There’s a local connection at this year’s Canadian Mixed Curling Championships this week in Calgary. Kim and Wayne Tuck of Strathroy will be one of 35 teams competing for a share of $150,000 in prize money at the curling bubble at Olympic Park in Calgary. Kim says she wasn’t a fan of mixed curling at the beginning, but now she’s quite passionate.
They won’t be representing Ontario, instead they earned a berth through the Canadian mixed doubles ranking system based on last season’s results and will compete as Team Tuck, representing St. Thomas Curling Club where they curled last year. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, Kim says preparations are a little beyond the normal for such an event.
There’s one other rather substantial factor at play here as well, notes Kim.
The event will be covered fully on TSN and the Tucks will be live March 23rd for the 1:30 p.m. draw against Jennifer Jones and Brent Laing. You can also follow them on their Team Tuck Facebook page.
The teams were determined by the following criteria:
14 provincial/territorial championship teams
14 teams from the Canadian Mixed Doubles Rankings (CMDR) based on results between March 15, 2019, and March 15, 2020 (teams must have played a minimum of two mixed doubles events during the season)
Seven teams who were unable to compete this season due to the COVID-19 pandemic but had committed to play Mixed Doubles together. Rankings are based on each player’s best three CTRS point events from the 2019/2020 season combined with their partners. All players must be part of Curling Canada’s National Team program.
Here’s a look the five pools that will be competing in Calgary (how they qualified in parentheses):
POOL A
Jocelyn Peterman/Brett Gallant (CMDR)
Kadriana Sahaidak/Colton Lott (CMDR)
Clancy Grandy/Patrick Janssen (CMDR)
Joanne Courtney/Darren Moulding (CTRS)
Melissa Adams/Alex Robichaud (N.B. Champ)
Brittney Tran/Aaron Sluchinski (Alta. Champ)
Angela Dale/Peter Van Strien (Nun. Champ)
POOL B
Jennifer Jones/Brent Laing (CMDR)
Kim Tuck/Wayne Tuck (CMDR)
Émilie Desjardins/Robert Desjardins (CMDR)
Kerri Einarson/Brad Gushue (CTRS)
Laurie St-Georges/Félix Asselin (Que. Champ)
Lauren Wasylkiw/Shane Konings (Ont. Champ)
Bayly Scoffin/Wade Scoffin (Yuk. Champ)
POOL C
Nancy Martin/Tyrel Griffith (CMDR)
Laura Walker/Kirk Muyres (CMDR)
Chaelynn Kitz/Kyler Kleibrink (CMDR)
Briane Meilleur/Mark Nichols (CTRS)
Selena Njegovan/Reid Carruthers (CTRS)
Stephanie Jackson-Baier/Corey Chester (B.C. Champ)
Lauren MacFadyen/Alex MacFadyen (P.E.I. Champ)
POOL D
Shannon Birchard/Caitlin Schneider (CMDR)
Bobbie Sauder/Brendan Bottcher (CMDR)
Val Sweeting/Marc Kennedy (CTRS)
Emma Miskew/Ryan Fry (CTRS)
Krysten Karwacki/Derek Samagalski (Man. Champ)
Karlee Jones/Bryce Everist (N.S. Champ)
Liz King/Landon King (NWT Champ)
POOL E
Danielle Schmiemann/John Morris (CMDR)
Ashley Quick/Mike Armstrong (Sask. Champ)
Kaitlyn Lawes/Connor Lawes (CMDR)
Lisa Weagle/John Epping (CTRS)
Dezaray Hawes/Tyler Tardi (NextGen Champ)
Oye Sem Won/Trevor Bonot (N.O. Champ)
Mackenzie Mitchell/Greg Smith (N.L.)