in fact, that it not only led to a sweep against Nunes but it also facilitated a rebound from being down 5-0 in the sixth end against Walsh. Shocking the gallery with back to back twenty foot angle runbacks through a port that needed team sweeping/line calling/ throwing perfection to pull off added to a string of steals that followed turned the game on its head into a spectacular come-from-behind win. Even in the final game against Reimer, the exchange of shots (all-be-it a much simpler game) was a testament to the fact that “arena ice” can be your friend if you are paying attention and are able to adjust and work together. Somewhat afraid of having rocks in play, both teams avoided guards until the sixth end and the race was on to see who could get the best curing stone real estate to secure the win. Fortunate to be up 4-2 in the eighth, the statistical odds in our court did not disappoint and the game and the event were both credited to the purple coats as a reward.

For those who were not present to watch the ups and downs of the journey, it is hard to describe the Yin and Yang of “arena like” curling surfaces that challenge those who are unfamiliar with fast swingy ice but also has the potential for shots that are YouTube worthy. With a combination of both the weight of painful lessons and the flipside of the strength from lessons learned, the weekend did not disappoint for excitement and the gallery is sure to be back for more good curling at the earliest opportunity.

Hurry!