Please check back to follow our NWT Teams as they compete at their respective Canadian Curling Championships.

U18 Optimist Championship in Regina

Team Bird Update

The boys had a great first game.  They lost by one but had Matthew been 5 cm over they would have won.
They stole the first 4 point in the first half of the game.  They Sask caught up in the fifth end. One more in 6, 7 for Sask. 

In the last end matthew could have taken out theSsask stone and would have counted three.  But alas the ice was "swinging" wildly where he was shooting and even with heavy weight it curled too much.

The boys are excited that they were doing so well in their first game.  Tomorrow we are playing Alberta and BC. 

Joshua has a headcold and fever so he was unable to play in the first game.  He wasn't even at the opening ceremonies.  He is doing all he can get better fast. 

M&M Canadian Junior Curling Championships  in Sorel-Tracey, Quebec

Team Miller - Update
 
it`s been a few days since I was on the blog.  We have some internet difficulties here at the hotel or at least I do. (The team claims I`m technologically challenged).  We have some great games this week and we have controlled a lot of games early.  The finishing them off part has been our problem.
 
Tuesday we had Northern Ontario and it was a good game until the 8th, we had a couple of misses and they jumped all over us.  Then we had Ontario.  We came out playing well but early but it was our crossover day and the curlihg ice, caught us.  We swept a few that straightened up on us and it cost us points.  lessons learned and hopefully not forgotten.  Everyone has a bad game and we chaulked this one up to that.
 
Wednesday we had another day of back to back games this time afternoon and evening.  We got a good rest, got up and had a good meal and headed over to the Arena to play BC.   We had a good strong game but they ran us out of rocks in 10.  We are all around a win but can`t seem to crack one.
 
The evening draw had us up against a tough Alberta squad.  We came out focused and playing well again.  Only this time we finished it off.  The game was all one sided we controlled every end from start to finish and the boys felt good about their win.  We beat Alberta 7 - 1.  We went to bed feeling better but we have 3 games left and we gunning for another win.
 
Update you again soon...  when i have the technology figured out.

Day 2 - Team Miller
 
Day 2 saw us with two big teams to play.  We got up early had a good breakfast in the Curlers Kitchen.  The have a great room where everyone can fit in and they even have tv's set up with gaming units and a foosball table.  Everyone is enjoying it. 
 
We headed to the Curling Rink for Game 1 of the Day against Manitoba.  Manitoba is one of the front runners, we knew we had to play well.  It was a good game, we were setting up ends and he was stealing a single.  Down 3 - 1 we decided to go for it in the 7th end and were just on the wrong side of the inch on a couple of shots and gave him the opportunity to score a big end.  We played 8 and 9 but to no avail.  We were pleased that we had elevated our play and played to our abilities.  We want to carry that forward to game 2.
 
Our second game of the Day had us up against a hot first place team, Saskatchewan.  We came out and carried on firing.  The team played well, in particular, David set us up well and Colin made a number of clutch draws to the pin.  We were up early in the game but they mounted a comeback in the second half.  We were down two playing ten.  After Colin's first shot we were laying two and had a chance to tie the game.  He made a great double and we shook hands. 
 
Day two ended with us at 0 - 3.  We are playing well and know that some breaks will come our way yet this week.  We have the Yukon and Northern Ontario on Monday and we are looking to turn this around on Moving Day Monday!
 
The team is still very positive and many other coaches are complimenting them on the Sportsmanship, they are good representatives for our Territory and I as Coach am pleased that they let me work them. 
 
It's been a long day were off to bed and up early for the morning draw, so until tomorrow...
 
Goodnight.
 
 
Coach

Day 1 Team Miller
 
Day one had us with a leisurely morning but a hectic afternoon.  We had practice ice in the afternoon at both the Curling Club and the Arena.
 
We like the ice at the curling club, it was keen and very predictable.  We also liked the rocks.  The Arena however was a different story.  They put the ice in late and it's still very green.  It curls 5 - 6 feet and you need 4 -5 rotations on your stones or you risk losing handles.  3 rotations and handles were being lost on all sheets.  We were lucky that we were the 3rd practice of the day and the ice was getting better.  Sheet A needed to be re-flooded and therefore no teams were able to practice on.  We are hoping the ice improves for our 1st game.  It's readable and workable but tricky.  If the handles starts to come off the rocks die fast.
 
After our practice we headed back to the Curling Club where the alternates practice took place.  Following that we had the Team Meeting with the Head Official and than an Ice-Breaker.  They had Rock Band set up at the Ice Breaker.  Some teams got up and performed for the rest of us.  While there are some good guitarists and drummers in the crowd, most should stay in school as they will be hard pressed to earn a living singing.  Our guys, being low key, didn't perform.
 
We had a fairly early night and we went to be with visions of wins running through our heads.  We have Opening Ceremonies and than we play our first game against host province Quebec.  WE CAN"T WAIT!!!
 
Stay tuned we'll let you know how it goes.....
 
Coach