The people of the 2018 Ontario Tankard: In photos

It took months of planning and hundreds of volunteers, but their efforts paid off: the Huntsville Curling Club hosted an exceptional event when the 2018 Recharge With Milk Ontario Tankard, the men’s curling championship that determines Team Ontario for the Tim Hortons Brier, came to town from January 31 to February 4.

More than 270 volunteers, alongside the Ontario Curling Association, put in hundreds of hours to ensure athletes and spectators alike had a fantastic experience. Here are just a few of them:

Clockwise from above left:
Shuttle bus driver Johny Peleman was happy to help make the spectator experience a positive one (Photo: Dawn Huddlestone);
Lesley Hasting’s friendly smile greeted people at the will call booth (Photo: Cheyenne Wood);
Ontario Tankard ticket booth volunteers (from left) Grace Smith of Huntsville, Darrell Harper of Huntsville, Ann Maslen of Huntsville, and Corey Brown of Huntsville are all Huntsville Curling Club members (Photo: Cheyenne Wood)

Tankard volunteer and Huntsville Curling Club member Lesley Hasting said, “Curling is a great sport and this event has brought such enthusiasm to our community and our club.”

Shuttle bus driver Johny Peleman — a social member at the club; his wife is the curler — is one of the enthusiastic volunteers who helped out. He joked that he needed to keep his wife happy, and added that he was happy to contribute because “every small thing helps”.

That it does. The 2018 Ontario Tankard co-chair, Eric Spinks, who has been a curler for 50 years recognized the effort put into the event by local volunteers and sent out a big “THANK YOU” to everyone who has been part of the 2018 Tankard.

Above from left:
Ken Harper (left) of Huntsville (security) is an avid community volunteer. He’s with event co-chair Eric Spinks;
Ontario Tankard volunteers Sandi Moore of Bracebridge (ticket sales), Scott Goodhew of Huntsville (ticket sales), and Michelle Charbonneau of Huntsville (security). (Photos: Cheyenne Wood)

Young fans got involved, too, with kids from across Muskoka-Parry Sound helping to introduce the teams at the beginning of the championship, and local students creating colourful posters that were hung down the length of the hallway leading to Muskoka Moosies in the Active Living Centre.

These young curling fans (back row from left) Elmer Dobson of Huntsville, Kristen Hamilton of Huntsville, Lily Stiles of Parry Sound, Miskomeegwan Pegahmagabow of Parry Sound, Zeegwon Shilling-Tabobondung of Parry Sound, Annalise Smart of Bracebridge, Kayla Matchett of Bracebridge, (front row from left) Izzy Andrigo of Huntsville, Wesley Harknes of Huntsville, Lauren Stiles of Parry Sound, and Wilson Trenholm of Huntsville helped to introduce the 2018 Ontario Tankard curling teams (Photo: Cheyenne Wood)

Some of the local vendors even got into the spirit of the event with curling-inspired wares.

Above from left:
Catherine Cole of The Great Vine shows off fair trade curling sweaters, scarves, hats and mitts from Newmarket-based ARK;
Art Biggar, one-half of the father-son team Biggar Woodworking proudly displays the curling-inspired cutting boards they created for the Ontario Tankard (Photos: Dawn Huddlestone)

Two local charities benefitted from the event, too — the Huntsville Curling Club shared proceeds from Muskoka Moosies, the Muskoka-themed lounge in the Canada Summit Centre, with The Table Soup Kitchen Foundation and The Rotary Club of Huntsville.

Clockwise from above left:
Muskoka Moosies volunteers (from left) Mark Trickey, Helen Pearson, Debbie Holtby, and Jill Winter; and
(from left) Mel Pegg, Loys Swan, Rachel De Sadeleer, and Tammy Harrison; Canada Rocks! theme night at Muskoka Moosies (Photos: Cheyenne Wood)

It all made for an incredible spectator experience for curling fans and newbie spectators alike.

Clockwise from above left:
Volunteers Marilyn Kreutzer and Natasha Howard, both Huntsville Curling Club volunteers, welcome spectators to the Moosies On-Ice Bar (Photo: Cheyenne Wood);
Ontario Tankard spectators, siblings Lisa and Jim Mataija from Bracebridge, enjoy the view from the on-ice bar (Photo: Dawn Huddlestone);
Spectators in the on-ice bar got this close to the action (Photo: Dawn Huddlestone)

Ontario Tankard spectators (from left) Karen Tucker, Colleen Gougeon and Rocky Gordon brought loads of spirit from the Midland Curling Club. They attended the Brier two years ago, the Scotties last year, and they’ll be headed to the World Curling Championships next (Photo: Dawn Huddlestone)

Spectators filled the stands for a Team Howard vs Team Epping draw on February 3 (Photo: Cheyenne Wood)

Ontario Tankard volunteers are curling fans, too. Many of them lined the Don Lough Arena to take in the action when they weren’t taking care of other tasks. (Photo: Dawn Huddlestone)

Curlers need a debris-free surface to help ensure that their rocks go where they’re supposed to. Local volunteers helped to keep the ice clean prior to each draw and at the break following the fifth end.

Above from left: Ontario Tankard volunteer Rosie Adams clears debris from the ice; and Craig Abernethy sweeps the ice before a draw (Photos: Dawn Huddlestone)

Proceeds from the event will support development of a new multi-use recreational facility. An off-site fundraiser held at Bullock’s Independent will contribute to that effort.

From left) Jesse Holtby, Joe Jivcoff, and Darcy and Alycia Bullock set up a charity BBQ in support of the Huntsville Curling Club at Bullock’s Independent (Photo: Cheyenne Wood)

Local dignitaries thanked the Ontario Tankard volunteers and organizers for their hard work in putting on an exceptional event.

Above from left:
Mayor Scott Aitchison, Kimberly-Clark Huntsville Mill Manager Rene Landry, and Parry Sound-Muskoka MP Tony Clement all thanked the Ontario Tankard volunteers and organizers for their efforts;
Cameron Renwick of Cameron of Lochiel Pipes and Drums pipes the OPP colour guard and dignitaries out of the Don Lough Arena (Photos: Dawn Huddlestone)

And, of course, there was the curling. The twelve teams ably demonstrated why they are among the best in the province. In particular, defending Tankard champions and four-time world champions Team Howard (Skip: Glenn Howard; Third: Adam Spencer; Second: David Mathers; Lead: Scott Howard) and sixth-ranked in the world Team Epping (Skip: John Epping; Third: Mathew Camm; Second: Patrick Janssen; Lead: Tim March; Alternate: Charley Thomas; Coach: Jim Wilson) were the teams to watch. They met three times during the Tankard, with Team Howard taking the first two wins. But Team Epping didn’t give up and in a close battle that was tied at 0-0 after 6 ends, Epping stole two in the seventh end and scored an additional three in the ninth to become 2018 Recharge with Milk Tankard Champions wit a score of 5-1. It’s the first Tankard win for the team.

Ontario Tankard champions Team Epping hoist the trophy (Photo: Dawn Huddlestone)

In the end, Huntsville Curling Club President, Ted Bionda, said what many were likely thinking: “Huntsville should be proud of what we’ve done.”

Indeed we are, Ted.

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