The DEKALB Super League of Curling began its 7th season under the title sponsorship of Monsanto’s DEKALB brand, November 1 in Morris.
Monsanto's Public Affairs Director Trish Jordan (pictured throwing the opening rock) announced that Monsanto/DEKALB will continue its sponsorship contribution of $10,000 and presented a cheque in that amount to the teams gathered in Morris. League Coordinator Lorne Hamblin says the sponsorship ensures the league’s prize payout will continue to be among the highest competitive league prize purses in the province.
The league will operate this season with eight teams and will play November 1 (Morris), November 15 (Portage), November 29 (Roland), and December 6 (Carman). Playoffs will go January 24 in Portage and February 21 in Morris.
The league competes in communities throughout south-central Manitoba and the Red River Valley, depending upon ice availability in the home clubs of league teams. “Actually, our prize money could be somewhat higher but it has always been our policy to pay full value for ice rentals in the host clubs. I think our teams all appreciate the fact that they get to curl at home at least once and that their club is well paid for providing the ice.”
Included among new teams confirmed for this season is Chad Carlson of Grand Forks, ND. who will bring his team to compete in Manitoba. Grafton’s Ben Tucker will not return this year but in the past he has credited the DEKALB League with helping him to win a North Dakota Championship and an appearance at the US Nationals.
Bob Bartley of Carman has also confirmed a new entry for this season.
The defending league champion is Don Spriggs of Portage, who has won the title four times in the six year history of the sponsorship of Monsanto Canada under the DEKALB banner. Spriggs defeated Randy Neufeld 7-5 in last year’s final game.
Spriggs and Neufeld are both returning along with teams skipped by Lorne Hamblin, Tom Hyde, Kris Mazinke, and Ryan Thomson.
The Southern Manitoba Competitive Curling League, otherwise known as the DEKALB SuperLeague, wrapped up its 2006-2007 season February 15th in Morris.
In a game worthy of a pair of Safeway Championship competitors, Don Spriggs and his Portage team of Dean Moxham, Barry Pugh and Dale Michie (pictured with Monsanto’s Neil Arbuckle) stole a single point on the final end for a 7-5 victory over Randy Neufeld’s La Salle team. The win made Spriggs the league champion for the fourth time in the six year history of the sponsorship of Monsanto Canada under the DEKALB banner.
Neufeld had finished first in the ten-team round robin with a record of eight wins and one loss while defending champion Spriggs had a 6-3 regular season record
Leading by one coming home, thanks to a score of three on the sixth end, Spriggs buried a pair in the four foot circle. With his final stone Neufeld had a choice between an in-off from the corner for a possible one or the attempted but less-easily described combination shot that might have resulted in a double kill for the win. “Oh so close” describes the result with Spriggs stealing a point on that last end.
In the championship pool 3rd place game Kris Mazinke’s Morris team defeated Tom Hyde of Portage by the same 7-5 score.
In the B Pool Final game Lorne Hamblin’s Morris team, with former World Junior Champion David Hamblin throwing last rocks, scored a 6-4 win over former North Dakota Champion Ben Tucker.
For information: contact Resby Coutts (799-2250)
www.thecurler.com - a website dedicated to news, information and opinions about curling in Manitoba
* $17,250 in cash prizes for 10 team league *
DEKALB SuperLeague
action got underway in Portage November 9 with an official opening rock
thrown by Trish Jordan, Public Affairs Lead for Monsanto Canada. Jordan
and Monsanto’s Neil Arbuckle attended the opening night in Portage
for the opening ceremony and the presentation of a $10,000 sponsorship
cheque. Jordan and Arbuckle are pictured presenting the cheque to Portage
skip Don Spriggs and League organizer Lorne Hamblin.
Don Spriggs and his
Portage Curling Club team of Dean Moxham, Dale Michie,and Barry Pugh
are the DEKALB® SuperLeague’s defending champions.
 In its sixth year under
the sponsorship of DEKALB, the league features ten teams and will play
an 9-game round-robin series followed by playoffs. With the sponsorship
of DEKALB, the teams will be competing for $17,250 in cash this season.
Each round-robin win is worth $250 to the winner. The playoff round
is worth a total of $6,000 with an $1,800 prize to the DEKALB champions.
Along with Spriggs,
the Portage Curling Club is represented in the league by teams skipped
by Tom Hyde, Ryan Hyde, and Geoff Trimble. The four Portage teams along
with a pair of Morris teams skipped by Kris Mazinke and Lorne Hamblin
and single teams from Carman (Ryan Thomson), LaSalle (Randy Neufeld)
are returning to the DEKALB League this season. The Altona Curling Club
will be represented with various club members competing on a weekly
basis.
Returning to the league
after a one year absence is former North Dakota Champion Ben Tucker
and his Grafton team.
The team sponsors league
includes:
- Altona Curling
Club
- (LaSalle)
Randy Neufeld – Arctic Foundations of Canada Inc. N.I.P., J&S
Finishing Ltd ( Morris) Lorne Hamblin - Horizon, Midland Manufacturing,
Rosenort Motors ( Morris) Kris Mazinke - Rempel Insurance Brokers
- (Carman)
Ryan Thomson - Roland Air
- (Portage)
Ryan Hyde – Prairie Abbatoir, Meyers Norris Penny, Pallister Financial
- (Portage)
Tom Hyde – Port-Land Farms Ltd, Boston Pizza
- (Portage)
Don Spriggs – ReMax Central Plains Realty, Bayer CropScience, EF Moon
Construction, Enns Brothers,
- (Portage)
Geoff Trimble – Munro Farm Supplies. Syngenta, DEKALB, Omex
- (Grafton)
Ben Tucker
The DEKALB SuperLeague
schedule is:
Portage – Thursday,
November 9 (2 draws)
Grafton & Morris
– Thursday, November 16 (2 draws)
Carman - Thursday,
November 30 (two draws)
Altona & Morris
- Thursday, December 14 (two draws)
Portage - Thursday,
February 1 (Final Round Robin games & 1st Playoff Draw)
Morris - Thursday,
February 15 (Final Playoff Game, Closing Ceremony, & Trophy Presentation)
For information,
please contact Lorne Hamblin – League Coordinator (955-3824) Trish
Jordan – Monsanto/DEKALB (985-1005)
DEKALB and DEKALB and
design are trademarks of Dekalb Genetics Corporation, Monsanto Canada
Inc., licensee.
Don Spriggs and his Portage team (pictured) of Dean Moxham, Barry Pugh and Dale Michie won the 2005-06 DEKALB SuperLeague chamnpionship with a pair of championship round victories over Portage clubmates.
The Spriggs team faced off against Doug Joradan in the first round of the Championship playoff, scoring deuces in the the first and third ends enroute to a 6-4 win.
In the Championship Final, a two on the fourth end gave Spriggs a 4-1 lead over Ryan Hyde. The final score was 5-2.
In the Secondary Group Final Game, Brian Reckseidler of Morris was a 6-5 winner over David Hamblin, also of Morris.
In the Consolation Final, Lorne Hamblin's Morris team needed an extra end to defeat Ryan Thomson of Morden by the same 6-5 score.
Click here for 05/06 results
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