Oh so close
Junior boys curlers win first game, but fall short of medal
Darrell Greer
Northern News Services
Published Wednesday, April 2, 2014
RANKIN INLET
Team Nunavut recorded its first ever win in junior boy's curling when it defeated the host Alaska rink 124 during the Arctic Winter Games (AWG) in Fairbanks, Alaska, this past month.
Skip Connor Faulkner, from left, led Team Nunavut's Arthur Siksik, Tyson Komaksiutiksak, Kane Komaksiutiksak and coach Kevin Bussey of Rankin Inlet to its first ever junior boys' curling win at the Arctic Winter Games in Fairbanks, Alaska, this past month. - Darrell Greer/NNSL photo |
Coach Kevin Bussey said while he was extremely proud of the team of Connor Faulkner (skip), Arthur Siksik and brothers Tyson and Kane Komaksiutiksak, they curled below their capabilities during most of the Games.
He said strategic errors, caused by the lack of experience in game situations, played a large role in keeping them away from an ulu.
"We've always finished in last place at the AWG, and this year the round-robin ended with us at 1-4 and Alaska at 0-5," said Bussey.
"We played them to see who would advance in the medal round, and we felt very confident because we had manhandled them in the round-robin.
"We, pretty much, controlled the game with leads of 4-1 and 5-3, but then the boys made a couple of bad shot calls.
"Curling can be like pool in that sometimes it's not the shot you make, but the shot you leave.
"We were tied in the 10th end when our skip's last rock was a bit heavy and went through the rings."
Bussey said Alaska went on to beat the NWT in its next game, leading him to lament the fact if Nunavut had got past Alaska it would have had a good shot at a medal.
He said the bottom line was, after the first game, the boys didn't curl up their ability.
"They usually curl in the 60 to 65 per cent range, but, after the first game, for some reason they were only curling in the mid-40s.
"Unfortunately, you're not going to win a lot of games when you curl at that rate.
"But it was a good effort on their part and I was pleased with the results.
"They were undone by their lack of game experience in calling the right shots, so I have to focus on more competition for them."
Looking ahead, the team has a Winnipeg bonspiel slated for September of 2014, the young Canada Games in British Columbia March 2015 and the 2015 national in Corner Brook, Newfoundland.
Bussey said it's extremely disappointing there's no curling at the 2016 AWG in Greenland.
He said the five curling regions met with the AWG Canadian representative while in Fairbanks, and he left the meeting confused and frustrated by Greenland's stance on the matter.
"As most people know, a number of sports won't be held in 2016 due to a lack of venues.
"Greenland agreed to allow one hockey bracket to be played in Iqaluit, so the five curling regions offered to have a curling competition, pay for it, and hold it as an AWG event in 2016.
"Greenland is not prepared to allow us to use the AWG brand, if anyone can figure that out.
"We can all accept the fact they don't have the facilities for all sports, but it boggles our minds why they're steadfastedly refusing to call the curling competition we proposed AWG."
