Bob Kolodziejski, standing in as skip for the vacationing Terry Dennis, led the Canora rink in defeating two Kamsack teams on January 5 to capture top place in the Duck Mountain Super League (DMSL) of men’s curling.
To reach the final game, Kolodziejski, with his teammates Zeno Gulka, John Zbitniff and Roman Gulka, faced Fred Perepiolkin of Kamsack in a semi-final contest played at the Broda Sportsplex in Kamsack.
The Canora team was two up coming home and held Perepiolkin to a single point in the eighth end.
In the other A-side semi-final game, Don Bowes of Kamsack clipped Ken Newell of Norquay 8-3 in six ends.
The curling ice at the Sportsplex was unusually tough during the 7 p.m. draw, resulting in many “hogged rocks.”
The B-side title was awarded to Randy Trofimenkoff of Kamsack who defeated Rick Kinaschuk of Benito 6-1 in four ends.
Following a brief intermission, Bowes and Kolodziejski appeared on the ice surface to decide the 2015-2016 Duck Mountain Super League championship.
Both teams played well, keeping the score low. The game was tied 1-1 after three ends. Bowes forced Kolodziejski to take one point on the fourth end, then struck for two points in the fifth after Kolodziejski flashed an open takeout. Bowes stole one point in the sixth end, and then made a remarkable raise double takeout in the seventh to put his team one up coming home with last rock.
The eighth end of the A-side final was flawlessly played by the Kolodziejski team. Needing to steal one point to force an extra end, Kolodziejski asked for and received six centreline guard stones from the Gulka brothers and Zbitniff.
Tomas Jordens, Ed Guenther and Dave Placatka, playing lead, second and third respectively for Bowes, had little success in removing Kolodziejski’s guards.
When his turn came, Kolodziejski threw and landed two rocks behind cover, both counters, forcing Bowes to fully draw the four-foot for the victory. Taking ice on the very edge of sheet number three, Bowes threw heavy, allowing Kolodziejski to steal two and walk away with top prize money of $400 and the coveted DMSL trophy.
The Duck Mountain Super League of men’s curling was established in 1983. In its heyday, it attracted 16 teams in two divisions that played in Kamsack, Canora, Benito, Norquay, Roblin and Swan River. The DMSL lapsed in 2012 after 20 consecutive years, and was revitalized in 2015, thanks largely to the efforts of curling organizer Thomas Jordens of Madge Lake.
Curling this season, listed in order of skip, third, second, lead and then spares, were as follows:
• Canora, Terry Dennis, Bob Kolodziejski, Zeno Gulka, John Zbitniff and Roman Gulka, with the sponsor being Pioneer Hi-Bred Seeds Ltd. and the team was managed by Jim and Rob Bletsky;
• Benito, Rick Kinaschuk, Jeff Osatchuk, Curtis Hack, Byron Zbirun, Scott Schnieder and Chase Osatchuk, with the sponsor being W.F. Schnieder and Son;
• Norquay, Ken Newell, Zack Newell, Brad Knutson and Rickie Pawliw, with the sponsor being Challoner Farm Inc.;
• Arran, Jeremy Hrycenko, Don Hrycenko, Ryan Hrycenko and Evan Hrycenko, and Rawhides was the sponsor;
• Kamsack, Don Bowes, Dave Placatka, Ed Guenther and Tomas Jordens, with Cottenie and Gardner Inc. as the sponsor;
• Kamsack, Fred Perepiolkin, Glen Becenko, Nolan Nykolaishen and Mark Warriner, with Nykolaishen Farms as the sponsor; and
• Kamsack, Randy Trofimenkoff, Jim Wright, Doug Elsasser, Richard Jordens and Steve Iles, with Nykolaishen Farm Equipment Ltd. as the sponsor.
