Stick nationals
The first of 27 draws at the 14th annual Canadian Open Stick Curling Championship is 5 p.m. Monday at the St. Albert Curling Club.The final for the Sure-Shot Stick Trophy is 2:30 p.m. Thursday.
The two-person stick nationals will feature 48 men’s, women’s and mixed teams from Alberta (24), British Columbia (six), Saskatchewan (two), Manitoba (nine), Nova Scotia (six) and Prince Edward Island (one).
Eight teams hail from St. Albert and four are representing the Morinville Curling Club.
The majority of the curlers at nationals are over the age of 60 and several are in their 80s.
In the triple-knockout format, eight teams qualify for the consolation and championship rounds Thursday.
The opening ceremonies are 7 p.m. Monday and the medal presentations are 3:30 p.m. Thursday.
Admission is free for nationals, hosted by the St. Albert 50-plus Mixed Curling League, Alberta Stick Curling Association and the St. Albert Curling Club.
St. Albert also hosted the 2014 nationals and last year’s championship was staged at the Bluenose Curling Club in Glasgow, N.S.
Visit www.albertastickcurling.ca for more information on nationals.
In stick curling, games are six ends and last about one hour.
Each team delivers six rocks per end. Players remain at each end of the ice while taking turns delivering/skipping alternate ends. There is no sweeping between the hog lines.
The four-rock rule prohibits the removal of any stone from play, including rocks in the house, until the fourth stone is delivered whereas the four-rock rule or free guard zone in regular four-person curling allows rocks in the house to be removed.
Ties are broken by an extra end in which each team member delivers three rocks.
Provincial hockey
The Hockey Alberta provincial championships are underway for the midget AA St. Albert Source for Sports Crusaders and bantam AA St. Albert Bears.The venues are the Glenn Hall Centennial Arena in Stony Plain for midget AA and The Meadows Community Recreation Centre for bantam AA.
Visit www.haprovincials.ca for the schedules and results.
Storm football
The St. Albert Storm huddles up today in the midget spring league opener in the Capital District Minor Football Association.Kickoff is 2 p.m. against the Fort McMurray Ravens at Fuhr Sports Park. Admission is $5 per person 12 years and over.
Spring league consists of players in grades 9, 10 and 11.
