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News Archives 2008 - 2009

Team Bileski won the championship as they sweeped Team Sicoli 7 - 6 last Friday. She is the first-ever lady skip to win the championship in 30 years. Let's congratulate to the Bileski rink.

Through March 17th to 22nd, the curling leagues at every clubs in the area of Ottawa were suspended due to OVCA Men's Bonspiel was held annually with about 27 various events. Three deaf teams: Team Raby, Team Cote and Team Ullett entered into that bonspiel. The reason for Team Raby to participate that event was to have their skills re-developed and trained for the World Deaf Curling Championships as well as Canadian Deaf Curling Championship for next year in Vancouver B.C. Team Cote was working on to structure itself a new form to compete for Team Ontario if they would be qualified to compete at the deaf provincial curling playdown first. Team Ullett curled for their recreation as old timers.

Roch Rink and Ullett Rink weren't advanced to final events, but they had the privileges to play with good experiences. Michael Raby's foursome had only lost once, and they won most of the games and capitalized the 5th event so called Hogline Curlers Proshop with 125 dollars certification. They were advanced to City of Ottawa Grant Aggregate - a big final event. They continued winning until the very final game of $1,200 cash prize, but they lost and brought home with $800 cash prize. Believe it or not, they were the first deaf curling to compete in two events in a single bonspiel. Deaf fans came along to support Team Raby as well as two others: Team Cote and Team Ullett.

To link the OVCA Men's Bonspiel:

http://www.ovca.com/

http://cityofottawabonspiel.ovca.com/

http://cityofottawabonspiel.ovca.com/history/history.htm

See pictures of Mike's team and fans below:

About a year anniversary as we remembered Team Raby's success to enter the 2008 Quebec Curling Championships in Trois-Rivières, Quebec. It felt extraordinary to see them curling against the best and well-known teams especially Team Menard as well as Team Hemmings. Raby Rink was considered the first Deaf team in CCA history to compete on high-level event, just a step away to the Brier. They were broadcasted shortly about technical communication in curling before stepping onto one of the provincial ice sheet. Mike said that his dream finally came true, and realized that the competition was not as same as he used to curl in regular club leagues and Canadian Deaf Curling Championships. He and his foursome just only won once, but they felt worth to have a taste of pre-Brier, and they certainly believed they would be better curling team next time. Way to go for Team Raby!.

Click to run the photos below.

Rita Bomak would like to share the news that Robertson Rink as Team Deaf Canada women were playing a curling bonpsiel last weekend in Airbrie, Alberta. They were doing for their warm-up exercise to prepare for the World Deaf Ice Hockey and Curling Championship in April as well as Raby Rink did. They won in "D" event with 4 - 2 record as they were exhausted after 6 games in 2 days. The coach for Team Deaf Canada women, Ross Lawrence, far left in photo below, did superb job to make sure they (Robertson Rink) got their jobs done to capture the trophy. Give them (wave hands).

Click to run the photos below.

News from CDSA about Team Deaf Canada Curling - click here

David Joseph and Damian Hum, in photo on left, who are part of Raby foursome, had good curling experiences at 121st MCA Bonspiel in Winnipeg on January 29th to February 2nd, 2009. At first game, they played without Andre Guillemette due to his delayed flight from Quebec City, but after losing 2nd game upon Andre's arrival, they managed to stay in bonspiel 5 winning streaks. Surprisingly, Raby Rink played Ross Lavallee deaf foursome, CDCC finalist as Team Manitoba from

Winnipeg, and they sweeped 4 - 3 over LaVallee. LaVallee was hoping to slam over them since he had not beated them (Raby Rink) as Team Quebec at CDCC. Unfortunately, Team Raby did not hop in Final game as their final record was 5 - 3. They were eliminated next game after winning over LaVallee foursome.
This photo was taken by Winnipeg Free Press. They were interviewed as they were honoured to throw the first rock at the opening ceremonies.
Click on photo, above, to link the Winnipeg Free Press.

Dimitri Jean-Paul, right, has become the first black curler in ODCC history, and he has been a member of this club for two years. It is our pleasure to have him to be part of our club.

This photo, left, was taken as André Guillemette, Third of Team Canada, delivered the stone during 16th Winter Deaflympics demonstration.
He will curl with his rink including, Mike Raby, Damian Hum, David Joseph and Dale Proctor in Winnipeg for World Deaf Hockey and Curling Championships. See Events below.