POMEROY GRANDE PRAIRIE CASH SPIEL 2023/2024

Pomeroy Hotel was the title sponsor for the Grande Prairie Cash Spiel held January 12-14th, 2024, as well as the Pomeroy Hotel Peace Curling Tour for the 16th consecutive year. The Tour Championship culminates March 8-10, 2024, in Sexsmith with the crowning of the 2023-2024 Peace Country Championship teams.
The Grande Prairie Cash Spiel, the 3rd leg of the Peace Curling Tour is in the books. Despite the formidable weather 33 curling teams bundled up and had an enjoyable weekend of curling, fine dining and spirited good times over the weekend.
PictureTeam Vavrek- Skip Daylan Vavrek, Rob Maksymetz and Ben Hill pictured with Colin Griffith
Daylan Vavrek reconnected with former mate Robbie Maksymetz and with Ben Hill the fearsome threesome prevailed in winning the Competitive Division is a hard fought, last rock nail biter over perennial contender Graham Powell. The resurrection of the Kurt Balderston was a delightful happening for all the Curler’s and fans. Kurt for many years ruled the Competitive Division and attended this event to rehearse his new Master’s Team of Glen Hansen, Greg Hill and Roy Martin who return to Grande Prairie later this month for the Master’s Qualifying event at the GP Curling Centre.
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PictureTeam C Doepker- Skip Chad Doepker, Varyk Doepker, Dylan Venning and Amanda Grant
​In the Challenge Division, Chad Doepker’s newly minted foursome overcame the awe of playing the Kellan Warr squad who either win or contend for gold in most of the Tour events. Chad led Dylan Venning, son Varyk and Amanda Grant in a serious display of great team curling, comparable to the Competitive Division standard of play.​The Warr team is skipped by Robert Coates and will be at the Tour Championship by virtue of winning the Slave Lake event.

The youth movement was on full display in the Challenge Division with 6 teams either all or partially featuring U18 and U15 curlers as well as 6 teams of new Junior Curlers playing exhibition games. Unfortunately, the 3 Special Olympic Teams were restricted in playing due to the inclement weather. 
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​Highlight News Flashes:
  • The Fort St John Cash Spiel will be held February 9-11th. The format will be a regular Cash Spiel for the Challenge, Junior, and Special Olympics Divisions only (Due to Ice availability) It will not be based on the TRIPLES format. There will not be a Competitive Division played in FSJ.
  • The Peace River Cash Spiel will be held Feb 23-25th, 2024 and is the last chance spiel to qualify for the Tour Championship in Sexsmith March 8-10th, 2024.

​​Competitive Division: Tour standings to January 15th, 2024
This table outlines the Tour Standings to date including the Grande Prairie Event. Peace River is the only event remaining for the Competitive Division. (There is no Competitive Division in FSJ)
The 3 Cash Speil winners to date have each played in only one event and can qualify for the Tour Championship if they play in Peace River which would meet the 2 event criteria:
  • The Brand Holt team of Edmonton who won the Slave lake Cash Spiel
  • The Japanese team Hirata who won the Dawson Creek Cash Spiel
  • The Daylan Vavrek team who won the Grande Prairie Cash Spiel.


Challenge Division: Tour Standings to January 15th, 2024
The following table outlines the Challenge Division standing including the Grande Prairie Cash Spiel. There are two events remaining for teams to accumulate points towards the Tour Championship, March 8-10th, 2024 in Sexsmith.
Two of the Cash Spiel winners have only played in one event and can qualify for the Tour Championship by playing in the required second event, either in Fort St John or Peace River, or both.
  • Quinn Farmer Team who won the Dawson Creek Cash Spiel
  • Chad Doepker Team who won the Grande Prairie Cash Spiel
The Kellan Warr team, who won the Slave Lake event and qualified for the Tour Championship as they have played in the minimum of 2 required events.

 
 
Peace Curling Tour Junior Division
 The Tour has been blessed with improving numbers and interest on our Junior Curling programs. Dawson Creek and Sexsmith both organized and promoted significant and successful Junior Curling Events and Grande Prairie has six new Junior Teams engaging in exhibition games at their event.
We also have large increases in the U18 and U15 teams playing in the Challenge Division.  
If these teams playing in the Challenge Division do not secure adequate points to advance to the Tour Championship in the Challenge Division, we intend to have them included in one of the two Junior Divisions we created last year.
At this point 7 teams of U18 or U15 curlers or Junior Teams are registered to qualify for the Tour Championship in either the Challenge or Junior divisions and all will be accommodated:
  • Hayden Young – Challenge
  • Robert Nelson - Challenge
  • Green Beans – Challenge
  • Kyra Doepker - Challenge  
  • Quinn Farmer – Challenge
  • Kale Myker - Challenge
  • Kendra Binks – Junior Division
With the burgeoning interest in our Junior Programs across the Peace Country we will have to develop a more unified system for determining a qualification process for the Tour Championship that potentially could be synchronized with the great junior events being organized by the Sexsmith and Dawson Creek Curling Clubs which is such a positive and progressive development for our sport.
If anyone has questions, finds errors or omission please call, text or email and we will be happy to address, correct or expand on any issue.
 
Best of Curling to all!

Colin Griffith
President Peace Curling Development Society
[email protected]
780 933-9054
The Dawson Creek Mile Zero Cash Spiel, CHALLENGE DIVISION, November 13-15, 2020 

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Tracy Steinke, chair of DCCC organizing committee
The Dawson Creek Mile Zero Cash Spiel was separated into two weekends of play to ensure compliance with covid-19 protocols.
 
The Challenge Division Cash Spiel concluded play on Sunday November 15th, and the Competitive Division will be played this coming weekend starting on Friday, November 20th, 2020.

Tracy Steinke, chair of the Dawson Creek organizing committee, stated, “Our Challenge Division event this past weekend was very successful, and our club took every step to protect the health and safety of our curlers and fans.”
Tracy continued, “This event enjoyed a wonderful level of continued support from all of our sponsors and the community, and this support will continue onto the Competitive event next weekend. Under the direction of our general manager Jeff Ginter, we have continued our great reputation as being one of the best organized and enjoyable stops on the Peace Curling Tour.”

The weekend featured a host of special social and contests for the curlers and fans which gave a wonderful hiatus from our current challenges. 
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Jeff Ginter, General Manager
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Challenge Division Winners - Glenn Roszmann Team

​A full entry of 12 teams engaged in an excellent and highly-skilled contest over the weekend, with the local team of Glenn Roszmann, Neil McDonald, Joe Judge, and George Richmond prevailing in an extra end over the Brenda Ginter team. 

Teams compete at 4 qualifying cash spiels, including Dawson Creek, for berths at the Pomeroy Inn & Suites Tour Championships held in Sexsmith, tentatively slated for March 2021 when the Peace Country crowns its Competitive, Challenge and Junior Champions for the season.
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For further information, contact Colin Griffith at 780-933-9054 [email protected] or Tracy Steinke at [email protected]
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Challenge Division 2nd place - Brenda Ginter team

Slave Lake Petroleum Association Cash Spiel, November 6-8, 2020

The Slave Lake Curling Club did a marvelous job hosting the first Peace Curling Tour event of the season on November 6-8th, 2020.
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The club gave its whole attention to ensure the event was in strict compliance with all of the covid-19 protocols in place. The health and safety of the curlers and fans was their first priority.

The chair of the local organizing committee, Ryan Norman, stated, “Our organizing committee did a stellar job in putting on a great bonspiel complete with a full social agenda that was extremely well accepted and appreciated by all the curlers and fans. 
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Slave Lake Cash Spiel Volunteers (L to R): Ryan Norman, Julie Kitz, Darcy Hoover, Barb Carrell, Tyson Nehring, Amanda Dastou, Wayne Dastou, Carl McRee, Lee McRee (Missing: Carolann Porterfield, Donna Arseneau)
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Junior Team McSamderson
​ Ryan continued, “We were delighted that the Slave Lake Petroleum Association was once again our title sponsor and we also enjoyed the generous support of Whitecap Chevrolet Buick GMC and Mutch More Accounting and Bookkeeping.”
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There were 16 teams competing in 3 divisions over the weekend.
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In the Junior Division, Slave Lake’s local team McSamderson prevailed over 3 other excellent junior teams. 
In the Challenge Division, the Delia DeJong team out of Grande Prairie defeated the Mark Heartt team of Dawson Creek on a last rock decision.

In the tough Competitive Division, which featured 3 teams out of the Edmonton area, the Tracy Steinke/Scott Webb foursome from Dawson Creek prevailed. “Slave Lake as expected put on another fantastic weekend of curling. These guys could not have put on a better spiel,” said Steinke. 
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Delia DeJong Team
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Tracy Steinke/Scott Webb Team
Colin Griffith, President of the Peace Curling Tour, stated, “We want to congratulate Ryan Norman and his Slave Lake Committee for their dedication and initiative in successfully organizing this cash spiel. It was a huge undertaking to create such a great curling weekend for both curlers and fans despite all the challenges with covid-19 protocols”.
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Teams compete at 4 qualifying cash spiels, including Slave Lake, for berths at the Pomeroy Inn & Suites Tour Championships held in Sexsmith, tentatively slated for March 2021 when the Peace Country crowns its Competitive, Challenge and Junior Champions for the season.
For more information, contact Colin Griffith 780-933-9054 [email protected]

 The Peace Curling Tour is Alive and Curling!

 
Peace Country Curlers hit the ice in Slave Lake on November 6th, 2020 at the first event of four on this years Pomeroy Inn and Suites Peace Curling Tour.
 
Colin Griffith, President of the Tour stated all of our tour events will be fully compliant with all Covid 19 protocols. Our Society places its first and foremost  priority on the safety and health of all curlers, fans organizers and staff at all tour sponsored events and  the Peace Curling Development Society will join with the host clubs in full compliance  with all Covid protocols’, laws or regulations established by any level of government or curling governing body.
 
Our Board, in full consultation with our host clubs is confident that we can safely proceed with enjoying curling this year on the Peace Curling Tour.
 
Our schedule for this year is:

  1. Nov 6-8  -  Slave Lake Tour Event – Competitive, Challenge, and Junior
  2. Nov 13-15 – Dawson Creek – Challenge Division only - Tour Event
  3. Nov 20-22 – Dawson Creek – Competitive Division only – Tour event
  4. Dec 4-6 – Grande Prairie – Challenge Division only – Tour event
  5. Dec 4-6th – Sexsmith – Competitive Division only – Tour event
  6. Jan 22-24 – Peace River Tour Event – all divisions
  7. Dates to be announced for the Tour Curling Tour Championship in Sexsmith
 
 
B - Qualifications for Tour Championship
 
For the 2020-21 Season the top 6 teams in the Competitive and Challenge Divisions and the top 4 teams in Junior division will qualify for the Tour Championship.
 
C - Registration of Teams, 2020-21 entre fee; Spares and Substitute
 
The entry fees for 2020-21 shall remain unchanged. The Competitive Division entry is $700.00 per team, the Challenge Division entry is $400.00 per team and the Junior Entry fee is $40.00 per team. There will be no discount fee this year and each team will pay the fee  prior to their first game at each Tour event. This year each team that qualifies for the Tour Championship will also pay an entry fee of $75.00 which will be transferred to the host Sexsmith Curling Club.
 
All teams must file a team registration form with the Peace Curling Tour prior to participating in their first event. Up top 5 players may be registered. Teams qualifying for the Tour Championship must have at least 2 of their registered team playing at all times at all Tour events. At any qualifying event, a team may have a maximum of 2 substitute players, and they are allowed to play any position. 2 Spares are also allowed at the Tour Championship, but they must play front end positions. Curlers registered in the Challenge Division can substitute for either Challenge or Competitive Division teams. Curlers registered in the Competitive Division may substitute for a challenge division team but may only play front end positions.
 
 D - At each qualifying Tour event points shall be awarded as follows:

  1. 12 points for an event winner
  2. 10 points for a finalist
  3. 8 points for a semi-final
  4. 6 points for a quarter final​
  5. 4 points for a team losing a C event qualifying game
  6. 2 points for attending a Tour Event
  7. Bonus points – 3 for attending 2 events, 4 for attending 3 events and 5 for attending 4 events
  8. Event winners receive a berth in the Tour Championship if the team has played in a minimum of 2 events. 
  9. Tie breaker policy is number of events played, second is the number of first place finishes, then second place finishes and down the line
  10. Points awarded to the team according to the most registered players on that team
  11. Teams from the challenge division may play in the Competitive division at one of the tour events and any points earned will accrue to that team. The higher entry may be waived if requested to participate by the Tour to balance the draw.
                                                                                      
E - 2020 -21 Host club - Sanction event policy
 
In prior years, the Peace Curling Tour promoted and marketed the Tour, promoted, and coordinated team registrations and secured significant sponsorships that enabled us to host a well funded Peace Curling Championship.
 
The prior years we called on clubs hosting sanctioned qualifying event to provide a banquet, ice rentals and ancillary costs. The clubs used the Tour Events as an opportunity to secure sponsorships and support for their event and in many instances significant revenues were generated over and above their expenses to the general financial benefit of the club.
 
The Peace Curling Tour collected all entry fees and deducted $75.00 per team to cover Administrative costs of the Tour. The balance of the entry fees turned over to the respective club their costs for hosting the event and for the prize pool.
 
For this 2020-21 season the Tour will not be generating any significant sponsorship revenue in recognition of the financial challenges faced by their sponsors and key supporting business and individuals. We are planning to hold a Tour Championship this year and fund a significant prize pool from our Reserve Funds.
 
In recognition that  each of our host curling clubs all face extreme financial challenges we will be not expecting host clubs to provide a banquet at tour event s and additionally we will turn over to each club the $75.00 administrative fee previously retained by the Tour. We will ask that each club agree that the balance of all entry fees collected will be used for the prize pool except for the $75.00 that can be used to offset event costs.
Teams planning on joining the Tour this year can register their Teams by contacting Colin Griffith at 780 933-9054, or email at [email protected]
 
PictureFort St. John's Bob Cooper Team
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Highlights of the 2019-2020 Pomeroy Inn & Suites Peace Curling Tour Championship:

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Bob Cooper out of Fort St. John is the Cora Breakfast and Lunch Challenge Division Peace Country curling champion. The Cooper team defeated defending champion Courtland Sonnenberg in a hard-fought final in Sexsmith on Sunday, and Cooper repeats his 2012-2013 Challenge Division championship. He was joined by his son Travis Cooper who played second, Darryl Horst who played lead, and Kevin Young as third. Cooper said, “The competition was really well run, it was a nice event to play in, and it was very unexpected to win.”​
PictureCasey Patterson Junior Winners from Dawson Creek
In the Lake View Credit Union Junior Division, Casey Patterson from Dawson Creek won the Peace Country crown over Colesie Vandale from Tumbler Ridge. Mother-of-the-winning-skip Alisha Patterson said, “They really enjoyed the entire Tour. This was their first time playing as a team together and they appreciated the opportunity to play as a mixed team. It was a great event, and they were glad they were able to pull it all together for a win.”
PictureSpecial Olympics Champions - The Dawson Creek Tornados


The Dawson Creek Tornados won the Peace Country title against the Fort St. John Lightning in the Baron Oilfield Supply Special Olympics Division final. Mark Heartt, coach of the winning team, stated, “all of the Special Olympic teams were tremendously pleased with the reception they received by all of the teams and fans at the Peace Country Tour championship. Our curlers go on to play at regional, provincial, and national levels. It is a wonderful opportunity to be able to gain experience and participate at the local level, which is a major step forward in the growth of Special Olympic development in the Peace Country. We are very excited to participate on the Pomeroy Inn & Suites Curling Tour next year.”

POMEROY INN & SUITES PEACE Curling Tour Championship
Sexsmith, January 10-12, 2020

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The Pomeroy Inn & Suites Peace Curling Tour Championship takes place at the Sexsmith Curling Club this weekend January 10-12, 2020. Twenty teams have earned berths to the Championship by qualifying through our five cash spiels held at Grande Prairie, Peace River, Slave Lake, Dawson Creek, and Fort St. John. The top 8 Competitive and Challenge Division teams, together with the top four Junior teams and 4 Special Olympic teams will all compete for the title Peace Country Champions in their divisions.
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In the Competitive Division, Scott Webb’s team from Peace River returns to defend their Peace Country championship title they won last year. Webb said, “We are very excited to get the opportunity to defend our title, especially when you look at the high calibre of teams that we are up against. We are looking forward to some excellent curling this weekend on some of the best ice in the Peace Region.” Eight teams qualified from the Competitive Division, with a former Tour Champion - the Jeff Ginter foursome out of Dawson Creek - topping the points list.
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 At the tender average age of 15, Courtland Sonnenberg’s team has again qualified for the Tour Championship and has every intention of making a valiant effort to defend the Peace Country title they won last season for the first time in the Cora Breakfast and Lunch Challenge Division, which has teams of all ages and genders competing. Coach Renee Sonnenberg said, “This year the team has moved to a new level of technical ability and consistency which has been strengthened by the opportunity to play on the Pomeroy Inn & Suites Peace Curling Tour.” The Mark Heartt team out of Dawson Creek topped the list of 8 qualifiers in this division.

The commitment of Junior and Special Olympic teams, players, sponsors, coaches, parents, and support casts is astounding. Peace Curling Development Society President Colin Griffith says, “We will undoubtedly continue to produce curlers in the Peace Country that will have stellar careers and will go on to compete at provincial, national, and world levels.”

All curling fans are invited to Sexsmith this weekend to witness some great curling by the best teams in the Peace Country at the Pomeroy Inn & Suites Peace Curling Tour Championship. The games begin at noon on Friday and go right through to the championship finals on Sunday afternoon.
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For more information contact Colin Griffith at 780-933-9054 or [email protected]

THE PERFECT CHRISTMAS GIFT FOR CURLERS!

​What: 4-­‐hour clinic and lunch with Marc Kennedy, Renee Sonnenberg, and Les Sonnenberg
When: Sunday February 9, 2020 (morning & lunch OR lunch and afternoon)
Where: Sexsmith Curling Club
Who: Pomeroy Inn & Suites Peace Curling Tour competitors and potential adult Tour participants*
Fee: $130 (including GST) per participant (maximum 24 per session)

Outline:
• 3 hours on-ice
• 1 hour off-­ice
• Lunch and fireside chat with Marc 

*This event is not open to juniors unless they played in the Competitive Division or Cora Breakfast and Lunch Challenge Division at a Pomeroy Inn & Suites Peace Curling Tour event.

Register by email, include your name and preference of morning or afternoon: [email protected]

E-­‐transfer $130.00 to [email protected] Password: champions
Registrations are taken on a first come first paid basis - 24 reserved for Tour players, 24 reserved for non-Tour players until January 17th at which time waiting lists will fill the clinic.

​https://www.facebook.com/events/481078665929426/

Lake View Credit Union Fort St. John Cash Spiel
​December 6-8, 2019

PictureTeam Webb
The Lake View Credit Union Fort St. John Cash Spiel was an overwhelming success and a great windup of the five qualifying spiels leading to the Pomeroy Inn & Suites Peace Curling Tour Championship.

Scott Webb’s Peace River quartet prevailed over the Jeff Ginter team out of Dawson Creek in a hard-fought extra-end victory. Webb stated, “We are really excited to qualify for the Tour Championship in Sexsmith as we really do want to defend our title as the best Competitive Division team in the Peace Country, which we won last year. Our team wants to extend a most-sincere congratulations to Glen Godberson and his committee for putting on a tremendous cash spiel with great ice conditions, banquet, and social events. Our whole team is absolutely delighted that our second man, Steve Byrne, was selected by his curling peers as the outstanding socialite of the entire cash spiel.”
PictureTeam Maxwell
In the Cora Breakfast and Lunch Challenge Division, Marlene Maxwell out of Dawson Creek won her first cash spiel of the season by defeating the Mark Heartt team in a close and entertaining final game. Maxwell stated, “We got off to a slow start on Tour but are happy to have achieved our goal of making the Tour Championship in Sexsmith and building towards our Senior Provincial run.”

Maxwell added, “Our team participated in the Peace Curling Tour’s online coaching and curling development sessions, and as well, we worked directly with Renee Sonnenberg on strategy. The opportunity for our Senior team to learn and develop new skills and abilities and to gain a newfound strategic approach on the Tour has been a wonderful experience, and I am now in a position where I have the opportunity to pass on all of my learnings to the Junior curlers I work with in my own club.”
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Renee Sonnenberg, who assisted the Maxwell team, said, “I really appreciate having the chance to share my strategy and tactics with local teams in the same manner that I do with Canada’s elite teams as a National-level coach. I also appreciate the opportunity to play a significant role with the Peace Curling Development Society in coaching and working with curlers of all ages, genders and abilities.”
PictureTeam Pellerin
​In the Baron Oilfield Supply Special Olympics Division, both teams each won a game and had fun. The Dawson Creek Tornados and the Fort St. John Lightning are extremely excited to play next at the Pomeroy Inn & Suites Peace Curling Tour Championships along with two more Special Olympics teams: the Grande Prairie Blizzard and the Grande Prairie Hurricanes.

In the Lake View Credit Union Junior Division, the last shot of the last game at the last qualifying event of the season decided who was the last Junior team to qualify for the Tour Championship. Colesie Pellerin of Debolt was one up playing the last end, but facing three counters by the Harper Bilodeau team out of Sexsmith. Pellerin made a perfect hit and roll to the button to count one, to win the game, which gave her team the final berth to the Pomeroy Inn & Suites Tour Championship in Sexsmith January 10-12, 2020. Her teammates included: Mackenna Sibbeston, Brylie Pellerin, and Allegra Pardy. The other Junior teams who qualified for the Pomeroy Inn & Suites Tour Championship are Team Vandale from Tumbler Ridge, Team Patterson out of Dawson Creek, and Boys With Brooms from Grande Prairie.
PictureGlen Godberson
​PCDS President Colin Griffith stated, “We have enjoyed one of the best cash spiel seasons ever in the Pomeroy Inn & Suites Peace Curling Tour with each of our five hosting communities doing a magnificent job in organizing, promoting, and delivering great events for all of our very appreciative curlers. Glen Godberson and his committee epitomize exactly what we all strive for in terms of excellence in delivering a well-planned and executed sporting event that involves the local business community, sponsors, and curling fans.”

Press release November 26, 2019

PictureGraham Powell
The Dawson Creek Mile Zero Cash Spiel presented by Lake View Credit Union and the business community of Dawson Creek ended on a dramatic note with Graham Powell drawing the 4 foot with the last rock of the bonspiel to win the Competitive Division over the Shawn Donnelly foursome out of Edmonton. Graham was supported by his daddy Kenny Powell, good friend Kelsey Dusseault, and Marc Boisvert who played a great game at lead highlighted by making two great tick shots in the last end of the championship game which contributed to him winning his first cash spiel. Graham continued by congratulating the Shawn Donnelly team on a great performance going undefeated right up to the final game. Shawn was supported by third man Jordan Steinke, Brett Winfield, and Kenton Maschmeyer.
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The event was the fourth out of five qualifying events for the Pomeroy Inn & Suites Peace Curling Tour Championship which will take place January 10-12, 2020 in Sexsmith.
PictureTeam Sonnenberg
The young Courtland Sonnenberg team out of Grande Prairie won the Cora Breakfast and Lunch Challenge Division championship, and Courtland stated, “We loved this event in Dawson Creek. There was a great deal of positive energy at the event and we appreciated the excellent ice conditions resulting from the hard work of the professional ice makers.” Sonnenberg, along with his teammates Owen Fenske, Jaxon Hiebert, and Adam Elsenheimer, learned from a number of pressure-filled deficits during the spiel, and went on to prevail over the balance of the field. Coach Les Sonnenberg offered, “Our team wants to recognize that Dawson Creek has an enviable record of putting on a world-class event that is exceptionally well-organized and is one that we don’t intend to miss in the future. Special kudos to Jeff Ginter and Tracy Steinke.”
PictureVandale Junior Team L to R: Emmalynn Pindera, Destiny Vandale, and Kokoa Fujimaki
The Destiny Vandale team out of Tumbler Ridge won the junior championship on Sunday against the Casey Patterson team, which put them in the lead for overall standings in the Lake View Credit Union Junior Division of the Tour. Boys with Brooms won the B event over Team Pellerin, both teams which have participated in 3 tour events to date. PCDS President Colin Griffith said, “I want to recognize the dedication of the parents and young curlers who travel from afar to attend all of our Tour events. It is heartwarming to watch these young curlers have such an enjoyable time as they learn the game and interact with the adult teams.”
PictureThe Dawson Creek Tornados - L to R: Assistant Coach Leanne Lacey, Dara Watson, David Leachman, Lisa Perry, David Johnston, Head Coach Mark Heartt
​President of the Peace Curling Tour, Colin Griffith, stated, “Our Pomeroy Inn & Suites Peace Curling Tour is renowned for being inclusive and open to curlers and fans of all ages, genders and skill levels. We are extremely pleased to add to our inclusiveness by unveiling the Special Olympic Division of the Tour sponsored by Baron Oilfield Supply”.

Barry Smith, President of Baron, stated, “We are very proud to support the Special Olympic Division and to be part of the Peace Curling Tour.”
PictureFort St. John Lightning - L to R: Coach Donna Stolk, Britni Renaud, Miranda Laboucane, Paul Brooks, Levi Fowler, Coach Kim Turney

​The Special Olympic Division of the Tour kicked off their inaugural games between the Dawson Creek Tornados and the Fort St. John Lightning in Dawson Creek on November 24, 2019, and they will be a part of the upcoming Fort St. John spiel and Tour Championship in Sexsmith in January, 2020. Special Olympics spokesman Mark Heartt said, "This gives our Special Olympic athletes a chance to not only play against their peers but to be part of the sport of curling in general. They will joining the best curlers in the Peace Country and we are very excited they will have this wonderful opportunity”.

The fifth and final qualifying event for the Pomeroy Inn & Suites Peace Curling Tour Championship takes place December 6-8, 2019 at the Lake View Credit Union Fort St. John Cash Spiel.
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For further information, contact Colin Griffith at 780-933-9054/[email protected] or Tracy Steinke at 250-219-2790/[email protected]

Dawson Creek Mile Zero Cash Spiel
Presented by: Lake View Credit Union and the Business Community of Dawson Creek
​November 22-24, 2019

PictureSpecial Olympics Curlers
The Dawson Creek Mile Zero Cash Spiel presented by Lake View Credit Union and the business community of Dawson Creek kicks off this Friday, November 22nd, 2019. “Curling Teams will be contesting for supremacy in 4 divisions,” stated Tracy Steinke, Chair of the Cash Spiel Committee. “We are very excited to host 3 teams from China this year which gives our event a true international flavour. As well, we have over 30 teams attending from all over the Peace Country and Edmonton area.”

The Dawson Creek Cash Spiel also is extremely pleased to have a new title sponsor. CEO of Lake View Credit Union Lori Archibald declared “Lake View Credit Union is incredibly proud of our partnership with the Peace Curling Tour and the Dawson Creek Curling Community. Our emphasis on providing quality of life services for young people and families makes the title sponsorship of both Dawson Creek and Fort St Johns Cash spiels as well as our sponsorship of the Peace Curling Tour Junior Division a natural fit for our community investment efforts and we wish best of luck to all curlers”.

President of the Peace Curling Tour, Colin Griffith, stated, “Our Pomeroy Inn & Suites Peace Curling Tour is renowned for being inclusive and open to curlers and fans of all ages, genders and skill levels. We are extremely pleased to add to our inclusiveness by unveiling the Special Olympic division of the Tour sponsored by Baron Oilfield Supply”.

Barry Smith, President of Baron, stated, “We are very proud to support the Special Olympic Division and to be part of the Peace Curling Tour.”

Dawson Creek Special Olympics spokesman Mark Heartt said, “The Special Olympic Division of the Tour will feature The Dawson Creek Tornados playing the Fort St. John Lighting in their inaugural games this weekend, and they will be part of the upcoming Fort St John Cash Spiel and  Tour Championship in Sexsmith in January, 2020. This gives our Special Olympic athletes a chance to not only play against their peers but to be part of the sport of curling in general. They will joining the best curlers in the Peace Country and we are very excited they will have this wonderful opportunity”.

Tracy Steinke, chair of the event, stated, “Our Cash Spiel is one of the most popular stops on the Tour and well known for having some of the best ice conditions, banquet, and hospitable events on the Tour.  We take great pride in maintaining our reputation and hosting teams and fans. With the international teams mixing in with our competitive, challenge, juniors and Special Olympians, we will have a fantastic fun filled weekend.”

The Pomeroy Inn & Suites Peace Curling Tour consists of 5 qualifying events with the top teams in each division vying for a spot at the Tour Championship in Sexsmith where Peace Country Champions are crowned.

For further information, contact Colin Griffith at 780-933-9054 / [email protected] or Tracy Steinke at 250-219-2790 / [email protected]

November 16, 2019 Press Release

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There was unanimous agreement from Curlers and Fans that the inaugural Slave Lake Petroleum Cash Spiel was a resounding success.

Ryan Norman, local Chairman said, “The Cash spiel was 2 years in the making after we were invited to become a qualifying event on the Pomeroy Inn and Suites Peace Curling Tour. Carl McRee and Wayne Dastou were key partners, amongst a great organizing committee that deserves a tremendous thankyou. We were successful in hosting two dozen Curling Teams from the Peace Country, the Edmonton area as well as two teams from China that added a very special international flavour to our event.”
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The Krysta Hilker team out of Edmonton won the Competitive Title over the Jeff Ginter quartet from Dawson Creek in a hard-fought contest. Krysta offered “a big thankyou to the Peace Curling Tour and the Slave Lake Curling Club for putting together and hosting an amazing bonspiel this weekend. My team of Jordan Steinke, Sydney Lewko and Heather Steele appreciated the opportunity to participate in this wonderful event alongside so many great teams”
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 The Chinese IM Junior Team skipped by Jiahong Ma qualified for the Competitive Division Sunday Championship round together with the Chinese Women’s Team skipped by Yanan Guo. After outlasting the Women’s team in the quarter final Jiahong Ma lost to the Jeff Ginter foursome in a close semi -final contest. The local favourite Ryan Norman advanced to the semi final before being sidelined by the winning Krysta Hilker foursome.
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The Challenge division is being dominated lately by the Doug deBoon team out of Peace River who won their second straight Cash Spiel in Slave Lake following their recent victory in Peace River.
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​With skipper deBoon off on holiday Dave Derewianko took over the reins and continued their winning streak defeating the Glen Godberson rink from Fort St John in the Sunday final in Slave Lake. Dave remarked, “The Challenge final was shot for shot with the lead changing hands a few times making for a very tight and interesting game. The timely shot making, and strategy calls elevated the level of play. Glen made a pistol of a last shot in the extra end and forced us to make a great runback for the win. It was an extremely well played game.” Dave was supported by third John Kuran, lead Roger Laliberte, and Pam Morrison who did a tremendous job at second after being recruited as a last-minute substitute from the Slave Lake Club.
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In the Junior Division Six teams, 3 of them from the Slave Lake Club competed against teams from Tumbler Ridge, Debolt and Grande Prairie. Points are awarded on a win/loss basis in this division.

The Destiny Vandale team out of Tumbler Ridge and “The Shivs” out of Slave Lake both went undefeated in their 2 games. The Boys with Brooms out of Grande Prairie and the Curling Beauties out of Slave Lake were 1 and 1, while the Colesie Pellerin team from Debolt and the Ice Breakers out of Slave Lake were outlasted in both of their hard-fought games.
Tracy Steinke, Vice President of the Peace Curling Tour, stated, “We want to congratulate Ryan Norman and his Slave Lake Committee for hosting one of the best organized and fun events we could ever expect on our Tour. The ice conditions were fantastic as was the banquet and all of the social events and we look forward to returning next year.”

Teams compete at 5 qualifying cash spiels, now including Slave Lake, for berths at the Pomeroy Inn & Suites Tour Championships held in Sexsmith January 2020 when the Peace Country crowns its Competitive, Challenge and Junior Champions for the year.

The next stop on the Peace Curling Tour is the Dawson Creek Lakeview Credit Union Cash spiel on November 22 to 24th, 2019 which is promising to be another great qualifying opportunity for Peace Country teams.

For further information contact:
Colin Griffith – 780 933-9054 or [email protected]
​

Slave Lake Petroleum Association Cash Spiel
​November 8-10, 2019

An international flavour has been added to the first ever Cash Spiel in Slave Lake November 8 to 10th, 2019.

Two teams from China will be competing against Peace Country and Edmonton area teams. Ryan Norman Chair of the Cash Spiel Committee said, “We have over 20 teams coming to Slave Lake and the addition of the two Chinese teams will be a wonderful experience for all curlers and fans”.

Ryan added, “This is Slave Lake’s first time hosting a qualifying event for the Pomeroy Inn & Suites Peace Curling Tour and we are delighted that the Slave Lake Petroleum Association has become our title sponsor together with tremendous support from the local business community and local curlers and fans”.

Colin Griffith, President of the Peace Curling Tour, stated, “We want to congratulate Ryan Norman and his Slave Lake Committee for their dedication and initiative in proposing and organizing this cash spiel. It is a huge undertaking and all indications are that it is going to be a great curling weekend for both curlers and fans”.

Teams compete at 5 qualifying cash spiels, now including Slave Lake, for berths at the Pomeroy Inn & Suites Tour Championships held in Sexsmith January 2020 when the Peace Country crowns its Competitive, Challenge and Junior Champions for the year.
​

October 29, 2019 Press Release

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The Encana Peace River Cash Spiel was a major success, especially for the two Peace River teams who captured gold on their home ice.
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This was the second qualifying event for the Pomeroy Inn & Suites Peace Curling Tour Championships in Sexsmith this January.

 Scott Webb skipped the winning team in the Competitive Division. Webb and his teammates Dean Darwent, Steve Byrne, and Damien Gnass were very excited by their stellar performance in front of their hometown crowd. “Winning our own Encana Cash Spiel is so special to each of us,” said Scott Webb. “This is our ticket to the Tour Championship and a chance to become the Peace Country Champions this year.” The Webb team will face stiff competition at the Pomeroy Inn & Suites Peace Curling Tour Championship including Delia DeJong who won the Cora Breakfast and Lunch Cash Spiel in Grande Prairie. ​
PictureThe de Boon team out of Peace River
The Cora Breakfast and Lunch Challenge Division was won by Peace River’s Doug de Boon team along with teammates John Kuran, Roger Laliberte, and Perry Brust. “We couldn’t be happier with our performance in Peace River. I was very comfortable on my home ice. It was a great weekend, we got in the zone. All the teams played really well,” said de Boon.

In the Lake View Credit Union Junior Division, Liam Collins from Manning was the A event winner over Destiny Vandale from Tumbler Ridge. On the B-side, Boys with Brooms skipped by Robert Nelson of Grande Prairie won over the Colsie Pellerin team from Debolt. 

The next qualifying event is the Slave Lake Petroleum Association Cash Spiel November 8-10, 2019.

October 24, 2019 PRESS RELEASE

The second leg of the Pomeroy Inn & Suites Peace Curling Tour goes this weekend with the Encana Cash Spiel taking place at the Peace River Curling Club. Scott Webb, chair of the Encana Cash Spiel Committee, extends a warm welcome to Peace Country curlers and fans for the fifth edition of the Peace River Cash Spiel.
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The Encana Cash Spiel has attracted 23 teams of all ages from across the Peace Region.​
Competitive Division Draw:
pr_draw_competitive_division.pdf
File Size: 229 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File
Cora Breakfast and Lunch Challenge Division Draw:
pr_draw_challenge_division.pdf
File Size: 534 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File
Lake View Credit Union Junior Division Draw:
pr_draw_junior_division.pdf
File Size: 356 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

OCTOBER 15, 2019 Press Release

PictureFirst Female Skip to win a PCT Spiel - Delia DeJong
​History was made this weekend at the Cora Breakfast and Lunch Cash spiel in Grande Prairie.
 
Delia Dejong became the first female skip to win a Cash Spiel in the 12 year history of the Pomeroy Inn and Suites Peace Curling Tour. President Colin Griffith stated, “This outstanding win by Delia over a field that included a number of provincial and Canadian championship curlers illustrates not only their great skill and ability but the wonderful opportunity our Tour gives curlers of all ages and genders to win the gold medal.”
PictureFrom left to right: Jaclyn Collins, Stephanie Malekoff, Robbie Maksymetz, Delia DeJong
Delia was supported in her championship run by her proud spouse Rob Maksymetz, Stephanie Malekoff, Jaclyn Collins and Vern Boyd who stepped in for Rob who was called to work for the Sunday Championship Round. They defeated Scott Webb of Peace River in a hard fought final, after overcoming last year's winner Daylan Vavrek in the quarter finals and the Ryan Norman quartet from Slave Lake in the semi-final.

When asked what it felt like to be the First Lady winner, Delia responded “We are pretty honored. We had so much fun this weekend. This newly-minted team melded together from the first rock thrown, and knowing I had the full support of my team allowed me to relax and focus. Everyone on our team curled excellently and in my mind Stephanie Malekoff who moved to third for the Championship round on Sunday was without doubt the MVP in the Cash Spiel.”
PictureMark Heartt didn't end up on the bottom
Mark Heartt of Dawson Creek overcame a superb effort from Cortland Sonnenberg in his bid to repeat as winner of the Cora Breakfast and Lunch Challenge Division at last year’s Cash spiel.

Mark Heartt and his team of John Inkster, Derek Wurnberg, and Oleh Dutka went undefeated in 5 games and this first-year team was delighted with their early success at the Pomeroy Inn and Suites Peace Curling Tour. Mark Heartt added, “This was absolutely the most fun and enjoyment we could have at a Cash Spiel. The ice was excellent, and Roger is also a wonderful ambassador on behalf of his club. We were also very impressed with the curling and conduct of the young Cortland Sonnenberg team.”
PictureWe will get stronger
In assessing their first event of the year the conclusion of the Sonnenberg quartet and their coach was that “we are in the early learning stages and we will be working hard to improve on a number of things we identified at this great event in Grande Prairie.”

The stage is clearly set for some exciting Challenge Division competition at the next four qualifying events starting next with the EnCana Peace River Cash Spiel on October 25-27th, 2019.
PictureTeam Sherrer and Janais didn't get to play mommy in the final
Curlers and teams were attracted from across the north, including the Marla Sherrer team from Lacombe who won the Avonair Ladies Cash Spiel in Edmonton last week. Third on the team is Janais Dejong and their semi final loss to Team Webb ended Delia Dejong’s dream of an all ladies final playing against her daughter.

The Cora Breakfast and Lunch Cash Spiel attracted curlers and teams from across the Peace Country, Province and North including Calgary, Edmonton and Yellowknife.
PictureThe Cassie Rogers team still happy after a 12-hour trip to GP
The Cassie Rogers Junior Ladies team from Yellowknife entered the Challenge Division and enjoyed exciting games and gained a great deal of experience. Cassie Rogers stated “thanks for the hospitality and energy at this weekend’s tour event. We loved getting back on the ice for our first games this season and you ran a great tournament. We learned a lot from all the great curlers and look forward to coming back again. Special thanks to Roger for the great ice”.

On Sunday the Cassie Rogers team played and Exhibition game against the Boys with Brooms team from Grande Prairie, a very talented, young, and upcoming junior team. 
PictureBoys with Brooms - young and very talented - Varyk Doepker, Noah Mok, Robert Nelson, Hayden Phillips
President Colin Griffith concluded, “We want to thank Cora Breakfast and Lunch for their title Sponsorship of this year’s Grande Prairie Cash Spiel. It was an excellent start to this season’s Pomeroy Inn & Suites Peace Curling Tour. We are indebted to the Grande Prairie Curling Centre for their hard work and hospitality and for continuing with their strong tradition of having some of the best curling ice offered in the Peace Country”. 

TOUR STANDINGS AFTER the Cora Breakfast and Lunch Grande Prairie Cash Spiel October 11-13, 2019

October 1st, 2019 press release

Curling in the Peace Country starts on October 11th when action starts at The Cora Breakfast and Lunch Grande Prairie Cash Spiel.

This is the first event on the Pomeroy Inn and Suites Peace Curling Tour, which leads to the Tour Championship in Sexsmith on January 10-12th, 2020, where the champion curlers in the Peace Country are crowned in the Competitive Division, the Cora Breakfast and Lunch Challenge Division, and the Lake View Credit Union Junior Division. 

Peace Curling Tour President Colin Griffith stated, “We are pleased to announce that we have added a fifth cash spiel this year, The Slave Lake Petroleum Cash Spiel, which goes on the Remembrance Day weekend. This spreads our curling events throughout the Peace Country with our existing qualifying events: The Dawson Creek Mile Zero Cash Spiel presented by Lake View Credit Union, the Lake View Credit Union Fort St. John Cash Spiel, the Encana Peace River Cash Spiel, and the Cora Breakfast and Lunch Grande Prairie Cash Spiel.”

Our events feature curlers of all ages, genders, and skill levels, from world champions to curling youngsters in helmets. We enjoy tremendous support from the curling fans in the Peace Country and we are looking forward to another great season of curling entertainment.

Serge Martin, President of the Grande Prairie Curling Centre, added, “We are very excited that Cora Breakfast and Lunch has become our Title Sponsor and we want to remind all interested teams that the deadline for entry in the Grande Prairie Cash Spiel is Monday, October 7th, 2019. Our curling centre extends a warm welcome to Peace Country curlers and all of our loyal fans.”
Colin Griffith, President
On behalf of the PCDS Board
​

Welcome to the 2019-2020 curling season!​

We welcome all Peace Country Curlers to an exciting new season of curling on the Pomeroy Inn & Suites Peace Curling Tour. Please join us in welcoming Slave Lake as our newest cash spiel, and as well, we have worked with the host committees to establish new dates for a number of the events. ​
Our motto for this year is “Play More and Pay Less”, and this is a real bargain. Please complete your entry form (available below) and return as soon as possible to help our host cash spiel committees plan their events. At this point, we would appreciate knowing your tentative plans as to which cash spiels your team plans on entering. Your final plans for the year and the official team entry form and entry fee can be submitted on October 11th at the Grande Prairie Cash Spiel or at the first cash spiel your team attends. The team entry fee for the Junior Division is $40 per event to a maximum of $200. The Junior Division Tour curls on the Sunday of each of our Tour events and there are a number of additional Junior spiels being planned at other curling clubs. Please refer to the Junior entry form found on this site under the Division menu. 
We have been successful in attracting a number of new sponsors this year for the Peace Curling Tour, and as well, a number of the cash spiel committees have attracted new title sponsors. Some additional sponsorships may be forthcoming.

We are looking forward to a wonderful new season of curling in the Peace Country. For the first time this year, five games at the Tour Championship will be live on Eastlink TV, so play hard, you may become a movie star!
Colin Griffith, President
​On behalf of the PCDS Board

2019-2020 PEACE CURLING TOUR DATES

  • Grande Prairie Cash Spiel presented by Cora Breakfast and Lunch - October 11-13, 2019
  • Peace River Cash Spiel presented by Encana - October 25-27, 2019
  • Slave Lake Cash Spiel presented by the Slave Lake Petroleum Association - November 8-10, 2019
  • Dawson Creek Mile Zero Cash Spiel presented by Lake View Credit Union - November 22-24, 2019
  • Fort St. John Cash Spiel presented by Lake View Credit Union - December 6-8, 2019 ​​
  • Peace Curling Tour Championship in Sexsmith presented by Pomeroy Inn & Suites - January 10-12, 2020

tour registration forms:

peace_curling_tour_registration_2019-2020.pdf
File Size: 205 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File
junior_division_entry_form_2019-2020.pdf
File Size: 195 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

Overview of the Peace Curling Tour

The tour mandate is to offer competitive events that will give teams the opportunity to  develop and compete in order to increase the number and quality of teams vying to represent the Peace Curling  Association at the provincial  level and beyond.  

The Peace Curling Tour Championship on January 10-12, 2020 is held at Sexsmith, AB with the top 20 teams in the Peace Country vying for the crown as the Peace Country's premier team in each of the following 3 divisions:
Qualification for the Tour Championship is based on the points accumulated from all five Tour cash spiels held in the fall of 2019.