The Curling Feels

I am back from a week at the Ontario provincials in Elmira and, unfortunately, it was not our week. We finished at 3-3, and despite some good curling fell short of the playoffs.

The event was incredibly well-organized. Ontario manages to make its provincial championships feel like a mini-Brier/Scotties, with some excellent arena ice and good crowds.

Big thanks and props to Curling Ontario and the sponsors, organizing committee, and especially to the countless smiling volunteers that make such an event possible. Despite some disappointment at going 3-3, I am aware how lucky I am to still be able to play in such a great event. On to next year!

Ontario will be well-represented at the Brier and Scotties. On the men’s side, Jayden King was the class of Ontario all season, and managed to hold off a very strong field of challengers to earn a spot at his first Brier.

Jayden, apart from being a ridiculously nice human, has only gotten better since losing the Ontario finals a couple of years ago. They will be strong at the Brier, and this will be a great introduction for them to a national curling audience.

On the women’s side, I am very proud of Hailey Armstrong who will compete in her first Scotties for Ontario (Hailey played third at a couple of Scotties for Quebec’s Laurie-St-Georges a few years ago).

I had the privilege of coaching Hailey last year at the provincial, albeit with a different team. We will all get to watch her wear the Trillium as the home team in Mississauga. For those of you who do not know Hailey yet, all you need to know is that she’s a gamer. She is tough. She has worked as hard if not harder than anyone to get there. She will be fun to watch, and I can’t wait.

Both Jayden and Hailey are great examples of why I still love the Scotties/Brier so much. For both of these teams, representing their province at the nationals will be such an honour, and it’s a joy to see the work and effort that they have put in to get to “The Show” pay off.  The Slams and newly-formed Rock League might have stronger fields, or players with higher shooting percentages, but the drama of watching someone realize a dream in real time is incredibly powerful for a fan.

Hailey, Jayden and their teammates will be both relatable and inspirational to the average curling fan.

Someone at work told me a few weeks ago: people will forget about what you do or don’t do, but they will never forget about how you made them feel. This applies to curling fandom as well.

I think this is the secret sauce that makes the Brier and Scotties (and the road to get there) so special. As a curling fan, it makes me feel.

Watch highlights and the post-game reaction out of Northern Ontario last week where Sandy MacEwan beat John Epping in the final to go to the Brier. Or look at teams like Evan Van Amsterdam and Johnson Tao fighting against Kevin Koe to get out of Alberta. Or Jason Montgomery tragically losing his 11th provincial final in BC.

There are countless great stories across the country of athletes pouring so much of themselves into the goal of reaching a Brier/Scotties. The drama is palpable.

Then watch the Slams.

The fact is the drama is not on the same level. The curling definitely is. The shotmaking is second to none. But as for the FEELINGS, it’s not even close. I think this will be the challenge for Rock League, or even the Slams going forward. And this is why the Scotties and Brier have endured.

This is also why I still keep quixotically fighting so hard to get back there.