The Canadian Wheelchair Curling Championship might be a few months away, but things are already in motion as Team Saskatchewan looks to defend their national title won at the Moose Jaw Events Centre this past spring.
And while the core of the two rinks that represented the province at the event remains intact, there will be some new faces around when the tournament returns to Canada’s Most Notorious City from Mar. 22-29 at the Moose Jaw Curling Centre.
Players both old and new were on the ice on Sunday afternoon for an exhibition game against the Swift Current Special Olympics curling team, with both crews taking the opportunity to work on and advance their games in a competitive setting.
“It’s just good to get out and have a chance to play and practice,” said wheelchair curling veteran Rod Pederson, who skipped Sask 2 at the 2023 nationals. “We’re just here to try and promote and grow the game. There are so many people who could try it and maybe are just scared to come out or something, but try it and you’ll enjoy it. It’s hard, but it’s so much fun.”
Word has gotten out in that direction and that’s resulted in some new players taking a crack at the sport. That includes Regina’s Zahra Ehsani and Tara Hess, who joined Rod and Sheryl Pederson for the game on Sunday.
Their arrival on the scene has been timed well given recent departures of some veteran players.
Four-time Canadian champion and 11-time nationals competiior Darwin Bender -- who played second for Team Sask’s gold medal winning rink this spring -- has decided to step back from the sport, as have Team Sask 2 lead Russell Whitsitt and third Stuart McKeown.
The Pedersons will be back in action, though, as will perennial Team Canada competitors Marie Wright and Gil Dash, who were joined by Bender and Moose Gibson in winning gold with Sask 1 last spring.
Fortunately, in addition to Ehsani and Hess, a couple of players are coming up through the ranks in Saskatoon as well, meaning Team Sask might even have extra players when things are all said and done.
“Lloyd has worked with (the guys in Saskatoon) and said they’re good, so it’ll be interesting to see where they fit in,” Pederson said.
The process of selecting teams will be much the same as last year. Coaches Lorraine Arguin and Lloyd Thiele will put together a pair of rinks with the best fit of players and positions as possible, with the goal of defending the gold medal on home soil -- and ideally creating an all-Saskatchewan final.
After skipping Team Sask 2 to a 3-2 record and just missing the Championship Pool in 2023, Pederson will be hoping to take that next step and hit the playoffs, regardless of who he’s playing with.
“Wherever I end up, I end up and I’m just looking forward to curling and seeing what we can do,” he said.
