By Mallory Cawthra

Two weekends ago on January 22nd, 2022, the Town of Leader hosted a U15 and U18 Curling Bonspiel at the G3 Iceplex. The U15 matches were slated to start at 9:00 a.m., with the U18 matches getting underway at 11:00 a.m. Jennifer Wickenheiser organized and planned the Bonspiel and is the coach for the Leader U15 girls’ team. There was a total of four teams for U18 that participated: Swift Current, Fox Valley, Maple Creek and Richmound, and a total of six teams that participated for U15, which included two teams from Maple Creek, and one each from Richmound, Gull Lake, Leader and Cabri.

Jennifer Wickenheiser explained that G-Mac and G3 sponsored the skills competitions which were a component of the Bonspiel – and prize money was awarded to the top players for the skills competitions. Jennifer Wickenheiser added that the youth really enjoyed the day and the skills competitions; resoundingly, the tournament was a success.

The tournament could not have been a success without the help of volunteers, which included John Butt, Dwight Hoffman, and Chris Huber, who all pebbled and prepared the ice at the G3 Iceplex before each match.

Lacy Strutt, one of the parents from Leader, organized the kitchen shifts for the day; volunteers included Lacy Strutt, Stella Cocks, Gayle Smith, Erin Romanuik, Troy Strutt, Chris Huber, Denise Coetzee and Becky Ellis.

Lacy Strutt commented that, “The day was perfect. We had a bit of a delayed start but all the teams had a great time. There was a lot of laughter and socializing throughout the day. We are looking forward to hosting more Youth Bonspiels in the future.”

Natalie Cocks, one of the Youth players from Leader, was asked to play with the U18 Fox Valley Boys Team; they won all three of their games. The coaches for the Fox Valley teams are Donda and Serg Deis.

Stella Cocks, one of the parents from Leader, described a highlight from one of the U18 Fox Valley team matches: “They gave up five points in the 2nd end against the Swift Current team, only to come back and tie the game in the 6th, and then win the tie-breaker draw to the button!”

Stella Cocks added that, “It was fantastic to see all the kids and teams back out on the ice playing some great curling, cheering one another on, and enjoying the skills competitions.”

There will be Sectionals held on February 11th and 12th in Cabri (tentatively) and then Regionals held March 4th and 5th in Fox Valley.