Wheelchair curling teams beginning their preparations for the Canadian championship in 2024.
Players sharpen their skills in preparation for the tournament at the Moose Jaw Events Centre in March, with practices and exhibition games the order of the day.
Though it will be a few months before the Canadian Wheelchair Curling Championship, preparations are well on as Team Saskatchewan attempts to retain the national title it earned at the Moose Jaw Events Centre in the spring.
The competition will return to Canada’s Most Notorious City from March 22–29 at the Moose Jaw Curling Centre, and while the nucleus of the two rinks who represented the province in the event is still there, some new faces will be in attendance.
Sunday afternoon saw both wheelchair curling teams play an exhibition game against the Swift Current Special Olympics team. Pederson, who skipped Saskatchewan’s second round of the 2023 nationals, said, “It’s just good to get out and have a chance to play and practice.” “We’re just here to try and promote and grow the game. There are so many people who could try it and maybe are just scared to come out or something, but try it and you’ll enj
As a result of word spreading in that manner, several new players have decided to give the sport a try. Zahra Ehsani and Tara Hess from Regina, who went to the game on Sunday with Rod and Sheryl Pederson, are included in that.
Their entry into the game comes at a perfect moment considering the recent departure of a few experienced players.
Along with Team Sask 2 lead Russell Whitsitt and third Stuart McKeown, Darwin Bender, an 11-time nationals competitor and four-time Canadian champion who finished second on the team this spring, has made the decision to retire from the game.
But the Pedersons and seasoned Team Canada athletes Marie Wright and Gil Dash—who won gold with Sask 1 last spring alongside Bender and Moose Gibson—will be back in play.
Luckily, Team Sask may even have more players after all is said and done since, in addition to Ehsani and Hess, a few guys are rising through the ranks in Saskatoon.
It will be fascinating to see where the people from Saskatoon fit in, according to Pederson, who added that Lloyd had worked with them and found them to be good.
The selection procedure for teams will mostly resemble that of the previous year. The aim of both coaches Lorraine Arguin and Lloyd Thiele is to assemble two teams of players and positions that best suit each other in order to defend the gold medal at home, preferably producing an all-Saskatchewan final.
Pederson will be looking to advance and make the playoffs, no matter who he plays with, after missing Team Sask 2 to a 3-2 record and narrowly missing the Championship Pool in 2023.
“I’m just excited to curl up and see what we can do, wherever I end up,” he remarked.
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