Pictured left to right: Lorne Voinorosky (Skip), Colleen Voinorosky (Third), Al Gabert (Second), Sheila Gabert (Lead). (Submitted photo/Al Gabert)

By Martin Martinson

Representing Sask

North Battleford curling team win silver at Canada 55+ Games

Sep 13, 2022 | 5:48 PM

A team from North Battleford’s Twin Rivers Curling Club recently took home a silver medal at the 2022 Canada 55+ Games.

Taking place this year in Kamloops, BC., the Games are a large national competition, featuring over 2,500 athletes from across the country, competing in more than 25 sports, from soccer, slow pitch, and track and field, to more obscure entries such as darts, floor shuffleboard, and dragon boating.

Representing Saskatchewan in the 65+ mixed curling category this year were Battlefords locals, Lorne Voinorosky (Skip), Colleen Voinorosky (Third), Al Gabert (Second), and Sheila Gabert (Lead).

Together the team had a tournament to remember, competing against the best from other provinces around Canada. Playing six games total throughout the tournament, the team showed resiliency to battle back from a challenging start en route to a spot on the podium.

Overcoming a pair of defeats to Alberta and B.C. in their first two games, the “Sask pack” rallied quickly with a pair of wins over Nova Scotia 6-4, and Ontario 9-5, to close the four-game round robin with a .500 record and advance to the playoff rounds.

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There, the team continued their roll, topping B.C. in the semis 9-6, to advance to the finals against Alberta, where they went right down to the wire of the final game, ultimately taking home the silver as their rivals to the west just edged them out, 7-6 the final.

“It was pretty exciting,” Colleen Voinorosky said, reflecting on the experience as a whole. “You come together [with all the athletes] at the opening and closing ceremonies, so you really meet a lot of people from across Canada and you’re encouraged to go watch the other sports that are there, so in addition to being competitive it’s also a place to form some friendships.”

This marked the third time the North Battleford-based team has competed at the Canada 55+ Games, held every two years, and their first time medaling on the national stage.

Six years ago, they also won the Saskatchewan qualifiers to advance to the national tournament in Brampton, and in Moose Jaw two years ago came just short of advancing at national qualifiers.

Lorne Voinorosky said the Games are something they look forward to each time.

“It’s just a really good experience and it’s really good for the sport itself because it takes into account all ages for curlers,” he said, referencing the multitude of age groups in each activity. “You can be 80 [years old] and still be curling in it, so it’s an excellent opportunity for people to continue sports.”

Following the Senior Games, the Voinoroskys and Gaberts will now return to awaiting the start of the league curling season at Twin Rivers this October, where they will compete as a mixed team quartet, and as pairs in the men’s and women’s leagues.

The Curling season at Twin Rivers will begin on Oct. 11.

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Martin.Martinson@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @MartyMartyPxP1