Canadians sweep Waupaca

The Waupaca Curling Club lost to a Canadian team traveling on the CanAm Cup tour on Monday, Nov. 11.

The tour alternates between countries every five years, therefore this was a once-per-decade international sporting event for Waupaca to be a host.

It was the first competition of the year for the club and they just finished laying down new ice. A Canadian flag hung in the doorway to welcome the visitors. The clubhouse was adorned with strings of the Stars and Stripes and the Maple Leaf.

On display was the CanAm Cup, a sterling silver bowl mounted on a wooden base. An engraved metal plate listed the American 2019 winners and the score from that tour: USA 623, Canada 613. On this year’s tour, Canada has the lead.

“This means a lot to us for your guys to come to our town, so welcome and we hope you have a good time. We hear you guys are up by a few points, is that right? Well, there’s a bloody Mary bar over here and we have a strong tradition we hope you adhere to where you have to drink a whole pitcher of beer before you go out on the ice,” said Neil Wenberg, who recently gave the presentation, “Waupaca Curling Club: Throwing Rocks Through the Ages” for the Waupaca Historical Society.

After some laughter at the attempt to encourage the Canadian team to get loaded, Wenberg clarified the “no-tick rule,” a rule that is common for Canadian play but not used in U.S. curling. They would be using that rule for this match-up.

Before play, both teams lined up for a moment of silence. Veteran’s Day in the U.S. and Remembrance Day in Canada fall on the same day.

Four teams played at once on the frosty 30-degree rink. The ice is divided into four sheets (think of a sheet as like an individual rectangular court). On Sheet 1, Canada won 9-5. On Sheet 2, Canada won 12-3. On Sheet 3, Canada won 10-4 and on Sheet 4, Canada won 8-5. Lunch and beverages were served in the clubhouse after play.

The Canadian team (made up of 20 curlers from across Canada) is traveling through Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana and Michigan for three weeks. Their next stop is Madison. They will play a total of 107 games at 28 curling clubs.

The Waupaca Curling Club has a long history and they used to play on local lakes in the winter.

On Jan. 16, 1880, the Waupaca Republican newspaper reported on the formation of a curling club and listed its members. An unknown reporter wrote: “The boys marked out a rink on the lake last Saturday morning and made it lively all day. On Monday they were not so sore with their vigorous exercise but that they renewed their work. It is probable that before the close of winter there will be some lively games. As of yet it has been but mere practice.”