Throughout the week at the Scotties Tournament of Hearts, 64 young curlers were down on ice level with the teams to experience exactly what it’s like to curl in a tournament of this calibre.
Curling Canada runs its Future Stars program at tournaments throughout the year, selecting applicants between the ages of 9 and 12 to be honourary members of each team competing on the ice.
“Every one of the teams gets four Future Stars and they get to come out for practice with the teams, meet the teams, they get their autographs, have a little chat with them,” said Curling Canada director of ceremonies and game day Shelley Meadows.
With the Scotties here in Moose Jaw this year, the Future Stars committee put their focus on young Saskatchewan curlers, choosing kids who play the game here in the city — like Avery Wakeford, Bryson Patsack, and Dayna and Abby Mutschler.
“I think it's really eye-opening, getting to see everything up close and see how the teams are actually practicing out on the ice,” said Abby. “It actually helped me to understand what goes on in more professional games.”
“It’s really cool just being able to see the ice and just being able to experience the Scotties, in general, is something you don’t always get to do,” said Patsack.
Each Future Star gets a commemorative Future Star jacket for their team, in addition to the unique opportunity to rub elbows with some of the most elite players in the sport.
As special guests, the Future Stars are invited to watch their team during practice, chat with the professional curlers, get autographs and photos, and — most exciting — join them out on ice level for pre-game ceremonies.
Future Stars get to carry their team’s sign during ceremonies, walking the blue carpet alongside the curlers, as their names and faces flash on the jumbotron for the entire arena to see.
“[They get to] see their pictures on the sideboards, wave at their parents and have their names announced. It's a really neat experience, to actually be down on the ice level,” said Meadows.
The young curling enthusiasts are also given a tour of the behind-the-scenes area of the rink and talk to the ice-makers about what they do.
The opportunity is one that Curling Canada loves to offer, especially to young curlers who could become the next generation of Scotties contenders.
“Stepping out here in the arena is amazing, and so I hope that these kids then step out and think 'wow,’” said Meadows. “And also just realize also that these are just people that they're out there with and that they then aspire to become great curlers like these women and men.”
The Future Stars program has been running for a number of years, although it has seen some changes since the year that Team British Columbia skip Corryn Brown took part.
Brown attended a curling camp and had the opportunity to meet a few professional curlers there, and she felt that the experience certainly prompted her to pursue the sport.
“It was really cool and it makes you aspire to be that good one day,” said Brown. “I think it showed what hard work can get you, and it definitely gave me some people to look up to.”
For Brown, it's also satisfying to be on the other end of the Future Stars program as one of the professional curlers.
“I definitely always try to give them the time of day whenever I see them, because I know I was one of those kids trying to get autographs,” said Brown. “So it's definitely important to acknowledge those people because you don't really know what impact you're making on them.”
