Canada, Norway jump into early lead at Worlds

German skip Andy

Kapp will do any-

thing to help guide

his rock in the right

direction, even if it

means swinging his

leg out wide. The

Germans have a 1-2

record after Day

Two at the Ford

Worlds.

Monday, April 6, 2009 2

Draw to the Button CompetitionParticipating curling clubs in the Maritimes

have held competitions to determine their rep-resentative at the “Draw to the ButtonCompetition. Qualifying round to take placeFriday, April 10th at 1 p.m. at CurlingBeausejour Inc. The finalists will compete dur-ing the fifth-end break at Friday night’s 7:30playoff game.

Autograph SessionProudly sponsored by Hansen Signs

Former world champions and the 12 partici-pating teams will be available for autographsin The Patch each day until Thursday, April 9.On Saturday, April 11th, 10 of the 12 teams willbe on hand. Bring your cameras for a lastingmemento.

Schedule:Monday, April 6 — 6-7 p.m. CZE / FINTuesday, April 7 — 6-7 p.m. SUI / USA / SCO

/ GER

Pin Trading and Map of the World Pin DrawProudly sponsored by Lounsbury Group

Visit the “Pin Trader” booths in the Patch.Show us where you’re frtom! Find the worldmap located in the Keith’s Patch and stick apin on your home town, get an entry from theInformation Booth, and enter the draw to wina wonderful prize. The draw will be made dur-ing the page playoff game (draw 18) on Fridayevening, April 10.

Up Close and PersonalProudly sponsored by InColor, Aliant and

Coca-ColaCome and meet teams, media and interna-

tional personalities in the relaxed setting of theKeith’s Patch. Participate in live, informativeinterview with former world champions, TeamCanada, TSN media and other special guests.Asking questions of these guests involvesaudience participation, so join us for whatpromises to be an informative and fun event.

Monday, April 66-7 p.m.

Up Close and PersonalErnie Richardson, Canada • 1959, 60, 62, 63

World ChampionArnold Richardson, Canada • 1959, 60, 62, 63

World ChampionSam Richardson, Canada • 1959, 60, 62, 63

World ChampionWes Richardson, Canada • 1959, 60, 62

World ChampionRon Northcott, Canada • 1966, 68, 69 World

ChampionTuesday, April 7

6-7 p.m.Up Close and Personal

Peja Lindholm, Sweden • 1997, 2001, 04World Champion

Randy Ferby, Canada • 1989, 2002, 03, 05World Champion

David Smith, Scotland • 1991 WorldChampion

The EYE OPENEREDITOR Larry Wood

ASSOCIATE EDITOR Dave KomoskyINFO-CURL QUOTIDIEN: Normand Leger

PHOTOGRAPHER: Mike Burns Jr.PUBLISHED BY: The Times&Transcript

Over three matches and two days,Team Canada ’09 has experiencedonly marginal difficulty at the

Ford Worlds and the skeptics might beready to suggest Kevin Martin’sEdmonton crew is capable of makinghamburger out of the remainder of the 12-team field.

“No danger,” Martin was quick to dis-agree on Sunday night following a 9-4hammer job on China’s Fenchung Wangwho, a year ago, handed this sameCanadian team its only round-robindefeat.

“That isn’t the way it works. I’ve beento enough of these to know better thanthat.”

But Canada hasn’t yet been required towield the hammer. Even Thomas Ulsrud,

who matched Canada’s3-and-0 record headinginto Day Three at theColiseum, couldn’tmake that statement.

“Sooner or later,” saidMartin, “I’ll have tothrow the last one. Allyou can do is do what youcan do. We’re playingwell and we’re matchingthe stones well.

“We haven’t seen Switzerland yet. Wehaven’t seen Scotland, we haven’t seenNorway. And the Norwegians aren’t hav-ing any trouble right now. They’re mak-ing everything. And Thomas loves todraw all the time. So obviously we’ll tryto get him to hit as much as possible whenwe play him.

“I know (Scotland’s David) Murdochcan’t wait to play us. And (Switzerland’sRalph) Stoeckli has us beaten in Norway.He threw his last rock too heavy. He hadto hit the four-foot. So I know he’d loveto get another piece of us, too.

“These guys will play better against usthis week. We know that.”

Scotland’s Murdoch, the 2006 champand 2008 finalist who lost to Martin in thechampionship final, matched Martin’stwo-win output on Sunday and trailedCanada by a game following an opening-round setback on Saturday.

The boys from the auld sod clubbedAmerican champ John Shuster of Duluth12-6 in the morning, then survived a trialby bombs in the evening and outlasted

Germany’s Andy Kapp 11-8.In that latter tilt, each team hung up a

four-ender and there wasn’t a single pointregistered anywhere.

“The ice is not perfect but it’s not bad,”said Murdoch, parrying inquisitorsattempting to discover the reason for ageneral lack of defence.

“Sometimes you’re searching a little onthe draw. It (scoring and yielding all thosepoints) is not what we’re very keen on.It’s not good for the heart, I can tell you.

“We just need to tighten up a little. Theshots you usually make we’re not quitemaking here and that’s putting us in trou-ble. We need to adjust our game a little.”

Martin thumped France’s ThomasDufour 7-2 in the afternoon but Dufourrebounded on the late shift to hammerYusuki Morozumi of Japan 8-2 and joinMurdoch and Shuster at 2-and-1. TheYanks rebounded, too, waxing the Swiss10-3.

But back to Murdoch. Does he reallywant a piece of Martin as badly as Martinsuggests?

“Of course we want to beat theseguys,” he said. “They beat us last yearand we’d like to step up and get that titleback.”

To that end, Murdoch spent part of lastmonth scouting Martin’s heroics at theTim Hortons Brier.

“There were a lot of good teams in theBrier but outside of Glenn Howard I don’tthink any of those teams hit top formagainst Kevin,” he said.

“Those guys (Martin) were playingexceptionally well and I don’t think anyone else that week was close to matchingthat performance. But I think the Worldsfield definitely is tougher than the Brier Isaw.

“He (Martin) is the best in the worldjust now so there’s definite intimidationthere. But I think there are a lot of teamsthat can play their own game and makethe shots they know they’re capable ofmaking and control their own course.”

Norway had but one assignment onSunday and easily dispensed with JiriSnitil’s Czechs 8-2.

Elsewhere, Kapp stole an extra-end 10-9 winner against Stoeckli in the morning,and Japan socked it to China 10-2 in theafternoon whiled Denmark’s UlrikSchmidt was defeating Finland’s KalleKiiskinen 7-5 in the lone match for bothteams.

Martin keeps wary eyeBy LARRY WOOD

Eye Opener Editor

Canadian skip discounts suggestions of World rout

Canada’s John Morris (right) sneaks a peek as he leans on his brush Sunday

at the Ford Worlds. Canada is a perfect 3-0 after two days of play.

Monday, April 6, 2009 3

SEE

SCORES,Page 13

PLEASE SEE WORLDS P11

Monday, April 6, 2009 4

Monday, April 6, 2009 5

The Wood file

Dark history is being made at this 51stFord World Men’s CurlingChampionship at the Coliseum.

For the first time in 47 years there is noteam from Sweden competing for the globaltitle.

That’s right. A Swedeless world men’scurling championship! Unbelievable! Not tomention unthinkable!

Timing, for the Swedes, couldn’t beworse. By failing to qualify for this round ofWorlds, the nation’s point accumulation forinclusion at the 2010 Winter OlympicGames is locked in.

Four other nations are in a position tooverhaul and/or surpass the Swedish totalwith points from placings this week and thatcould be construed as a national sports disas-ter for the Blue and Yellow.

Can you imagine the reaction of a wintersports country like Sweden to being exclud-ed from Olympic Games curling?

“Sure, it’s a big disaster,” says PejaLindholm, 38-year-old skip of three worldchampion teams from Sweden and eightnational champions.

“But, I think it has been a wakeup call.We need a lot of changes. Last fall, I wasconvinced we might not be able to take anOlympic berth, But I think it looks betternow.”

The qualifying points situation, which willbe locked in following this week, guaranteesCanada, Germany, the U.S., Great Britain(Scotland), France and Norway berths in theOlympic starting gate.

Beyond the top six, Sweden andSwitzerland each have 11 points, Australiahas 10.5, China has nine, Denmark 7.5 andFinland 6.5. And neither Sweden nor Oz canimprove on its total.

Hence the Swiss appear to be a certainNo. 7 starter. The Chinese need a ninth or10th finish here to get in and if that happensDenmark would need a ninth and Finland aneighth in order to leapfrog Sweden and

Australia.“The good thing is that everybody in

Sweden has realized the seriousness of thesituation,” says Lindholm. “Everybody istalking about, ‘what shall we do?’ And,‘we’d better start building the teams again’. Idon’t think there have been any solutions butat least there’s more awareness.”

Still, it’s a revolting situation when youconsider it’s rare, over a period dating backto 1973, when Sweden wasn’t among thefavourites to give Canadians a run for theirmoney in planetary men’s rock debating.

In fact, Sweden’s five titles ranks behindonly Canada in terms of overall success atthe ultimate level.

Kjell Oscarius skipped Sweden’s firstworld title at Regina in ’73. Ragnar Kampwon in 1977 and Lindholm in 1997, 2001and 2004. Six other Swedish teams have fin-ished with silver medals.

But pickings have been slim sinceLindholm’s last win at Gavle in 2004.

“Teams need to go further afield,” saysLindhom, who dropped into Moncton lastweekend as one of the world-winning guests

featured during Friday’s opening cere-monies.

“Our teams have to compete more interna-tionally, go to Canada and get the good com-petition.”

That’s what Lindholm did for many yearsin advance of winning his three world titles.

“You have to get the experience,” he says.“You can’t live in your own little bubble andjust keep playing the same teams all thetime.

EDITOR Larry WoodASSOCIATE EDITOR Dave KomoskyINFO-CURL QUOTIDIEN: Normand LegerPHOTOGRAPHERMike Burns Jr.PUBLISHED BY: The Times&Transcript

PLEASE SEE WOOD P11

6 Monday, April 6 2009

LARRYWOOD

Former champ hopes absence hereserves as a wakeup call for country

Peja Lindholm was one of

the best to wear the Blue

and Yellow of his country.

Monday, April 6, 2009 7

SKIPBorn: Karuizawa,Japan.Age: 24.Residence:Karuizawa.Family: Wife, Emi. Employment: Sportsclub employee.Years curling: 11.First major suc-cess: 2001Japanese juniorchampion.Won: Silvermedal, 2008Pacific champi-onship.

Yusuke MorozumiTHE COUNTRY

Population: 128,523,404Area: 377,873 km sqLocation: Japan comprises more than3,000 islands making it an archipelago.The four largest islands are Honshu,Hokkaido, Kyushu and Shikoku, togeth-er accounting for 97 per cent ofJapan's land area. Most of the islandsare mountainous. Japan has theworld's 10th largest population. Status: Japan has the world's secondlargest economy by nominal GDP andthe third largest in purchasing powerparity. It is a member of the UnitedNations, G8, OECD and APEC, with theworld's fifth largest defense budget. Itis also the world's fourth largestexporter and sixth largest importer. It isa developed country with high livingstandards.Motto: “Honour Is Above All”Capital City: TokyoGDP per capita: $34,296.

Principal Products and Industries:Japan's main exports are transporta-tion equipment, motor vehicles, elec-tronics, electrical machinery.

JAPANESE AT THE WORLDS2008 — Failed to qualify2007 — Failed to qualify2006 — Yoshiyuki Ohmiya, Tokoro (2-9)2005 — Failed to qualify2004 — Failed to qualifyLast championship: None.

DID YOU KNOW. . .n Japan’s first global curling appear-ance was in the 1990 world women’schampionship at Vasteras, Sweden.

FACTS

Profile: JapanHOME CLUB: KARUIZAWA CURLING CLUB (KARUIZAWA)

Tetsuro Shimizu

SECONDBorn: Karuizawa.Age: 21.Residence: Iruma-shi, Japan.Family: Single.Employment:Student.Years curling: Nine.First major suc-cess: Silver medal at 2008 Pacific cham-pionship.Won: Silver medal at 2008 Pacifics.

Tsuyoshi Yamaguchi

THIRDBorn: Hokkaido.Age: 24.Residence:Karuizawa.Family: Single.Employment:Fitness trainer.Years curling: 13.First major suc-cess: Silver medal at 2008 Pacific cham-pionship.Won: Silver medal at 2008 Pacifics.

Kosuke Morozumi

LEADBorn: Karuizawa.Age: 20Residence:Karuizawa.Family: Single.Employment:Student.Years curling:Nine.First major success: Silver medal at 2008Pacific championship.Won: Silver medal at 2008 Pacifics.

Monday, April 6, 2009 8

SKIP(Throws third rocks)Born: Copenhagen.Age: 46.Residence: Holte,Denmark.Family: Wife, LisaRichardson, sonJacob (2), daughterKatrine (6 mos.)Employment:Management con-sultant.First major suc-cess: 1984Danish jr. champ.Won: Silvermedals at 1997,1999 and 2000Euros.

Ulrik SchmidtTHE COUNTRY

Population: 5,511,451Area: 43,099 km sqLocation: Borders to the south byGermany, the southwest of Swedenand south of Norway. Denmark bordersboth the Baltic and the North Sea. Thecountry consists of a large peninsula,Jutland and many islands oftenreferred to as the Danish Archipelago.Status: Denmark has been a memberof the European Union (formerlyEuropean Economic Community) since1973, although it has not joined theEurozone, a currency union among theEuropean Union member states thathave adopted the euro as their soleofficial currency. Denmark is a found-ing member of NATO.Motto: “God’s help, the love of the peo-ple, Denmark’s strength.”Capital City: CopenhagenPrincipal Products and Industries:Denmark is home to many multi-nation-al companies. Main exports includeanimal foodstuffs, chemicals, dairy

products, electronic equipment, fish,furniture, leather, machinery, meat, oiland gas, and sugar.

DANES AT THE WORLDS2008 — Johnny Frederiksen,Copenhagen (4-7).2007 — Johnny Frederiksen (4-7).2006 — Ulrik Schmidt, Copenhagen (5-6).2005 — Frederiksen (1-10).2004 — Frederiksen (2-7).Last championship— None

DID YOU KNOWn Denmark’s first global curlingappearance was in the 1973 AirCanada Silver Broom world curlingchampionship at Regina, Sask.

FACTS

Profile: DenmarkHOME CLUB: Hvidovre Curling Club (Copenhagen)

Johnny Frederiksen

THIRD(Throws fourth rocks)Born: Copenhagen.Age: 33.Residence:Hvidovre(Copenhagen).Family: FianceeLouise Lorentzen.Employment:Financial consultant (Gothia FinancialGroup).First major success: 1994 Danish juniorchampion.Won: Three Danish junior titles, fiveDanish men’s titles.

Bo Jensen

SECONDBorn: CopenhagenAge: 33.Residence:Hvidovre(Copenhagen)Family: GirlfriendSarah Bohl.Employment: Postalworker.Years curling: 22.First major success: 1994 Danish juniorchampion.Won: Three Danish junior titles, sixDanish men’s titles.

Lars Vilandt

LEADBorn: Copenhagen.Age: 34.Residence:Hvidovre(Copenhagen).Family: Wife Sara,sons Jonathan (3),Noah (1).Employment:Development officer, Danish CurlingAssociation.Years curliing: 19.First major success: 1994 Danish juniorchampionship.

Monday, April 6, 2009 9

Info-curl quotidien

La Ville de Moncton et le Nouveau-Brunswick engénéral ont été témoins d’excellentes équipes de curlingqui se sont démarquées sur la scène nationale et interna-tionale au fils des années.

La présidente d’honneur du Championnat mondial decurling masculin Ford se dit choyée d’avoir la chance devoir du curling à son meilleur chez-elle à Moncton etl’ancienne capitaine de l’équipe du Nouveau-Brunswick,qui a remporté le Championnat canadien des femmes en1963, prédit un bel avenir pour ce sport à travers lemonde.

Mabel Deware a été très active dans le monde du curl-ing, au niveau national et international. Elle était vice-présidente du comité organisateur lors de la présentationdu Balai d’Argent Air Canada en 1980.

« Je suis impressionnée et intéressée par ce champi-onnat mondial, a-t-elle dit. C’est incroyable de célébrer le50e anniversaire du curling mondial chez nous et surtoutsuivant le succès remporté en 1980. C’est super pour lemonde du curling et pour Moncton et la province. Lescérémonies d’ouverture ont été incroyables et je sais queles joueurs ont été surpris de voir tant de gens présents.Le Colisée était plein et les gens ont crié fort lorsque lesjoueurs se sont présentés sur la glace. C’est la premièrefois que je vois tant d’enthousiasmes aux cérémoniesd’ouverture. »

Mme Deware a été ministre dans le gouvernement

Hatfield dans les années 70 et a siégé au Sénat canadien. Elleest membre du Temple de la renommée du curling et a présidél’Association canadienne du curling féminin en 1977 et 1978.

« Ce championnat me rappel des moments mémorables.J’ai eu la chance de rencontrer toute sorte de gens reliés aucurling. J’étais aussi à la session de signature d’autographedes joueurs de curling et de voir les jeunes arrivés pour parlerà ces joueurs, c’était incroyable. »

La communauté entière du sud-est s’est réunie pouraccueillir avec Moncton ce championnat et Mme Dewareindique que c’est la raison du succès des activités dans larégion. « La communauté et les comités d’organisation onttravaillé chacun leur secteur, mais de voir tout cela se mettreensemble lors du championnat est incroyable. Tous ont faitleur part et travaillent pour le bien de l’événement et de larégion. Les commanditaires sont également à féliciter pourleur soutien aux événements. »

Mme Deware a été témoin d’une évolution et d’une révolu-tion dans le monde du curling et surtout du coté féminin. Ellesouligne que le championnat mondial des femmes date desannées 1978-79, soit 20 ans plus tard que les hommes.Cependant, les olympiques ont changé beaucoup l’image ducurling et la présidente d’honneur indique le progrès estincroyable. La technique des lancers et les stratégies sont dif-férentes depuis quelques années.

Mme Deware souhaite vivre le championnat mondialféminin à Moncton dans l’avenir.

10 Monday, April 6, 2009

Il y a plusieurs spectateurs dans les siègesdu Colisée de Moncton cette semaine et latrès grande majorité tient à son équipefavorite sans nécessairement bien connaîtreles joueurs.

Tel n’est pas le cas pour Marion Murdochqui regarde les parties avec un œil critique, unintérêt unique et avec une passion comme toutebonne maman. Elle est la mère du skip DavidMurdoch de l’équipe de l’Écosse. Originaire deLockerbie, Murdoch a été la premièreentraîneure de son fils, aujourd’hui âgé de 30ans.

« C’est moi qui l’a initié au curling àl’âge de 10 ans, a dit Mme Murdoch quivient de débarquer à Moncton. J’aime beau-coup ce sport et j’ai toujours suivi Daviddepuis son premier championnat en 2005, àVictoria. C’est sa quatrième participationaux championnats du monde. »

Murdoch suit également son mari, Matt,qui est le président du Royal Caledonian

Curling Club, l’organisme directeur du curl-ing dans ce pays. Son intérêt pour ce sportne s’arrête pas là, elle est entraîneure etofficier de développement du sport enÉcosse.

« C’a fait plus de 35 ans que je suisintéressée par ce sport. J’apprécie bien lacompétition, mais surtout le côté socialparce que j’ai la chance de rencontrer desgens très intéressants et nous nous voyons àchaque année lors des compétitions. C’estégalement un moyen de faire connaissanceavec les gens de sa ville. »

Le curling offre aux joueurs et auxadeptes la chance de socialiser et d’échangerdes histoires et récits intéressants tout enracontant les bons coups et les tactiques quiont donné des victoires. Les coups ratés sontrapidement oubliés.

« Comme entraîneur, tu peux apprécierce qui se passe sur la glace. On a la chancede mieux voir les tactiques, les coups et la

psychologie. Je dois ajouter que je laissemon fils prendre ses décisions sans luidonner de suggestion. C’est son choix dejeux et je ne suis pas fâché par ses déci-sions. C’est possible qu’il sait mieux quemoi. »

C’est le deuxième séjour de MmeMurdock à Moncton qui a participé, en2005, à la tournée échange entre l’Écosse etle Canada dans le but de promouvoir le curl-ing féminin dans les deux pays. Cet échangese fait à chaque cinq ans.

Murdoch prédit une médaille d’or pourl’Écosse cette année.

Notons que David Murdoch a représentél’Écosse en 2005 à Victoria (médaille d’ar-gent); en 2006 à Lowell Massachussetts(médaille d’or) et en 2008 à Grand Forks,North Dakota (médaille d’argent). Il étaitaussi le skip de l’équipe de la GrandeBretagne aux Jeux olympiques de 2006, enItalie.

Deware a témoigné les progrès du curling Marion Murdoch

Mabel Deware

ParNormandLéger

Murdoch et le curling sont synonymes en Écosse

Monday, April 6, 2009 11

WoodFrom Page 6

“There’s no way I would have won threeworld titles if we hadn’t gone to Canada toplay in a lot of competitions.

“We’d stay there for three months. I knowit’s not easy to do that but when we would goback to Sweden we would really, really per-form. And that got us regular berths at theWorlds and the Europeans.

“We knew that the only way to be a verygood international team was to go out thereand represent the country. And nobody elsehad that chance because we were winningmore often than not.

“But after us, expected more to go out andplay in Canada and elsewhere but they de-cided to stay in Sweden, maybe go to Switzer-land, but that was it.

“There were too few teams at the top inSweden. The people who had a chance tomake a difference didn’t make it.

“Now you have to hope we learned a lessonand we won’t go through this again in Swe-den.”

Times definitely have changed. At the lastEuros in December, 2008, the Swedish teamof Mathias Mabergs struggled to an eighth-place finish and lost a sudden-death playoffwith Kalle Kiiskinen of Finland for the lastEuro berth in the current tournament.

“We need to put together a lot of resources,give two or three teams more financial sup-port,” says Lindholm. “But, also, we need toput a little more pressure on the teams. I mean,it’s their responsibility for their own develop-ment. They can’t complain about the associa-tion and funding. They need to be totallycommitted, then they will get the support theyneed.”

So the onus is on (a) the players, and (b) theassociation to provide the funding. But there

are disturbing rumours floating around WorldCurling Federation back rooms to the effectthe Swedish sports administration may pull theplug on a men’s team for the Olympics even ifthe nation qualifies. The argument being noteam is deemed good enough.

“I haven’t heard that,” says Lindholm.“But I would say that, definitely, NiklasEdin’s young team will be in the Olympics. Ihave nothing to do with the selection but mypersonal feeling is that since Niklas’s team(former world junior champions) has im-proved and travelled and performed in anoutstanding way it is sure the team will besupported by the Swedish Olympic Commit-tee.

“All four players are very committed,” saysLindholm. “They know what it takes to be ontop. I know if they miss this chance to go tothe Olympics they are looking for theOlympics in five years.

Edin, with Fredrik Lundberg, Viktor Kjalland Sebastian Kraupp, won Universiade goldat Harbin, China, in late February,

Lindholm’s first love now is long-distancerunning but he has a small coaching businessand spends the bulk of his time working in agovernment program with teenagers who havefound asylum in Sweden.

“These are kids aged 15 to 18 from placeslike Afghanistan and Iraq and Somalia andsuch,” he was saying during the ContinentalCup at Camrose last December. “They’re kidswith no families. We take care of them. It’s thesame thinking. I need to coach them. Like,what would you like to do with your life?They have broken histories. No families left.It’s interesting, getting the direct feedbackfrom kids like that. It’s very rewarding.”

Something that, for him, seemed fleeting atcurling’s competitive level.

“I retired because I didn’t believe the teamwe had was ready to go to the Olympics inVancouver,” he recalled.

“I’m always zero per cent or 100 per cent. Ican’t do it for 85 per cent.”

WorldsFrom Page 3

The playing surfaces, meanwhile, proveda distinct improvement Sunday with cooleroutside temperatures proving the difference.

“I predicted Hans (icemaker Wuthrich)would get it under control and he did,” saidMartin. “It’ll be fine for the rest of the week.

“The ice was so much better,” he ex-plained of a far more aggressive approach toSunday night’s fracas.

“And you could see it, even after five ends,there was no frost tonight. There’s nothing toworry about here other than the matter ofplaying well.”

Of the late U.S.-Swiss affair, skip Shustermoaned of poor performance from both skipsand Stoeckli (1-and-2) agreed.

“My team played so well I could afford tobe less than perfect. But I made my last four

shots so that can be a stepping stone for thenext one.

“It was a little tricky in a couple of spots.And we got him (Stoeckli) to throw someshots on those tricky spots. It was sort ofgood management.

“In the third end when we got that go-ahead three, the last shot he had to play wasin a spot that I don’t know how I would havehandled. He had a three-foot runback which,at this level, isn’t a very difficult shot but inthat path, if you broomed it to curl it mightstay on you and vice-versa. There was aridge there and you weren’t sure if the rockwould ride it.”

Stoeckli admitted to innumerable problems.“We had trouble with rocks, some were

curling, some were running straight and theywere all over us.

“This is the trickiest ice I have played onat a world championship. That’s for sure. Idon’t think many of the skips here will becomforfortable about having to draw thefour-foot.”

Monday, April 6, 2009 12

General Rules and Regulations:

50/50 tickets will be sold for $1.00 each.50/50 ticket sales will take place for all

draws, including the playoff games, at theMoncton Coliseum/Agrena.

50/50 ticket sales may be sold in thePatch area.

50% of the gross ticket sales will bedistributed as prizes.

All winners must be 18 years of age orolder in order to claim the prize.

Payments to winners will be in the formof a cheque. Cheques will be posted forthe first banking day of the tournament.

Profits for distribution to Moncton areacurling clubs for program developmentwill be given after all printing and otherrelated costs of operating the 50/50 raffleare determined.

50/50 ticket sale volunteers workingduring a draw will not be allowed to pur-chase tickets.

Sales of 50/50 raffle tickets for eachdraw shall commence 30 minutes prior tothe start of each curling draw and at ornear the conclusion of the sixth end of play.

The drawing of the winning 50/50 ticket

shall be made by a spectator picked atrandom with at least two members of thehost committee present.

The winning 50/50 ticket number shallbe posted on the main display board nearthe 50/50 booth, as well as in the Patch assoon as possible after each ticket draw ismade.

The winning ticket number will also beannounced over the public address sys-tem following the conclusion of play foreach curling draw.

All 50/50 raffle prizes may be claimed atthe 50/50 booth located on the main con-course of the complex. At this time thevolunteers at the information booth willnotify the 50/50 committee host andarrangements will be made for payment.

Prizes may be claimed up until 15 min-utes prior to the commencement of thegold medal game on April 12th 2009.

Any unclaimed prizes at that time willbecome a carry over prize, the winner ofwhich shall be determined by the drawingof a second ticket from all the tickets soldon Sunday April 12th 2009.

This second 50/50 ticket drawn onSunday April 12th 2009 would claim anyapplicable carry-over prize.

W LCanada (Martin) 3 0Norway (Ulsrud) 3 0USA (Shuster) 2 1Scotland (Murdoch) 2 1France (Dufour) 2 1SUI (Stoeckli) 1 2Finland (Kiiskinen) 1 2Czech Rep. (Snitil) 1 2Japan (Morozumi) 1 2Germany (Kapp) 1 2Denmark (Schmidt) 1 2China (Wang) 0 3

SUNDAYDRAW 38:30 a.m.

USA (Shuster) 104 000 10x x — 6Scotland (Murdoch) 040 101 06x x — 12 S P % S P %USA 64 181 71 SCO 63 195 77

Germany (Kapp) 012 003 010 21 — 10SUI (Stoeckli) 100 110 204 00 — 9 S P % S P %GER 88 287 82 SUI 88 264 75

DRAW 41 p.m.

Canada (Martin) 020 230 xxx x — 7France (Dufour) 100 001 xxx x — 2 S P % S P %CAN 48 158 82 FRA 48 130 68

Denmark (Schmidt) 201 000 300 1 — 7Finland (Kiiskinen) 010 210 010 0 — 5 S P % S P %DEN 79 263 83 FIN 80 240 75

Norway (Ulsrud) 110 131 01x x — 8Czech Rep. (Snitil) 000 000 20x x — 2 S P % S P %NOR 64 209 82 CZE 64 195 76

Japan (Morozumi) 210 003 4xx x — 10China (Wang) 000 110 0xx x — 2 S P % S P %JPN 56 166 74 CHN 56 149 67

DRAW 57:30 p.m.

SUI (Stoeckli) 020 001 0xx x — 3USA (Shuster) 203 010 4xx x — 10 S P % S P %SUI 56 160 71 USA 56 182 81

France (Dufour) 210 210 02x x — 8Japan (Morozumi) 001 001 00x x — 2 S P % S P %FRA 63 195 77 JPN 64 174 68

China (Wang) 010 100 20x x — 4Canada (Martin) 103 031 01x x — 9 S P % S P %CHN 64 187 73 CAN 64 237 93

Scotland (Murdoch) 030 204 002 x — 11Germany (Kapp) 004 020 020 x — 8 S P % S P %SCO 77 261 85 GER 78 243 78

STANDINGS

LINESCORES

TODAY Draw 610 a.m.A — GER vs. CZEB — USA vs. NORC — SCO vs. FIND — SUI vs. DENDraw 73 p.m.A — NOR vs. CHNB — CZE vs. CANC — DEN vs. FRAD — FIN vs. JPNDraw 87:30 p.m.A — JPN vs. SCOB — FRA vs. SUIC — CAN vs. GERD — CHN vs. USA

TUESDAYDraw 910 a.m.A — CAN vs. SUIB — CHN vs. SCOC — JPN vs. USAD — FRA vs. GERDraw 103 p.m.A — USA vs. DENB — GER vs. FINC — SUI vs. NORD — SCO vs. CZE7:30 p.m.A — FIN vs. FRAB — CZE vs. CHNC — DEN vs. JPND — NOR vs. CAN

SHOOTING PERCENTAGES (CUMULATIVE) CAN SCO FIN CZE SUI NOR JPN GER CHN FRA DEN USA Skip 83 75 64 71 73 83 63 69 73 69 77 76Third 88 84 76 73 68 76 75 79 74 83 69 80Second 82 81 72 74 78 82 74 81 77 74 79 82Lead 87 75 84 84 85 84 78 93 83 83 74 80TEAM 85 79 74 75 76 81 72 81 75 77 75 79

DRAWSCHEDULE

Swiss brushers get busy working

on skip Ralph Stoeckli’s delivery.

Monday, April 6, 2009 13

Monday, April 6, 2009 14

Monday, April 6, 2009 15

It was one of those things that just happened… when closecommunities, like those featuring curlers, come together.

To make a long story short, the Finnish men’s team atthe Moncton Ford Worlds skipped by Kalle Kiiskinen needed afacility in which to practice and train in Canada before arrivingat the event.

They knew a guy, who guy knew a scribe, and the scribeknew just exactly where to send them.

The Amherst Curling Club is hardly on the map of competi-tive curling, let alone international play. But you’d think theclub had done this a thousand times before, judging from theway the doors opened last Sunday.

It also should be mentioned that above those doors, a hugeFinnish flag is snapping in the marsh winds.

Just a short 40-minute drive from Moncton is Amherst, N.S.The curling club is the place where the scribe spent many hourslearning and loving this game. The beauty of hailing from asmall town is that home is a place that can always be calledupon when you need help.

So the call was put in – and icemaker/manager/jack-of-every-trade-imaginable Johnny Allen answered. The Finns hadn’teven booked their flights yet and the club was buzzing with

excited volunteers. Leading the charge was Joan Cameron, along-time club member who coached the mother of the scribe ata Canada Winter Games, and also taught the scribe Grade 10English.

Fast forward two months, and the Amherst Curling Club wasfully transformed into Team Finland’s home away from home.Skip Kiiskinen cited the outstanding hospitality and great ice onseveral occasions.

Throughout their stay, Kiiskinen and crew met the mayor,

were inducted into The Order of the Good Time, scarfed downPapa Burgers from club member Joe Dupuis’ A&W restaurant,and enjoyed many a round of Nova Scotia’s finest — Keith’sbeer.

All week the club was packed with interested on-lookers whoevolved into friends and fans of the hard-working Finns. Theyearned those Papa Burgers and beers with six hours of practiceduring the days and followed by evening practice games.

The highlight came when the Finns took on the Amherst All-Stars, a match that was followed by a reception and some pre-sentations. Finnish Curling Association president Olli Rissanen,who is travelling with the team, presented a Finnish jersey tothe club for its wall of fame. Kind words were shared, auto-graphs were signed and plans were secured for manyAmherstians to wave the Finnish flag from the Coliseum seatsthis week.

“If you ever get lost and find yourself in Finland, we wouldbe honoured to take care of you the way you have taken care ofus,” Rissanen promised the people of Amherst.

Five years ago, Finland’s Markku Uussipavalniemi made astirring run to the playoffs at the Ford Worlds (in Victoria) andthat qualified his country for what would be an eventualOlympic silver medal in Turin.

Will Amherst curling fans be watching another Finnish run toVancouver 2010?

Stay tuned.

Finns find a home away from home

Kim DeLong of Amherst is backing Finland.

By TERI LAKESpecial to the Eye Opener

Monday, April 6, 2009 16