DECEMBER 2012 | Vol. 25, No. 3 NORFOLK CLUB: ONE YEAR LATER REBUILDING BEGINS: Ground broken at Norfolk From Norfolk Curling Club

One year since a devastating fire destroyed the club facility, the Norfolk Curling Club is breaking ground on our new building. There was a brief ground- breaking ceremony on Friday, Oct. 5, at the site of the new club facility in Norfolk, Conn. After that, work begins immediately to prepare the site and begin construction of the new building. “I want to thank each of you for the time and effort you have contributed to help us reach this point. There is much more to do and decide and many funds to raise, but I think we should all be very proud of what we have achieved. We have a very exciting future ahead of us.” said President Mary Fanette. Earlier this year, Mary signed the One year ago, arsonists torched Norfolk Curling construction contract with Borghesi Club, leaving the long-standing club in ruins. Building and Engineering Co. of Members of the Club recently gathered to begin the Torrington. Plans for the new building and rebuilding process, breaking ground for a new facilty. MORE ON THE REBUILD, Page 4 >

HEADLINES Inside this edition

Dropkin named Male Athlete of the Year NATIONALS RETURNING TO PHILLY by USCA; Pottinger takes female honor City to host 2014 tournament, Page 3 USA Curling’s most decorated athlete –The male recipient is 17-year-old GNCC BEGINS PROJECT 2014 Korey Dropkin (Southborough, Mass.), who won two national titles this season Time to begin prep, Page 5 and made U.S. history at the Youth Olympic Games. ROCHESTER CURLER IS Dropkin, a member of the Broomstones Curling Club, won the first Youth VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR Olympic Games playdown last fall along with teammates (Broomall, Pa.), Thomas Howell III (Brick, N.J.) and Rochester Curling Club member Doug Brugler has (Broomall, Pa.). The team represented the U.S. at the inaugural Winter Youth been named the inaugural Olympic Games in Innsbruck, Austria, in January. recipient of USA In the mixed team portion, the Americans finished the round robin with a Curling’s Volunteer of the perfect 7-0 record but lost its quarterfinal match to finish fifth overall. Next up Year Award. for the four Americans was the mixed doubles component of the event where As the local Professor of Curling, Brugler has the athletes were teamed with curlers from different countries. taught thousands of people to play the great sport of curling in the last two MORE ON DROPKIN, Page 7 > decades. For more on the award, Page 7 MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT Bonspiels, major events bring excitement to every season Fellow curlers, prestigious international competition I personally played in Wilmington should become a curling goal for each Charlotte and Triangle and the GNCC It is nearly the end of 2012 and the GNCC male curler. arena championships in June in curling season is off to a good start Charlotte and I were also in Las Vegas Woodstock, which was won by Bucks One of the early season highlights for where we curled in the midnight County (Pa.) Curling. The older me was the Ross Tarlton where madness segment of the Sin City established bonspiels of Cape Cod and friendships were renewed for the rivalry Bonspiel. This new event shared the Tropicurl at Pittsburgh continue to sell started in 1966 with the Canadian branch arena ice with the Margaritas, an out early but look for others like of the Royal Caledonian Curling Club international adjunct curling group. The Anthracite so you can try summer and the GNCC. This 45 year old Margaritas curled in the daylight hours curling. competition along with the much older and they had 17 countries represented The GNCC Web site keeps an up-to- Gordon International being held in on the 48 teams. The “evening” date schedule for all member club spiels Montreal in March sets our region apart division, sometimes lasting until 4 a.m., and Sally MacKenzie has done an from any region in the USCA. In the had another 16 teams. excellent job of resending all bonspiel past three years the GNCC has changed Trust me the curling and the announcement to all club presidents and the method of selecting teams for these fellowship overshadowed all the glitzy GNCC reps. This communication plus international curling events so that every lights of Las Vegas. In fact, I have an the dedication that each club has put into male adult curler in the region now has announcement: the Continental Cup, hosting inter-club bonspiels has made a chance for this exciting and rewarding where Europe challenges North America these events very popular and many are international curling experience. As in team curling, will move to Las Vegas filling up fast. team openings occur when legacy skips in January 2014, a month before the So yes, it is Fall, maybe winter, when retire they are offered to GNCC member Olympics. It might be a chance for you this is read, but curling is now a year clubs. The GNCC member club is to see great curling … and the glitzy around activity and the GNCC leads the invited to send a team for a two-year lights. The Las Vegas curling club that way in offering bonspiels and home-and-away series. I urge you to hosted these events as their second competitions year-round. So as you become familiar with these events and bonspiel is a new arena curling club. hone your skills at your club each week, to be eager to participate when asked by Our GNCC arena curling clubs are talk about venturing out and trying your club if you would like to be on the leading the charge for big bonspiels and inter-club curling … it is really what the team. this summer was special with one every spirit of curling is all about. Curling in Canada is a rewarding month so you never need to pack away See you on the ice, experience and to curl in such a your curling shoes or brooms. Dick Macartney

AROUND THE GRAND NATIONAL CURLING CLUB Follow @GNCC_Curling, #GNCC on Twitter The GNCC is active on Twitter and @GNCC_Curling and Follow us. If We will be sure to re-Tweet your it gives us a chance to connect with you’re at a GNCC event or representing tagged messages later that day. each and every curler in the the organization in a bonspiel elsewhere, The GNCC Twitter account is organization. Are you a curler and be sure to tag your Tweets with the currently managed by @sallymack want to be followed? Tweet hashtag #GNCC. and @joshuasophy. Club dues in by end of year This is a friendly reminder that your has the appropriate time to tally your If you have any questions regarding dues payments are due by Dec. 31. numbers and provide you with the your dues, please submit them to Because of the new process, we ask amount due to the GNCC and your Charlene Fitzgerald via her email at that you please send your rosters to payment can be made on or before Dec. [email protected]. Charlene no later than Dec. 20, so she 31. FUND RAISER Support the GNCC Stone Handle program Show your support of building curling in the GNCC by purchasing a handle for the rental stones. The Stone rental program currently rents 20 sets of stones to develop clubs in the GNCC. This is a great program to help new clubs get started, but needs your help to purchase additional stones and maintain our Team Petrov claims 2012 current sets. For a $100 tax-deductible donation you can have Men’s Club Championship any message up to 2 (15 character) lines on the handle. Congratulations to the 2012 GNCC Men's Club Champions, The Handles will have a GNCC Stone Rental Ivo Petrov (), Mark Mooney, Don Arsenault, and Brady Program message on the other side. Many of the Gould, of Plainfield (N.J.) Curling Club. They will go on to GNCC stones currently have the old gooseneck represent the GNCC at the Club Nationals March 2-9 at the handles which need to be updated. Please donate to Exmoor CC in Illinois. support curling in the GNCC.

Nationals coming back to Philly How it works … From a USCA press release Stones will have Sheet and Stone numbers On the heels of hosting a highly successful championship engraved. earlier this year, IceWorks Skating Complex near Side 1 Philadelphia has been selected to host the 2014 USA Curling GNCC Stone Rental Program National Championships. IceWorks Skating Complex, in Aston, Pa., will once again Side 2 partner with the Philadelphia Sports Congress and “Your Message” Brandywine Visitor’s Bureau to host this premier event Your name as a supporter, a tribute to a loved one, featuring the top 20 U.S. men’s and women’s curling teams. - support from your curling Club, or any message “After the great success of this past year’s Nationals we you want knew that we wanted the opportunity to host another USA Curling event here at IceWorks. Delaware County and the entire Philadelphia region showed a lot of support for the sport of curling this past year, and we look forward to making the 2014 National Championship event bigger and more exciting than 2012,” said Anthony Lorusso, director of social media for IceWorks. After hosting an event that saw sold-out crowds on the closing weekend of the 2012 Nationals as well as strong event marketing, USA Curling’s Site Selection Committee opted to return to Aston, Pa., for what could be a critical time period for USA Curling. The 2014 Nationals will take place March 1-8, 2014, just six days after the close of the 2014 Olympic Winter Games in Sochi, Russia. “Here in the United States there is limited opportunity to watch curling on TV, so when the Olympics come around www.goldline.ca every four years, people are drawn to curling and watch for hours and hours at a time,” said Lisa Shaw, director of advertising/marketing with IceWorks. REBUILDING NORFOLK CURLING CLUB Norfolk sets Fall 2013 for re-opening NORFOLK from Page 1 > steel building components will be delivered in December and erected the construction agreement are the result through the winter months. Once warm of a very cooperative relationship weather arrives next spring, the floor between Rob Blanchette and the will be poured, interior work will Borghesi team and the talented and continue, and ice-making equipment dedicated NCC Building Committee. will be installed. The schedule calls for getting the The goal is to be curling in the new foundation in place this fall, before the club in the 2013-2014 season. ground freezes. Once that happens, the

Arsonists get 10 years for one ill-fated night The two young men Their trial called have followed that who torched Norfolk attention to the dangers of measure and also banned Curling Club last year will energy drinks, especially its sale. spend the next decade of those containing alcohol, There have also been their lives behind bars. and synthetic marijuana. numerous recent studies Matthew Carey and On their fateful night, highlighting the dangers Kyle Majewski were each the men apparently of energy drinks. given 20-year sentences consumed amounts of This combination for their roles in an Four Loko, an energy allegedly caused the men arsonist spree around drink spiked with alcohol, to set two fires within five Norfolk, Conn., on Dec. and smoked K2, a hours of each other in 18, 2011. This included synthetic marijuana that is Norfolk. They were each the total destruction of the sold at many convenience found later that night as historic curling club. All stores across the country. part of an automobile told, the damages topped In Connecticut, the sale accident. $1.8 million between the of K2 has been outlawed Each sentence has been two fires they set. and several other states suspended to 10 years.

GNCC Curling News is published by the Grand National Curling Club of America, Inc. The newsletter is distributed Grand National Curling Club free to members of the Grand National Curling Club. The Officers and Directors annual subscription rate for non-members is $10.00 (US). President Dick Macartney Advertising rates are available upon request. 1st Vice President Sally MacKenzie 2nd Vice President Chris Banino All correspondence should be sent to: Secretary Mary Colacchio GNCC Curling News Treasurer Howard “Bunkie” Harmon 6 Mary Street Immediate Past Carl Thomas Pottsville, Pa. 17901 President At Large Directors Rob LeVine Editor: Joshua Sophy, [email protected] Maryann Vermeulen George Shirk Contributors: Sally MacKenzie, Carl Thomas, Chris Banino, Charlene Fitzgerald, Rob LeVine, Mary P. Colacchio, Gwen Krailo, Val Schmitt, USA Curling, Norfolk Curling Club. Team USA names several GNCC curlers to 2014 national Paralympic team

From a USCA press release USA at the 2013 World Wheelchair in the 2013 world championship. Curling Championship on Feb. 16-23 in Countries earn points at the three world Team USA has been determined for Sochi, Russia. wheelchair championships in the lead-up the 2013 World Wheelchair These athletes will be given top to the Paralympic Winter Games. The Championship after a three-day tryout consideration to be nominated to the 10 qualified nations will be formally competition held at the Madison Curling 2014 U.S. Paralympic Team, which will announced after the 2013 world event. Club in McFarland, Wis. compete in Sochi, Russia, on March For a complete look at the qualification The five-person team is composed of 7-16, 2014. The five Paralympic athletes standings, please visit the World Curling 2010 Paralympian Patrick McDonald will be officially named in December Federation Web site.. (Madison, Wis.); David Palmer 2013. USA Curling is sponsored by (Mashpee, Mass.), a member of Team Team USA finished fifth at last year’s AtomAmpd, Brooms Up Curling USA in 2012; two-time Paralympian world wheelchair event and secured Supplies, Nike, RAM Brewery & Jimmy Joseph (New Hartford, N.Y.); essential qualifying points for the U.S. Restaurant and Sitrin Health Care and is Penny Greely (Green Bay, Wis.), a for the 2014 Paralympic Games. The partnered with CurlingZone.com. member of the last two world teams; and Americans are in good shape to earn a 28-year-old Meghan Lino (East berth for the Paralympic Games as they on the Web Falmouth, Mass.), who will make her are in sixth place in the qualification www.worldcurling.org debut as a member of the national team. standings and will earn a minimum of a facebook.com/WorldCurlingFederation Follow @worldcurling These five athletes will represent Team single qualification point by competing

HELP WANTED - The editorial staff at GNCC Curling News could use a little additional help in getting this to the readers a little quicker. GNCC launches Project 2014, If you’re interested in lending a hand with proofreading, copy writing, or news gathering, please email [email protected]. club input needed The 2014 Olympics are being held in Feb 2014 and that sounds like a long time, but it’ll creep up on us fast. During AROUND THE GRAND NATIONAL CURLING CLUB the next spring meeting in May 2013 the GNCC will be having a workshop for clubs to begin their preparations. GNCC appoints This program will be based on the 2010 Olympic preparation, but updated to learn from the lessons of the 2010 new faces to new places Olympics and enhance on areas clubs have requested. It takes quite a few volunteers to run the GNCC so What’s Needed Now? efficiently. We would like to recognize and thank some 1. All clubs to assign a person to be their Project 2014 of our newest volunteers: contact person. Ashley Lawreck Jeff Hannon 2. Identify what areas your club would like included in GNCC Junior programs USCA Director Project 2014. Project 2010 helped the GNCC clubs spur a 25 percent Dion Warr Meghan Lino Dykes Chair Chair increase in total membership, the highest of all regions in the USCA. That was a result of a lot of work at the club level, Chuck Skinner Richard Collins and also a lot of work at the GNCC level. Kayser Chair Arena Club Championships The Olympic spikes are essential to keep the sport growing and build clubs in the GNCC. Please help the GNCC help Brady Gould Sue Mitchell & Rich GNCC Mixed Playdowns Ashford your club to make the 2014 Olympic bump even bigger. Chair GNCC Grassroots Please send contact information for the person that will be Development the Project 2014 representative from your club as well as any Walter Baggett & Frank areas that you would like to see included in it to Carl Thomas Balas GNCC scheduling at [email protected] or by phone at 315-831-4253. USCA unveils plans for arena curling championship By Jonathan Havercroft, Chair With these obstacles in mind, the from their club’s regular league schedule USCA Arena Curling Committee USCA has designed an arena to determine the most deserving entries. championship that is strictly for arena Each region is assured of at least one The inaugural United States Curling curlers. The event will have a modified entry. If more than one arena club within Association Arena Curling National double knockout format for 16 men’s a region enters a team, then the entry will Championship, an event designed teams and 16 women’s teams in their be awarded to whichever club entered specifically for curlers who utilize arena respective divisions. This four-day event both a men’s team and a women’s team. curling facilities, will debut next will be a great way to keep cool during In the event more than one club in a summer. This new championship will the summertime and will include special region entered a team for both divisions, take place July 18-21 at the Fort Wayne clinics for the participants on arena ice then the region’s entrant will be Curling Club in Fort Wayne, Ind. making and curling skills. determined by selecting the club entry “The Fort Wayne Curling Club is Due to time and space constraints, and at random. excited that the USCA has initiated a because we’re unsure of the interest and The registration fee for the event is new Arena Championship to provide participation levels of arena curlers, the $400 per team. Pre-registration is many of the newest curling clubs in the size of the field has been limited to 32 required. Club presidents will be United States, like us, the ability to teams for the inaugural event. One of the required to pre-register teams by using compete against clubs of similar goals of this event is to promote the pre-registration form embedded circumstances,” said Craig Fisher, Fort women’s arena curling. As such, we here. The pre-registration deadline is Wayne Curling Club president and have developed a unique registration April 15, 2013. The teams that are chairman of the 2013 Arena Curling process that will ensure regional selected to compete in the event will National Championships. diversity and full participation of need to complete their online The event will feature 32 teams, with women’s curling teams in the registration through the SportsSignup men’s and women’s divisions, and the championship. For this event, each club system before May 22, 2013. hopes of growing the event in the future. can enter one men’s team and one Complete event rules will be posted To be eligible to enter, team members women’s team. It is up to the club to on the USCA Web site soon. must all be dues-paying, league-playing determine its representatives. Clubs can members of the same arena curling club. accomplish this either through an The USCA launched this internal playdown or by using records championship to meet the needs of its members in arena curling clubs. Arena curling is the fastest growing segment 2013 Arena Championships Pin Design Contest of the USCA, with 53 clubs and 2,627 members. While arena curlers are often Are you creative? Do you have an artistic flair? How would you like to have some of the USCA’s most enthusiastic your design chosen as the official pin for the inaugural Arena Curling members, there are several unique Championships to be held in July 2013? The contest is open to any USCA obstacles that arena curling club member. All designs must be received at the USCA office by no later than Feb. 1, 2013. members face that make it difficult for The winner will be awarded a $25 gift certificate to Team Fan Shop, USA them to compete in USCA events. Curling’s official online store, as well as five of the official Arena Championship Among these challenges are: pins. Ÿ Difficulty in accessing practice time Design requirements Ÿ Poor quality of arena ice ŸLimited to four colors Ÿ Ÿ Being located in areas that are quite Must have the words “2013 USCA Arena Curling Championship” or the a distance from bonspiels USA Curling logo incorporated Ÿ ŸMust be no larger than 1.5" in scale High cost of arena ice Ÿ Ÿ Difficulty of booking ice time for Must be submitted as a PDF, JPEG or EPS file ŸMust include a short narrative explaining what is symbolized in the design playdowns Ÿ Non-traditional curling season (i.e., Entries should be emailed to Christy Hering at the USCA office curling in late spring and summer [email protected]. Please include your name, club affiliation, months) address, phone number, and email address. BONSPIEL Ontario tops GNCC at 2012 Ross Tarlton International By Dick Macartney that Utica provided for all GNCC President attending. Malcolm Marsh of Leaside, Korey Dropkin, right, was The 45th Annual Ross a Canadian trustee, once more named 2012 USCA Male Tarlton Bonspiel was provided an exquisite carved Athlete of the Year. spiritedly contested on Nov. soapstone rendition of a Polar 9 and 10 at the Utica Curling Bear crafted by Alaskan Dropkin, Pottinger are Club. Sixty-four curlers from Native Americans. Long time Athletes of the Year Ontario played against the Trustee Bunkie Harmon same number of GNCC presented it as the Collie DROPKIN from Page 1 > Dropkin, along with Russian teammate Marina curlers who made up the 16 Campbell award to an even Verenich, defeated their opponents from Japan and teams for each side. With longer term American Korea, 6-5, in an extra end to win the bronze medal – the plans to broaden the exposure Trustee, Bob Ottaviano, who first curling medal for the U.S. at this event. A week later, of this event we welcomed is retiring after serving 22 Dropkin captured his first junior national title playing vice new GNCC rinks this year years. skip the Stephen Dropkin rink. The team went on to finish from Anthracite Curling and The Collie Campbell award fifth at the 2012 World Junior Championships in Sweden. Philadelphia Curling. is presented for dedicated At age 17, Dropkin is the youngest male curler to earn Canada won the Ross service to the sport of curling the Athlete of the Year honor. Tarlton Shield with a total and was most recently won by “I had no idea this award even existed, so when I heard rocks score of 380-304 over Geoff Broadhurst two years I was being awarded it, I was quite shocked, but thrilled four draws of 6 ends for all ago. as well,” said Dropkin, who is going into his senior year teams. A wonderful closing Participation pins were at Algonquin Regional High School in Northborough, banquet at the Utica Curling awarded to all and the Mass. “This whole year has been beyond surreal with so Club recognized Duane Farr selection of Galt, an eight many amazing trips and experiences between the Winter Youth Olympics, and Junior Worlds. Wearing the USA the site chair and the sheet club, created much on my back has always been my dream. Being able to wonderful ice crew, kitchen enthusiasm for renewing the achieve that, and winning the bronze medal for the and bar staff that spearheaded lasting friendship once more country at the Youth Olympics, meant a great deal to me, the well praised hospitality on Nov. 8 and 9, 2013. and is an experience of a lifetime I will never forget.”

RECOGNITIONS Keith Dropkin named as Rochester curler wins inaugural Development Coach of Year USCA Volunteer of the Year Award Keith Dropkin (Southborough, Mass.) has been honored as the association’s From a press release According to a report from Terry Developmental Coach of the Year. Kolesar, first appearing in USA Dropkin, 55, was nominated for his Rochester Curling Club’s Doug Curling’s magazine, the recipient says: work with Stephen Dropkin’s junior Brugler has been named the inaugural “I find that curling volunteers get both team as well as Korey Dropkin’s team recipient of the U.S. Curling a great experience and opportunity to for its successes at the inaugural Winter Association’s Volunteer of the Year learn new skills or improve on existing Youth Olympic Games. The Dropkin Award for 2011. talents. Considering these things, I am brothers and teammates Thomas Howell Brugler, a member of the Rochester, very surprised and touched to learn of III (Brick, N.J.), Derek Corbett N.Y, club for the last 20-plus years, was this award. It is a great honor, but I only (Rochester, N.Y.) and Cameron Ross honored at a small ceremony with the represent the very many others in U.S. (Princeton Junction, N.J.) went on to award in October. He was selected by curling clubs - past and present - whose finish fifth at the 2012 World Junior the USA Curling Volunteer of the Year efforts deserve recognition.” Championships in Sweden. Award Selection Committee among a Brugler was nominated by fellow club From the USCA pool of candidates. members at Rochester for the award. Six will represent U.S. At U-18 Optimist International Cup From a press release state/region, and all players on the team information/requirements are available must reside in the same state/region. on the USA Curling website. The Optimist International Club of Each state/region may be represented by The USA Curling U-18 Selection Canada has invited USA Curling to send no more than one boys’ and one girls’ Committee selects states/regions to send three boys’ and three girls’ teams to the team. Optimist International requests teams based upon the merits of the Under-18 Championship to be held in that each team be accompanied by a applications received. State/regions will British Columbia, Canada, at curling Level II or higher coach that is 21 years be notified of the USCA’s selection by clubs in the neighboring cities of Surrey of age or older. (Due to the revision Jan. 18, 2013. If applications from more and Langley on March 27-31, 2013. process that the USCA coaching that one qualified team in a state/region This event is a wonderful opportunity certification program, all coaches of are received, the Selection Committee for young curlers to participate in an selected teams must be registered with will request that the state/region’s international event that includes teams the USCA and pass a background check.) curling association hold a playdown. from the Canadian provinces, Japan and Applications for the 2013 U-18 (Please note, players participating in Europe. In addition to the competition Optimist International Curling playdowns MUST be the players who and banquet, there is a half-day of Championships are due in the USA ultimately compete at the U-18 training by some of Canada’s top Curling office by 5 p.m. CST on Friday, Championship.) instructors. We encourage all qualifying Jan. 4, 2013. All teams must submit the Teams are responsible for travel and juniors to put together a U-18 team and Team Application and an Achievement some meals. Hotels are paid by the complete the application. Worksheet and proof of residency for Optimist International Club. Contact The Optimist International Club each player. Mail, fax, or email Kim Nawyn, USA Curling Growth & requires that all players be 17 years of completed applications to the attention Development Manager, with questions age or younger as of Dec. 31, 2012. Each of Kim Nawyn at USA Curling. at [email protected] or (715) participating team will represent their Applications and additional 344-1199 ext. 203.