Curling has a Small Town History
by ACAC Sports Writer Curtis J. Phillips
If you take a quick look at the Lakeland College Rustlers curling roster for 2016-2017, you will see listed, what are the hometowns of the 13 student/athletes.
Abbey, Arden, Assiniboia, Kelliher, Legal, Manville, Meadow Lake, Shell Lake and Westlock to name just a few.
Towns and villages that dot the prairies…where curling is still king.
"Curling is really harvested in the small towns in Canada," said an articulate Branden Cookson, who is the Rustlers' team veteran, now in his third year at the Lloydminster school. "Curling has a lot of Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta roots, where we are exposed to the sport at a young age and more than welcome to come and play in the farmer's bonspiels and play with and against the adults. That does not happen in the cities where it is competitive."
With 10 first-year student/athletes, he also fills the important duties of "role model."
"There is a little bit of pressure in that I have to play a leadership role and be a role model, not only for the mixed team but the other teams, women's and men's," said Cookson, who is enrolled in Business Management. "I have to use that experience ,to show them what goes into being a curler at this level. What it means to represent the Rustlers. Also the importance, not only of practice but exercise and nutrition.
"We have to lead by example. Integrity and playing the sport to the best of our ability and being respectful of your opponent."
Cookson, a multi-sport athlete in high school (J R Robson High School in Vermilion, Alberta) is a true example of "leading by example" in that he showed no resistance in becoming the skip of the mixed team after two years of skipping the men's side.
"Some people might perceive that it is a step down, to go from the men's level to mixed," admits Cookson, who was introduced to the sport at the age of 10. "We (players/coaches) talked at the start of the season about what would be best. We wanted to give the men and the mixed team, the best chance to make the ACAC (Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference) provincials and we agreed it was best for me to go skip the mixed and for last year's men's third (Matt Taylor) to take over the skip for the men.
"At first I felt and wondered, if I should say something. I had been playing on the men's team for the previous two years. But I know the coaches made the right decision. This a team sport and the decision was made for the whole team not for individuals. That is what we as athletes also want…what is best for the team.
"Initially, I was a little bit surprised and not too sure what to expect. But it has been fantastic so far and I have really enjoyed it. "
At the ACAC Curling Fall Regional held November 25-27, 2016 in Red Deer and hosted by the Red Deer Kings/Queens, Cookson guided his mixed team to a 6-1 performance
With Lakeland hosting this year's ACAC Curling Championships (February 24-26 at Vermilion Curling Club), Cookson is focused on training.
"We are practicing four or five times a week," said Cookson. "We take it very seriously. We want to strive for consistency and the only way to do that is practice. You are not going to do that by only going out once a week."
Cookson continued: "It will be exciting to host (ACAC Provincials). It will be an amazing opportunity and fun to play on home ice and in our home town. Hopefully, we will get a lot of family and friends out to cheer us on."
Pursuing his Bachelor or Management in Human Resources, Cookson said curling allows him to relax.
"Being a student/athlete, sometimes you can be stressed out with a final or an assignment coming up. Curling is a big outlet for me…to release much of that stress and have fun throwing the rocks. I love the feel of the ice and the smell of the ice. Playing is the best feeling ever and keeps me grounded."
The ACAC Curling Winter Regionals are scheduled for this weekend January 27-29, 2017 in Edmonton and hosted by the NAIT Ooks.