Adam Prudhomme
Editor
Though it may not be the way he drew it up, Napanee’s Scott Chadwick is headed to the Men’s Ontario Tankard provincial curling championship in Port Elgin, Feb. 9-13.
In the wake of COVID-19 cancellations, CurlON announced it would be modifying the Tankard to a 12-tearm, triple knock out format with a page playoff. That meant seven teams from the qualifying field were added to the tournament, one of which Team Tanner Horgan, where Chadwick serves as lead.
“We’re pretty excited and relieved that we can now just focus on the Tankard and start planning for that versus planning options A, B and C, what’s going to play, how to get there, where we go to go to qualify,” said Chadwick upon learning his team had qualified. “It’s just a lot clearer picture for now.”
Chadwick, who just recently celebrated his 31st birthday, counts himself fortunate to have been able to still practice with teammates Jonathan Beuk and Wesley Forget at the Cataraqui Golf and Country Club during the latest provincial shutdown of most sports, with exceptions granted to high level athletes.
“We’re lucky enough we can still throw rocks but it’s still not the same as full fledged competition or what our normal training regiment would be,” said Chadwick. “But it keep muscles loose and hopefully keeping us close to being able to turn on to get our peak performance in the second week of February.”
The Tankard has always been a special event for Chadwick as not only did his hometown Napanee District Curling Club host the event in 2010, but also in 2019 he hoisted the trophy as a member of Team Scott McDonald.
“It’s a special one,” Chadwick said of the Tankard. “It’s been a successful year and a busy year with the (Olympic) pre-trials and trials experience and adventures. The Tankard’s always special. As a kid I was always dreaming of going to the Brier and the Tankard’s a stepping-stone to get there. We’ll be ready for it, we obviously know how to win it so we expect to be in the playoff hunt and hopefully we turn it on for a good weekend and see what we got.”
Also taking part in the Tankard will be the likes of Glenn Howard, John Epping and Pat Ferris.
The team that places first at the Tankard will represent Ontario at the Brier. Even if a team falls short, they’ll still have a chance to qualify as a wild card team.
“We would obviously rather wear the Ontario colours instead of the wild card jersey but however we get there we’ll be happy,” said Chadwick.
This year’s Brier is set for March 4-13 in Lethbridge, Alta.
The Tankard remains Chadwick’s main focus right now-not only because it’s the next event on the schedule, but also because as of right now it’s the only event on the schedule.
“There’s still a couple of grand slams left this year but they’ve kind of put a pause on those until they see how these other events go,” said Chadwick, noting COVID-19 has played havoc with the season. “It is literally one event at a time right now and then taking a look afterwards and seeing what we’re able to play in.”