Morris hosts national deaf curling squads

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Several athletes were honoured by the Canadian Deaf Sports Association at the Cargill Curling Training Centre in Morris last weekend, including Ile des Chenes native Tyler Plett (in centre). (SUPPLIED PHOTO)

The Cargill Training Centre at the Morris Curling Club last weekend hosted the Canadian Deaf Men’s and Women’s National Teams for a weekend of summer practice and facility.

With the Cargill Training Centre being a year-round facility, it is one of the few curling clubs in the country to have ice available for training rentals in the summer.

The national teams coming to Morris for the weekend were part of the 2019 Deaf FunSpiel.

The women`s national team, based in Alberta, includes Sherry Clark from Manitoba. The men`s national team is based in Vancouver.

More than 60 curlers from across Canada and board members from the Canadian Deaf Sport Association were on hand for some doubles curling as well as to recognize some prominent deaf athletes from Manitoba and elsewhere.

The Cargill Training Centre was available throughout the weekend for curlers to fine tune their curling skills. There was also a lot of interest in seeing the unique training device called the Rock Thrower in action, and how it is used to assist curlers with their sweeping and their understanding of ice conditions and rock movement.

Twelve teams took to the ice through the weekend for doubles curling spiel. Mixed doubles will be a sport added to the Deaflympics in 2023. Ultimately it was a fun event to provide an opportunity to learn about and tryout this game. For many of the curlers it was their first opportunity to play the game.

These curlers will take their new skills and experiences back to their provinces to help build the sport in preparation for the 2023 Deaflympics.

During a weekend reception, the Canadian Deaf Sports Association recognized the accomplishments of four Manitoba athletes for their involvements across several events and sports over the years.

One of those athletes was Ile des Chenes native Tyler Plett. He was acknowledged for competing in the 4 X 100 relay and the javelin at the 2001 and 2005 Deaflympics. He also competed in hockey at the 2007 and 2015 Deaflympics and was the goaltender for both those silver medal winning teams.

The other Manitoba athletes to be recognized were John Gessner, Thomas Osborn and Paul Nicholas Halas.