LAC LA BICHE - The Lac La Biche and District Curling Club is gearing up for another season on the ice at the Bold Center.
President Dylan Maskalyk stated that the 2024-25 season will be starting up on the week of Oct. 21. With registration numbers remaining steady – and even some additional players coming out this year – officials with the curling club are anticipating a good turnout of curlers-as well as teams-for the season, which goes until the first week of April.
“By the sounds of registration so far, we are looking at welcoming a few more teams to the leagues this year,” Maskalyk told Lakeland This Week.
This year, men’s league games will take place on Monday nights while Thursday nights are for open league. People are who interested playing without having to commit to an entire season can do so at the drop-in sessions, which are set for Tuesdays at 1 p.m.
The junior curling program for kids aged seven and up is also returning for the season.
“Junior curling starts up again Tuesday, November 19 and runs through the winter,” Maskalyk said, explaining that the cost to join is $100 for the season, with brooms and sliders provided by the club to new participants or those who need it.
Bonspiel events
The Lac La Biche and District Curling Club will be hosting four of their own bonspiels throughout the 2024-2025 season, with the first being the annual Open Funspiel, which takes place on Saturday, Dec. 7. While there are prizes up for grabs at the Funspiel, as the name implies, the event is less competitive than other bonspiels, and is meant to be more fun-oriented.
The NHL-themed Men’s Bonspiel, featuring curlers wearing the jerseys of their favourite hockey teams while competing against each other for cash and other prizes, is the first tournament of 2025, and will be held on Jan. 18 – the same day the OIlers face the Vancouver Canucks/. Following the Ladies Bonspiel from March 15-16, the season wraps up with the Mixed Bonspiel, which is scheduled for April 3-6.
Interest is up
According to Maskalyk, over the past few years, the Lac La Biche and District Curling Club has been active in getting more folks of all ages involved in the sport not only by hosting the annual Funspiel and junior programs, but also through the monthly Friday Fun Nights. These casual curling nights give people who are new to the sport an opportunity to try it out while socializing.
Originally, he said, Friday Fun Nights were held to bring more interest, but after five years, the event has become a mainstay for the club, with people looking forward it.
“These are great for current members to bring friends or family out to try, or practice and also for new curlers to come get a tutorial and try the sport out, while enjoying some music and snacks,” he stated.