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Inuvik to represent at national curling club championship
Men's and women's team playing at Dominion Curling Club tournament in B.C.Samantha Stokell Northern News Services Published Thursday, November 17, 2011
The men's team, skipped by Mel Sittichinli and the women's team, led by Diane Baxter, will head to Richmond, B.C., on Nov. 20 to compete in the Dominion Curling Club Championship. Fourteen amateur teams from across Canada will play against each other to determine the best club team in the country. "Even though we're all Gwich'in, we're going to represent the whole NWT," said third George Greenland. "We want to win it all, and just make the shots." The men's team, all of Gwich'in descent, are going into the competition with high hopes. "We want to bring back the banner," Sittichinli said. "We'll try to make the shots, but there's no point thinking any other way." The women have a slightly different view on how the championship might turn out. "I've been doing researching and the NWT has never won a game, so our goal is to win one," second Marjorie Baetz said with a laugh. "But we hope to be in the finals." The men's team made it to the nationals when it beat two other Inuvik teams, two Yellowknife teams and a Hay River team to take the territorial title. The women got a bye to the nationals when their competition from Yellowknife didn't show up. Since the ice at the curling rink went in two weeks early, the two teams have been practising against each other up to five nights per week. The teams are focusing on certain shots: draws, takeouts or double takeouts. "It's nice because it's geared to clubs," Baxter said. "Our whole team is beginner curlers and I haven't been for years, so it's our first time out." One challenge the men think they'll have is the ice. Sittichinli thinks it will be better and faster, with more curl, since the temperature will likely be warmer. "The ice is pretty straight here, with hardly any curl," he said. "It'll be the first time for everyone. We're excited." The best part of the men's game will be their ability to communicate with each other, let everyone know what is happening and what shot they want. The women are looking to have fun and not let anything bother them to keep the competition enjoyable. The teams all received jackets and T-shirts with their names on it, brooms and bags for their belongings. The brooms were tested last year at the Olympics and are lighter, the bottom doesn't get dirty and an aluminium shaft allows curlers to sweep faster. Even if the teams don't make it to the finals, they still get a chance to curl with the best of the best. Clinics will be held for those teams with national instructors, coaches and players. The curling teams are also fundraising for the Canadian Paraplegic Association. The team that raises the most will receive funds for their curling club. The teams leave on Nov. 20 and will compete in at least six games until Nov. 26.
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