Two events next weekend – the Orangeville bantam/junior bonspiel and the KW Granite’s Monkey bonspiel – round out the junior curling events for this season. Following the Monkey bonspiel on Saturday, April 11, we will be holding our annual Awards potluck dinner and Shindig (with a cash bar) beginning at 6:30 pm. Following dinner will be our awards ceremony to celebrate the achievements of our youth curlers during this past season.
And there were many achievements this year, particularly with our bantam players, as Elmira bantams contributed players to five different teams that qualified for Regional OCA playdowns this winter:
- Team Molenaar (Anika Molenaar, Emma McKenzie, Kate Martin, Alison Poluck) qualified out of Zone 14 for OCA Bantam girls;
- Team Paulley (Andrew Paulley, Sam Domaratzki, Ryan Paulley, Tony Domzella) qualified out of Zone 12 for OCA Bantam boys;
- Veronica Bernard and her team, playing out of Richmond Hill, represented Elmira and qualified out of Zone 12 for OCA Bantam girls;
- Thomas Kraemer and his rink out of Listowel qualified for Region 4 Bantam boys out of Zone 14; and finally
- Team Molenaar (Anika, Sam Domaratzki, Emma McKenzie and Tony Domzella) qualified for Region 3 play out of OCA Bantam mixed Zone 12 playdowns.
Congratulations to all of these players for their dedication, hard work and success this season.
Youth award nominees
The Ken Watson Sportsmanship Award, presented to the player in each age category that exhibits the highest levels of sportsmanship both on and off the ice.
- Little Rock nominees: Paige Harrow, Adrianna Molenaar, Leia Wrigglesworth, Avery Hartwick, Brody Runstedler, and Quinn Caplice.
- Bantam nominees: Linden Jorna, Quentin Mayer, Nathan Wells, Thomas Kraemer, Erica Poluck, and Tony Domzella.
The Sandra Schmirler Rookie of the Year Award, presented to the Little Rock and Bantam/Junior player who exhibit the best mastery of the skills of curling in their first year in the program.
- Little Rock nominees: Larissa Musselman, Leia Wrigglesworth, Olivia Desroches, Paul Boccanfuso, Lena Eys.
- Bantam nominees: Jade McCallum and Nathan Lawson.
The Vera Pezer Most Improved Player award, awarded to the player who in the view of the coaching staff improved their curling skills the most during the past season.
- Little Rock nominees: Adrianna Molenaar, Leia Wrigglesworth, Olivia Desroches, Cameron Johnson, and Larissa Musselman.
- Bantam nominees: Alison Poluck, Sam Domaratzki, and Michael Buettel.
The Russ Howard Most Valuable Player Award, given to the player of each age group who, in the opinion of the coaching staff, is the most valuable to their team or to bonspiel teams that are formed during the season.
- Little Rock nominees: Larissa Musselman, William Henry, and Riley Domaratzki.
- Bantam nominees: Emma McKenzie, Veronica Bernard, Anika Molenaar, and Andrew Paulley.
Congratulations to all of the nominees! Winners will be announced following the potluck dinner on April 11. Each of the award winners will have their name engraved on our Junior Curling Awards plaque that hangs in the downstairs hallway adjacent to the main bulletin boards.
Although playing weekly in Richmond Hill, Team Bernard represented Elmira in Zone 12 for the Bantam Girls this season.
Thanks Marc, I apologize for the error. Fixed.
Thanks to all for another great season.