The first Lil’ Rockstars Curling Championship had the Inuvik Curling Club buzzing with enthusiastic young curlers and their parents Saturday, Jan. 27.
The club was packed and there was excitement in the air as kids prepared for their curling matches.
The event was a sweeping success as kids took turns on the ice sliding, curling, and laughing the day away as they faced each other in competitive – but always friendly – curling matches. The curlers snacked on hard-earned pizza and cake in between games.
Hudson Gillis, Tanner Bain, and Miguel Castillo-Drescher of Team NWT had giant grins as they took home first prize at the end of the day – a trophy twice their size.
Sixty-six kids aged five to nine formed 22 teams and played half-ice curling games from 12 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. at the Inuvik Curling Club.
Nick Saturnino of the Inuvik Curling Club organized the event.
“It’s all about having fun,” Saturnino said.
He added that the goal is to get as many kids involved as possible.
“We’re fortunate to have a lot of young girls interested in curling over the last 10 years, but we’ve really struggled with getting boys to participate,” Saturnino said. “That’s one of the reasons why we’re holding this event, to get more kids involved in the sport.”
Saturnino said he hopes to make the kids curling championship an annual event. Next year, he hopes to have more than 100 kids participate in the event, and more kids from surrounding communities come to Inuvik to curl.
The event was sponsored by Rocky’s Plumbing and Heating, Nappaq Design and Construction, Inuvik NorthMart, and Municipal and Community Affairs.
FACT FILE
Lil’ Rockstars Curling Championship winners
Age five: Curl Power
Age six: NWT
Age seven: Cardinal
Age eight/nine: Broom Bros.
Source: Inuvik Curling Club