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Field at Northern Ontario championship shapes up
By John Cameron
Wednesday, December 24, 2008

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It‘s hard to be humble, but Mike Pozihun knows the next step in their bid for a Brier berth will be hardest.
Pozihun and his Port Arthur Curling Club rink of Deron Surkan, Andy Peloza and Aaron Rogalski have earned a new measure of respect as a result of their performance at the men‘s regional 2 playdowns this past weekend at the Fort William Curling Club.
The Pozihun rink, in their second year together (except for Rogalski), ran through the 15-rink competition undefeated to qualify for the Northern Ontario men‘s championships in Fort Frances. Their six straight wins included victories over Art Lappalainen in the final, Marshall Bagdon in the 1-2 page game, Chris Briand in the A-qualifier and Jeff Currie along the way. The provincials will be a first for Pozihun skipping and the first for his front end of Peloza and Rogalski.
Pozihun is one of eight rinks to qualify sfor the 16-rink provincial championship in Fort Frances. The Bryan Burgess foursome is the only other Thunder Bay rink to advance, winning their spot in November at the Courtesy Freight Northern Ontario Superspiel West.
Brad Jacobs of Sault Ste. Marie claimed the Superspiel East, while there were five other regional qualifiers this past weekend. Murray Affleck won the six-rink Region 1 playdown in Keewatin, while Cory Nephin of Geraldton took the two-rink playoff in Region 3. Other winners included Al Belec (Sault Ste. Marie), Tim Phillips (Sudbury) and Claude Lapointe (Timmins). The other eight qualifiers will come of the three Inter-Regional events slated for Jan. 22-25.
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TBAYTEL CUP STANDINGS: Pozihun picked up 5,000 points for winning the regional but it only left them eighth in the TBayTel Cup standings with 28,000 points.
Brian Adams Jr. leads the way with 42,750 points, followed by Currie at 40,000 and Burgess with 39,750. Teams can still collect points for the remaining major league games including playoff, the inter-regionals and sanctioned cash events. The team with most points at the end of the Major League season will collect a $1,000 bonus. The complete standings are posted at www.majorleaguecurling.com.
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PREPPING FOR PROVINCIALS: Fort Frances is expected to put on a good show when it hosts the Northern Ontario championship in February.
The Fort Frances Curling Club has the volunteers and infrastructure in place from hosting the Ontario Scotties two years ago; and is promising an arena type atmosphere with plenty of seating with bleachers at ice level. Tickets are now available through the club by contacting manager Rick Grenda (274-6667). A window seat for the championship is going for $150 with weekly passes $50 plus GST. Day passes will also to be available.
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SENIOR SIGN-UP: It is not only Christmas Eve, but it is also the deadline for “senior teams” across Northern Ontario to sign up for the playdowns. Al Hackner, who won the Canadian title three years ago, will be back in action in the New Year. Hackner will be playing with Rick Lang, Al Laine, Brian Adams Sr. and Rob Deuck with senior teams allowed to use a fifth man for the first time. With the inter-regional at the Fort William club Jan. 15-18, there are 11 teams signed up so far.
Barb Ward is back to defend their Northern Ontario senior women‘s title and is one of six teams on the list for the Inter-Regional at Fort William.
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WHEELCHAIR CURLING: Wheelchair curling in Thunder Bay has come a long way in three years with 20 curlers participating in the MEDIChair Wheelchair Curling Association at the Fort William Curling Club.
There is a recreation and a competitive division with new participants (male or female) always welcome. Plans are underway to have a friendly across-border match in Grand Marais, Minnesota, with the equally active Duluth team on, Jan. 17. Wheelchair curling is sanctioned by the Canadian Curling Association with the Fort William club to host the inaugural wheelchair provincial playdowns on Feb. 1–3, 2009. The winner advances to the national championships in March in Halifax.
If you would like to be part of either a recreational or competitive team, call Dave Kawahara at 577-5818 or the Fort William club at 622-5377.
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AROUND THE CLUBS: The bonspiel season gets back into full swing after the New Year. The Kakabeka Falls Curling Club is taking entries for their annual Men‘s Skins Bonspiel scheduled for Jan. 15 -18. The Port Arthur Club is also taking entries for its Super Bowl Bonspiel slated for the end of January. With over $10,000 in prizes to be handed out in four events, teams are asked to sign up early.

John Cameron‘s column appears Wednesdays. If you have news on ’spiels or bonspiel results in Northwestern Ont., contact John at jocamero@tbaytel.net or call 623-3135.
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