The 2023 Connect Hearing BC Masters kicks off this week at the Parksville Curling Club, with five days of thrilling draws. The event, which runs from Wednesday, February 22nd to Sunday, February 26th,  showcases curlers age 60+, and the action begins with a triple-knockout round robin preliminary draw. In all, six women’s teams and nine men’s teams will compete.

Behind the scenes, this event was made possible by a talented and dedicated group of people, including the host committee, spearheaded by Penny Shantz in the run-up to the event, Bruce Beaudry, the club’s BC Masters Fundraising Director, head icemaker Tim Kottsieper and his crew, Chief umpire Kathleen McKenzie, Jim Hoffman, who organized all the officials, as well as an army of volunteers.

The Masters have also been made possible through the generosity of named sponsor Connect Hearing, and presenting sponsor Setter and Associates—RE/Max of Nanaimo.

Last year’s women’s Masters title was won by Parkville’s own Team Shantz led by Penny Shantz, Cindy Curtain, Janet Suter, Shirley Wong and Keren Ruus, while the men’s winner was Vancouver Island’s Team Craig consisting of Wes Craig, Ron Schmidt, Tony Anslow, Victor Gamble. Both teams are back this year to defend their titles.

The women’s championship final will be held at 2:00pm on Saturday, February 25, while the men’s final takes place at 10:00am on Sunday, February 26th. The winners of this year’s BC Masters will go on to the 2023 Canadian Masters Curling Championships, to be held at the Thistle- St. Andrews Curling Club in Saint John, New Brunswick on April 3rd to 9th, 2023.

Your 2023 BC Masters women’s competitors are:

Team Erdos (Nanaimo)

Debbie Erdos, Skip

Teri Palynchuk, Third

Zorka Smith, Second

Kilby Howat, Lead

Team  Shearer (Parksville)

Leslie  Shearer, Skip

Susan Chepil, Third

Peggy Aikman, Second

Carol Dorman, Lead

Team Mychaluk (Royal City/Langley)

Donna Mychaluk, Skip

Danielle Shaughnessy, Third

Victoria Murphy, Second

Nancy Stagg, Lead

Team Konyer (Nanaimo)

Mary Ellen Konyer, Skip

Carol Tromans, Third

Kellie Rice, Second

Lorna Black, Lead

Team Shantz (Qualicum/Parksville/Penticton)

Penny Shantz, Skip

Cindy Curtain, Third

Shirley Wong, Second

Janet Suter, Lead

Team Klebe (Chilliwack/Richmond/Cloverdale/Langley)

Janet Klebe, Skip

Kerri Miller, Third

Laurie Shimizu, Second

Donna Christian, Lead

And the men’s competitors are:

Team Kavanaugh (Peace Arch)

Michael James Kavanagh, Skip

Doug Boynton, Third

Rick Reimer, Second

Ed Holland, Lead

Ed Jaehrlich, Alternate

Team King (Kelowna)

Blake King, Skip

David Johnston, Third

Garnet Boese, Second

Jim Stephenson, Leasd

Team VanYzerloo (Castlegar)

Bill VanYzerloo, Skip

Myron Nichol, Third

Garry Beaudry, Second

Richard Faunt, Lead

Team Feltham (Parksville)

Bruce Feltham, Skip

Vern Chang, Third

Oryst Myroniuk, Second

Randy Ohno, Lead

Team Sulz (Parksville)

Carey Sulz, Skip

Rick Dunn, Third

Tom Freeman, Second

Bob Hirschfield, Lead

Team Shimizu (Richmond/Vancouver)

Vic Shimizu, Skip

Paul Dunkin, Third

Wayne Hogaboam, Second

Wayne Saito, Lead

Team Craig (Comox/Duncan/Victoria)

Wes Craig, Skip

Ron Schmidt, Third

Tony Anslow, Second

Victor Gamble, Lead

Blair Cusack, Alternate

Team Sieg (Cloverdale)

Lyle Sieg, Skip

Fred Cleutinx, Third

Brett Kury, Second

Doug O’Byrne, Lead

Good luck and good curling to all!