n a bid placed back in October, Unity’s organizing committee of Sherri Solomko, Kyla Snell and Christy Walker earned the opportunity to host Team Steve Laycock Jan. 14 for a junior curling clinic and a public meet and greet session.
Team Laycock is the top ranked men’s curling team in Saskatchewan and the 2014 Tim Horton's Brier representative from Saskatchewan. The 2014/2015 season will mark the third full year together for this team, who have already established themselves as a top 10 team in both Canada and on the world curling tour.
As part of their Decisive Farming Curlingville tour, along with co-sponsor CrescentPoint Energy, Team Layock encouraged bids from Saskatchewan curling clubs for the opportunity to host a junior curling clinic. These clinics demonstrate both the sponsors’ and team’s commitment to encouraging young curlers and developing skills in the game.
In Unity, 53 kids registered for the opportunity to participate in this junior curling clinic; including four participants from Cut Knife and one from Luseland. The team spent more than two hours on the ice, putting kids through drills and skills all the while seeming to be having as much fun as the kids.
The on-ice session was followed by a meal offered free of charge thanks to several local sponsors. The team drew for a number of door prizes for participants. Prizes included signed game worn jerseys as well as curling gear. Lineups were long for autographs and photos following the event. One of the jerseys won even made it out on the ice as part of Super League curling later that night.
Participants’ comments ranged from “awesome” to “who knew a team as high up as them could come curl with us.” Young Matthew Miller, after registering, told organizers “I’ve been waiting for this day for a long time,” indicating the level of excitement and enthusiasm participants had coming into the event.
In talking with the members of Team Laycock who attended Unity’s clinic – skip Steve Laycock, second Colton Flasch and lead Dallan Muyres; third Kirk Muyres was unable to make it due to work commitments – their responses were: “Unity had an excellent group of young curlers. Very respectful and co-operative. We were very impressed by the turnout in the community. The event ran very well. The local committee was very well prepared with signs, door prizes and supper. It was a great time for us and the kids enjoyed it as well.”
Asked what feeling the players get from those junior curlers who participate, they collectively answered, “I think the junior curlers like to interact with our team because we bring a different teaching style and a change of pace to the ‘learn to curl’ programs. Our intention is for the curlers to become inspired and learn some skill that will propel them to take the sport to the next level, whether that be junior level competition, or high school competition with the focus on going into men’s/women’s competitions and bring some Brier/Scotties titles to Saskatchewan curling fans.”
Knowing the rigorous training and competitive schedule this team maintains in their season, in addition to holding down jobs, I asked how they possibly find time to fit these junior clinics in. They responded, “We just make it work. We all have careers that allow us to be flexible with our time. It is a necessity to compete and train and tour to the extent that we do. We are also supported by Decisive Farming and Crescent Point Energy to put these clinics on. They believe strongly in community involvement and grassroots sporting initiatives and we are their vessel to deliver program to the young curlers of Saskatchewan. We are privileged to be the team that gets to bring our experiences to young aspiring curlers.”
Dallan Muyres noted, “A couple things are great to see. I have noticed some young fans at curling events that were part of the junior tours in the stands watching and cheering us on. That is important because that shows they have taken a step further into the culture of curling. I also watch some junior curling competitions and recognize the faces of junior curlers that participated in our events past. It’s great to see them have success in curling and soak up the culture of our great sport.
“One thing we would like to see as far as curling development in juniors in Saskatchewan … I would like to see some sort of junior curling forum/Facebook page that is moderated and supports single players searching for (a) team, or teams meeting with local teams for some practise games. There is (a) limited number of junior level competitions and I think that, with some help, junior teams should be able to communicate and arrange some friendly competitions on weekends and get to play more. Or search for teams and talk about curling.”
Team Laycock added, “I know our team all started out at local junior curling programs. I think it is important to the success of our game. Some areas of the province are in a building or re-building phase of their respective programs, but generally there is good involvement. The trick is to keep the young curlers engaged in the game.
“Let’s face it, for a 50-pound junior player to hurl 45-pound granite stone down the ice is a pure physics challenge. I think that playing short games, fun skills/exercises and socializing after or during junior curling programs will keep the kids around until the game is more accessible for them (and) is something that will help the game. Little curlers have little muscles, pushing granite is tiring and therefore we suggest breaks with snacks over the duration of practice. In Humboldt back in the day, we got an A&W burger after our Saturday program; it was great!”
Laycock also extended a nod to the progam’s sponsors.
“We are honoured to have the support of these innovative companies in bringing the game we love to the communities that support curling and our team.”
