Three Moose Jaw residents participated in the Canadian Wheelchair Curling Championship this year, and lead both the A and B teams as skippers.
The primary Saskatchewan team featured Marie Wright as skipper and Moose Gibson as lead, while Donna Ackerman captained the secondary squad. While neither team came home with a medal, they gained valuable experience and encouragement, and proudly represented the Moose Jaw Ford Curling Centre.
Wheelchair curling is a mixed-sex sport that involves different strategy and shots to the standing version. However, the scoring and overall objective remains the same. Like other wheelchair sports, it often receives little coverage, although banner printing and poster printing can help to raise awareness. It is a popular activity, as it can accommodate people with a wide variety of disabilities and needs. At its highest levels, wheelchair curling can take place at international events before a global audience.
Competition in Canada is fierce, with the country winning several international tournaments. The 2019 nationals took place in Boucherville, Quebec in late April. Saskatchewan’s “1” squad, helmed by the experienced Wright, finished fifth in the overall standings, while the secondary team lead by the newcomer Ackerman went 3-3 in round-robin play and finished eighth. Alberta ended up taking the gold, beating Manitoba in the gold-medal game. Both Saskatchewan squads received sportsmanship awards at the end of the tournament.
