Manitoba storm forces cancellation of Portage curling event

The Canad Inns Men’s Classic in Portage la Prairie was cancelled due to the Manitoba storm that blanketed parts of the province and left thousands without power.

Winter came early this weekend with Environment Canada estimating as much as 50 cm of snow could fall in some regions.

The annual Portage bonspiel features 24 men’s teams and attracts some of the top clubs from the World Curling Tour including No. 1 ranked Team Kevin Koe from Calgary, No. 2 ranked Team John Epping of Toronto, and No. 10 ranked Team Brad Gushue of St. John’s, N.L.

Only three draws were completed in the event Friday when the blizzard knocked out power at the Portage Curling Club forcing the remaining games to be rescheduled and then outright called off.

Things have gone dark in Portage la Prairie again at the Canad Inns Men’s Classic early in draw 4.

Teams will be given practice and then resume with a clean end where they left off at 8am tomorrow morning. #curling pic.twitter.com/HMEMKg9u9T

— CurlingZone (@CurlingZone) October 12, 2019

Our game VS Sturmay has been postponed until tomorrow due to a power outage here in Portage la Prairie. It’s still snowing and we’re still missing Mat Camm. Still looking for someone with a snow mobile to transport him from Winnipeg. Stay tuned for more updates! #GetMatToPortage pic.twitter.com/NXGNcLutqn

— Team Epping (@TeamJohnEpping) October 12, 2019

Power has been out here in Portage since 930pm last night. What a crazy storm! No timeline for when we are getting power back either.

— Reid (@Reidarama) October 12, 2019

Portage power outage – Teams waited for the power to come back until 11pm last night before leaving the ice.

The games were eventually rescheduled for this morning – but with the power still out, things are up in the air here in Portage. #Curling #MBStorm pic.twitter.com/w65jm4TUvJ

— CurlingZone (@CurlingZone) October 12, 2019

Ugh.

Trains stuck. #MBstorm #StuckInPeg #Portage pic.twitter.com/9LMXTsMRfs

— Team Bottcher (@TeamBottcher) October 11, 2019

Our 2019 Canad Inns Classic has come to a quick end, due to the continuing power outage in Portage.

Team Sturmay would like to sincerely thank @CanadNation for their hospitality throughout this storm, and wish everyone very safe travels home! #staysafe #winterishere

— Team Sturmay (@Team_Sturmay) October 12, 2019

The City of Portage la Prairie, located about 90 km west of Winnipeg, tweeted our their lift stations are running on backup power and advised citizens to limit water consumption and to not flush toilets.

We want to reiterate that It is very important to avoid using our sewer systems. Please do not flush your toilets or take any action that results in water entering our waste water system. We are trying to avoid the possibility of sewer back ups into people’s homes. https://t.co/2QPiCqeMbS
— City of Portage (@CityofPortage) October 12, 2019

So, how about an impromptu Sheet Show?

Update from the Portage blizzard: We’re hanging in there. pic.twitter.com/AONU7S7Gnt

— TeamKevinKoe (@TeamKevinKoe) October 12, 2019

No better way to pass the time than to teach my boy from South of the border @kdropkin a lesson https://t.co/IIjrG46Ke8

— Catlin Schneider (@CatlinSchneider) October 12, 2019

Team Shuster third Chris Plys making the case for a second career as a meteorologist.