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Lacombe rink takes Calumet mens curling crown

Rolheiser defeats Baron in all-Lacombe final at Calumet mens bonspiel
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Don Lysons keeps the brush hard on the ice hoping to get the stone buried as second Kevin Frank, left, and skip Ken Rolheiser look on during the A-event semi-final Feb. 3 in the Calumet mens bonspiel. The Lacombe rink would go on later that evening to beat Lionel Baron of Lacombe for the title. Photo by Jordie Dwyer

Another chapter was written this weekend in the long storied history of the Calumet Curling Club.

In what turned out to be an all-Lacombe A-event final, the rink of Ken Rolheiser, Kevin Bresee, Kevin Frank and Don Lysons managed to defeat the foursome skipped by Lionel Baron for the championship at the annual mens bonspiel Feb. 3.

The B-event title went to the New Norway rink of Scott Keller, who defeated Travis Kroening of the host Calumet, while the C-event was taken by Ponoka’s Mark Massing foursome after beating Nolan Sand.

The event — which drew 32 rinks from around central Alberta including Lacombe, Ponoka, Bashaw and Wetaskiwin to name a few — ran draws throughout the day and evening daily from Jan. 30 to Feb. 3 on the unique two-sheet ice surface that was constructed in 1954.

Dan Lea, one of the executive members at the Calumet Curling Club, said the bonspiel continues to be one of the best attended events held during the season and it’s really due to the commitment from the membership and the community.

“It’s really all about the community support,” Lea explained.

“If not for the members and others that help out — in the concession, ice maintenance and elsewhere — we couldn’t do what we do. The players that come have a lot of fun and the community comes out to watch what can be some pretty good curling and be in on the fun as well.”

While the small club has struggled somewhat in the past, as rural Alberta continues to shed population, Calumet has seen steady membership the past couple of years and garner more community support through hosting different events.

“One of those is the year-end wind up, where we host a members bonspiel and when that’s done the kids get to go out and skate around,” added Lea.

“The kids have a blast skating on the ice. We also still host the Mecca Glen School kids, teaching them curling and getting them out cross-country skiing as well.”

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Lead Don Lysons and second Kevin Frank sweep hard in the A-event semi-final Feb. 3 at the Calumet mens bonspiel. The Lacombe-based rink, skipped by Ken Rolheiser, would later go on to defeat Lacombe’s Lionel Baron in the final.