Team Clendenan

The Team was asked . . . “Who wants to give up some of their Christmas holidays to curl in Oshawa?” . . . which was kind of a rhetorical question. Who wouldn’t want to curl, ALL the time, ESPECIALLY on the Christmas holidays? At least that’s what the look on their faces was when Team Clendenan discussed the entry last spring. And so, unsurprisingly, they went.

21 other teams also felt that holidays should include curling and the TCA (Toronto Curling Association) event was well represented from clubs all over Ontario. In an ideal arrangement you get to play several games over the course of two days while facing off against both new teams and old rivals alike, not to mention the option to purchase a fancy T-Shirt with your team name on it. The opponents and bracketing layout are originally determined by a random card pull and then subsequently with wins/losses which can be either a good or bad thing. Drawing Humphries (who eventually went on to win the event) as the first opponent set the bar high for Team Clendenan and the “ouch factor” of a 10-5 loss right out of the gate was humbling. True competitors that they are though, a debrief to discuss the different ice conditions and a good lunch to regroup with their enthusiasm was all that it took to turn the tables around and to eventually win the C event by toppling both Nunes and Titkai afterward.

It was somewhat frustrating that the team only got to play three games in a triple knock out event and having lost only one game, it was hard not to feel short-changed, especially when there were other teams who only dropped to B with the same record that Team Clendenan had. Keeping the bigger picture in mind though, the event was chosen to further prepare the girls in their final training stretch towards zones, and all going well, Regionals and Provincials will be on the calendar as well. Incidentally Provincials are at Oshawa this year and if the plan plays out perfectly the TCA experience will be time well spent for a number of reasons. All the girls have to do now, is to aim high and never give up.

By a simple show of hands, who’s up for the challenge of zones? Thought so.