The junior development curling session with Team Bottcher in Lloydminster is fully booked.
More than 90 kids have signed up for the Dec. 12 interaction with the champion Canadian curlers and some of the youngsters will get a chance to play in the Marc Kennedy Junior Bonspiel in St. Albert in March.
Jeff Mulligan with Astec Safety says they have partnered with Team Bottcher, that’s Brendan Bottcher, Marc Kennedy, Brett Gallant and Ben Hebert to come to the Lloydminster Golf and Curling Centre for the youth training.
“From 4 until 6 there will be an on ice session. From 6 until 8 o’clock we are going to have a hot-stove lounge and the junior curlers are going to be able to interact with these four world class curlers and talk about anything that is important to them – and I think really get a chance to see what it takes to be top-of-game, how you communicate, how you prepare, how you commit. All the things that are not just good for curling but good in life.”
Mulligan in looking forward to the event is pegging some early takeaways for participants.
“I hope that people take a look at these guys and understand that where they are in their junior curling careers right now, is where these guys were 5, 7 and 10-years ago. What we hope is that they will be energized, it will help them super commit and at the same time, the parents that are watching will say,”There is a direction, there is a future. It is worth the efforts of bringing these kids through the dead of winter to curling.””
Mulligan emphasized that Astec Safety is pleased to be connected with Team Bottcher and they have inked a partnership as the curling outfit prepares for the next Olympics in 2026.