LAC LA BICHE - Lac La Biche curler Barry Chwedoruk and the same Team Canada senior mens' curling rink that won the world championships in 2018 are hoping to bring back a Swiss treat in April.
Chwedoruk and the Team Alberta rink that won nationals last December will now represent Canada at the World Senior Men's Curling Championships in Geneva, Switzerland starting on April 23.
The team's third, Chwedoruk, along with St. Albert-based skip Wade White, lead George White and second Dan Holowaychuk, barely had a chance to let their national title sink in before preparing for the world stage again. Chwedoruk says their years together, however, helps to keep them on-point and focused. The foursome curl under the banner of the Lac La Biche and District Curling Club where their championship pennants for senior men's curling hang on the wall beside the community's ice sheets. The pennants depict a history of provincial, national and world titles.
Going back to the world stage after winning the title in Sweden in 2018, continues to be a thrill, says Chwedoruk.
"It's pretty incredible," he told Lakeland This Week, explaining that it's a challenge to keep the excitement in check when you're representing your country. "It's not really nervous, but when you're playing and you're wearing your country colours and representing your country, it's pretty exciting."
And despite being on a world-champion team that is a well-respected winner of several national and international titles, the Lac La Biche curler says it still feels strange to be under the spotlight.
"When we are at these kinds of events, people are coming up to us and taking pictures with us. They watch us and cheer for us. We're in another country, and we have people coming up for photos. I'm saying to them, 'I'm from Lac La Biche, Alberta — and you want to take a picture with me?'"
The recognition his rink gets around the world starts with a foundation of support in his hometown.
"The support I get from town, from the community, it's always good," he said. "I'm always proud, no matter where we are playing, to represent Lac La Biche, our community and our curling club."
Before he takes that support to the world senior men's championships in April, Chwedoruk and the current Canadian senior men's champs will get a few practices together, including some matches later this month that will also serve as the start to 2022 provincial playdowns. Chwedoruk also skips teams in the Lac La Biche and District Curling Club's mixed and men's leagues that run from December to March.
It might be known as a winter sport, joked Chwedoruk, but he seems to be at it all year round.
The Worlds in Geneva run for a full week of competition. The last two events that ran — including the 2018 version won by Chwedoruk and the Wade White rink — drew teams from 28 countries.
Canadian teams have won 11 of the last 18 world senior men's titles since the event began in 2002. Last year's championships, scheduled to take place in Kelowna, were cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
As of press time, although there were some concerns that this year's event may also be cancelled due to ongoing pandemic concerns, the World Curling Federation's website was still promoting the upcoming event.
