News Champions Cup

By Mike McEwen

You might notice a new look on Team McEwen during this week’s Humpty’s Champions Cup. Or … maybe you won’t?

If you were to glance over to our sheet you would see just another tuck-style shooter in the third slot sporting a shiny bald dew. Wait a sec, that’s Team McEwen coach and fifth Jon Mead, affectionally known as “J-Bone”, making his 2015-16 season debut at the last possible minute! We wish BJ Neufeld and his wife Sarah the very best as they are expecting their first child in early May. Couldn’t be a better excuse to get the “old guy” in the line-up and plus, Team McEwen will be adding yet another girl to their future powerhouse junior girls team!

This leads into why the Players’ Championship also featured quite a few different spares across both men’s and women’s fields. Some of the replacements were due to other life commitments and a few to nagging injuries that just couldn’t wait anymore. The competitive curling season is long. We play a season that spans eight months and when you consider the amount of off-ice training and pre-season ice time that teams are undertaking, when does anyone have time to recover?

Combine these factors with the oncoming 2016-17 season that will be one to remember as our sport ramps up leading into the Olympic qualification year — it should be to no one’s surprise that many of the athletes are taking care of body and soul!

Now, normally the Players’ Championship wraps the entire season up, so it will be a bit of a change in experience ending it with the Humpty’s Champions Cup. You’ll see many of your favourite Canadian teams competing as usual, but also a few of our best missing. On the men’s side notables such as Team Brad Jacobs and Team Glenn Howard are not in the field. This doesn’t mean they had poor seasons, just that missing from their list of accomplishments is a major tour victory in 2015-16.

However, it’s not so much about who is missing but more about who is here and fans will be treated to a greater international presence across both men’s and women’s fields. As well, some teams are making their debut in a Grand Slam and while a member or two of Team Pat Simmons might be making their last. Another bonus includes some very unique match-ups will take place with world junior champs taking on the adults!

So take the opportunity to enjoy the Humpty’s Champions Cup — the host committee has done an astounding job, for thirsty patrons the Grand Slam Social House is attached to the arena, and the athletes are ready to put on a very entertaining show one last time this season!