Curling Legends Podcast

Kevin Palmer

Conversations with the players and storytellers who shaped Curling from the 1940’s to the modern era. read less

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Episode 88 - Dorenda Bailey

Episode 88 - Dorenda Bailey

Dorenda Bailey did it all by twenty-two. Growing up in Moose Jaw, a provincial High School championship was followed by multiple collegiate victories representing the University of Saskatchewan. Junior girls curling was limited to regional events in the sixties but the women's ranks offered a chance to become a national champion. When Dorenda's sister Cheryl moved to Saskatoon in 1969 they were joined by Linda Burnham and Joan Andersen at front end and everything fell into place. The first step was beating defending Canadian champion Joyce McKee to win northern Saskatchewan. Next, the squad rebounded from a first game loss to win the best of three against Pauline Klaudeman from the south. Recently married and six months pregnant, Dorenda (now Schoenhals) was headed to the 1970 Canadian Ladies Curling Association Championship in Calgary. Beginning with long slides which were considered "un-ladylike" at the local club, to practice and fitness training, their team blazed a trail for young women in curling. Dorenda explains what to do with free beer when your team drinks milk and orange juice, finding uniforms for a teammate who wears jeans and how to balance your delivery while pregnant.

Episodes

Episode 88 - Dorenda Bailey

Episode 88 - Dorenda Bailey

Dorenda Bailey did it all by twenty-two. Growing up in Moose Jaw, a provincial High School championship was followed by multiple collegiate victories representing the University of Saskatchewan. Junior girls curling was limited to regional events in the sixties but the women's ranks offered a chance to become a national champion. When Dorenda's sister Cheryl moved to Saskatoon in 1969 they were joined by Linda Burnham and Joan Andersen at front end and everything fell into place. The first step was beating defending Canadian champion Joyce McKee to win northern Saskatchewan. Next, the squad rebounded from a first game loss to win the best of three against Pauline Klaudeman from the south. Recently married and six months pregnant, Dorenda (now Schoenhals) was headed to the 1970 Canadian Ladies Curling Association Championship in Calgary. Beginning with long slides which were considered "un-ladylike" at the local club, to practice and fitness training, their team blazed a trail for young women in curling. Dorenda explains what to do with free beer when your team drinks milk and orange juice, finding uniforms for a teammate who wears jeans and how to balance your delivery while pregnant.

Episode 87 - Jim Waite

Episode 87 - Jim Waite

Jim Waite learned honour in curling at an early age. Playing lead in a bonspiel final, their opponent's last stone picked and Jim's skip, Don Anderson, allowed Alfie Phillips Sr. to throw it again. Jim got his purple heart in 1968, winning Ontario as second for Don Gilbert. He later moved to officiating, becoming chief umpire for several Canadian and World championships and in 1993 became the national coach for the Canadian men's team. Jim shares tales from his playing days to his four Winter Olympics including Gushue's phone calls, Team Harris pratfalls, and an oddly timed lunch between Kevin Martin and Pal Trulsen.

Episode 86 - Susan Seitz

Episode 86 - Susan Seitz

Susan Seitz kept knocking at the door. After winning an Alberta Junior Championship in 1968 it would take 13 years and several close calls before capturing her first women's provincial championship. Susan and third Judy Erickson, second Myrna McKay and lead Betty McCracken, travelled east to St. John's for the last CLCA Championship (Scott Paper took over sponsorship the following year). A win in the final game over local favourite Sue-Anne Bartlett was followed by a trip to Perth, Scotland for the third women's world championship. Susan shares stories from the early days to the Calgary curling scene of the 1970s, covering all the highs and lows of over five decades in curling.

Episode 85 - Larry McGrath

Episode 85 - Larry McGrath

Larry McGrath rode horses to the curling club. His father would take him via horse and sleigh on Saturday mornings to practice on a sheet of natural ice in Dodsland, Saskatchewan. Larry honed his skills in local bonspiels as a teenager and eventually came up against the famous Richardsons, and won. He initially found success teaming with Darlene Hill, John Gunn and Marlene Dorsett to win back-to-back Canadian mixed championships in 1967 and '68. Another mixed title came in 1971 (with Marlene replaced by Audrey St. John) but a purple heart still evaded him. Larry would reach his only Brier in London in 1974, falling just one game short of a playoff with Alberta's Hector Gervais. Larry shares stories from his early days to the many events and carspiels (he won three), being a driver for Paul Gowsell (and his opponent in the famous "pizza" game) and dealing with Russ Howard's headsets as player representative for the CCA in the 1980s. Larry passed away on August 20, 2023.

Episode 84 - Eugene Hritzuk

Episode 84 - Eugene Hritzuk

Eugene Hritzuk walked over to curl after hockey practice. Planted in goal with no face mask, the team took shots at him. After one puck whizzed past Eugene's ear and another hit him in the collarbone, it was time to try a safer sport. Strapping on suspenders and gnawing on straw from his corn broom, Eugene went to battle in the Saskatchewan playdowns and eventually won his first purple heart in 1985. He returned to the Brier in 1988 with Del Shaughnessy, Murray Soparlo and Don Dabrowski where they defeated Paul Savage in the semis and faced Alberta and the Ryan Express in a classic championship final. Eugene shares stories from that era and reflects on his early attempts to build a players association with Ed Lukowich.

Episode 83 - Hersh Lerner/Wally Ursuliak and Will Pacarynuk

Episode 83 - Hersh Lerner/Wally Ursuliak and Will Pacarynuk

Hersh Lerner says if you're not nervous it's BS. Hersh grew up in Winnipeg, learning to curl at the Maple Leaf Curling Club. His talent for golf was matched by his prowess on the ice, scoring three 8-enders in one season. Joined by Coleman Staniloff, Robert Lemecha and Allan Dudar, Hersh first won a purple heart in 1963. The crowd in Brandon was stunned watching the Richardsons of Saskatchewan dismantle Manitoba 16-4. The Lerner squad didn't recover that week, finishing 3-7. Vowing he'd be back, Hersh returned in 1966, again with Robert and Allan and now joined by Bob Dudar at lead. They finished 6-4, defeating eventual winner Ron Northcott from Alberta but losing close games to Bob "Pee-wee" Pickering of Saskatchewan and runner-up Joe Gurowka of Ontario. Before talking to Hersh (43:50) Kevin sits down with the guest from episode 24, Wally Ursuliak and his friend Will Pacarynuk. "Lucky" Will, aka "Fudgie", has spent the last few years writing WALLY-san , a history of Wally's life and legacy.

Episode 82 - George Karrys

Episode 82 - George Karrys

George Karrys bought The Curling News. February 15, 2023 was the 25th anniversary of the Olympic men's curling final in Nagano, Japan. George and teammates Mike Harris, Richard Hart and Collin Mitchell of Canada won a silver medal after losing to Patrick Hurlimann of Switzerland. Five years later, George purchased the Canadian Curling News from Doug Maxwell. This episode looks back at the history of The Curling News, its origin dating back to 1957 and how George became the custodian of this legendary journal of curling. Follow the column "Buried Treasure" and Curling Legends Podcast Facebook page where host Kevin Palmer digs into past issues of The Curling News, sharing articles and photographs while tracing the evolution of the sport.

Episode 81 - Heather Houston

Episode 81 - Heather Houston

Heather Houston isn't a stereotypical skip. She never felt a need to be the centre of attention, often avoiding the limelight. When Heather and Lorraine Lang formed a new team in 1987 with Diane Adams and Tracy Kennedy at front end, quick success made it difficult to evade public attention. After winning the Scott Tournament of Hearts in 1988, they became the first Team Canada to win the Scotties again in 1989. Heather shares her thoughts on skipping, finding success, dealing with disappointment and asks the question, "if you didn't win would you have had as much fun?".

Episode 80 - Al Hackner

Episode 80 - Al Hackner

Al Hackner always concentrated on the game. His deep focus, cool demeanor and absence of emotional display led to his nickname "the Iceman". Al's partnership with third Rick Lang in 1979 led to four trips to the Brier final in the next 6 years. They won their first in 1982 with Bob Nicol and Bruce Kennedy at front end and later recruited Ian Tetley and Pat Perroud to capture their second Canadian and World championship in 1985. Al reflects on his famous double takeout against Pat Ryan at the '85 Brier in Moncton and shares many stories from his long career. The episode concludes with a recording of Arnold Asham performing "The Hack Came Back".

Episode 79 - Joe Gurowka

Episode 79 - Joe Gurowka

Joe Gurowka believes curling associations need to engage players. He shared this perspective in his retiring address as Ontario Curling Association (OCA) president in 1984. Joe’s career as a player and administrator covers over half a century. He skipped Tom Howat, Ken Ingo and Donald Mackey through the Ontario Tankard in 1966 and narrowly lost the Brier in an extra-end playoff to Ron Northcott of Alberta. In a return trip to the Brier in 1976, Joe acheived the rare feat of shooting 100%. He went on to win his first Canadian Seniors Championship in 1986 as third for Earle Hushagen and added two more Seniors titles and a Masters playing second for Jim Sharples. Joe held many roles as a builder, including president of the Canadian Curling Association but it was during his time as president of the OCA that he was entangled in controversy with Ed Werenich during the 1984 Provincial Tankard and the legend of curling's version of “deep throat” was born.

Episode 78 - Orest Meleschuk

Episode 78 - Orest Meleschuk

Orest Meleschuk could accept when an opponent threw a good stone. But he was less tolerant when chaff from a corn broom turned a terrible miss into a made shot. In 1972 the luck of the chaff fell his way and together with third Dave Romano, second John Hanesiak and lead Pat Hailley, they won the 1972 Manitoba Tankard, Macdonald Brier and Air Canada Silver Broom (world championship). Orest reminisces on that magic season and recalls the famous "Labonte Boot." He shares thoughts on the 1989 Brier and a controversial burnt stone against BC's Rick Folk that may have cost his team (John Usackis, John Hyrich and Sean Meleshcuk) a trip to the playoffs. Plenty of tales from across the decades including his version of "Orest meets Ernie Richardson" along with thoughts on the modern era and why Orest believes curling is in trouble.

Episode 77 - Georgina Wheatcroft

Episode 77 - Georgina Wheatcroft

Georgina Wheatcroft always wanted to be an Olympian. Initially kept out of the evaluation camps, she needed a Scotties victory with Pat Sanders in 1987 to qualify for the first ever Canadian Olympic Curling Trials. She eventually reached her goal, winning bronze at the 2002 Olympics in Salt Lake City. Georgina takes us through her journey, the high and lows, the close losses, running out of time at a skins game, and considers she might be the only player to have curled with both Joneses.

Episode 76 - Don Lewis

Episode 76 - Don Lewis

Don Lewis was an innovator. Being a curling icemaker in the 1970s was as much art as science. Don learned the craft in Saskatchewan, honed his skills with winter sojourns to Toronto in the early sixties and eventually became head icemaker for 14 Briers and 18 World Championships. He was inducted into the Canadian Curling Hall of Fame in 1989 and later joined the CCA board, becoming President in 2001. Don passed away August 11, 2021. Before talking to Don (29:40) Kevin talks with Warren Hansen about his new book "Sticks 'n' Stones: The Battle for Curling to be an Olympic Sport...". Warren also shares thoughts on Don Lewis and Larry Wood. A guest on Episode 55, Larry passed away on February 15, 2022.

Episode 75 - Erika Brown

Episode 75 - Erika Brown

Erika Brown started young. At the age of 15 she qualified for the 1988 Olympic Games and would compete in her first World Junior Championships a month after her appearance in Calgary. Erika shares her experiences growing up in the first family of Madison curling, playing third for Lisa Schoeneberg and Patti Lank, then returning to skip and reaching the Olympics 26 years after her first appearance. She looks back on a storied career of 14 World Championship appearances and 3 Olympic games, including 4 second place finishes, and the close calls that kept her from reaching the ultimate goal, a gold medal. This episode also includes an excerpt from podcast episode "Galleria Gold" from Rocks Across The Pond (84:00).

Special Episode - Jim Wilson

Special Episode - Jim Wilson

There are many legendary nicknames in curling. The Wrench, Snake, Moose, Arrow, Ice Man and the Round-Mound-Of-Come-Around are only a few. But you may not have heard the legend of "Rock Bottom". Coach for Team Epping at the 2021 Tim Horton's Brier is Jim Wilson, aka R.B. Jim shares the origin of his nickname, some insight into Team Epping in the Brier bubble and considers a What If? for Wayne Middaugh's 1998 World Championship squad.

Episode 74 - Rae Kells/Donna Boyle

Episode 74 - Rae Kells/Donna Boyle

Rae Kells was prepared for the challenge. Her experience as a probations officer provided ideal training for work as a curling official. Her steady approach to controversial finishes at the 1993 Canadian Junior Women’s and ’94 Junior Men’s championships led to nearly 3 decades officiating regional, national, and international events, including four Olympic Winter Games. Rae was inducted into the Canadian Curling Hall of Fame in 2019. Before talking to Rae (30:24), Kevin speaks to Donna Boyle about her involvement with production of the recently released documentary Sticks and Stones: The Battle for the Soul of Curling.

Episode 73 - Don Aitken

Episode 73 - Don Aitken

Don Aitken misses corn brooms. With two players pounding in unison, the sound and rhythm was a thing of beauty. In the 1970s, Don practiced on linoleum during summer months and by winter, helped sweep up purple hearts, winning Quebec Provincial titles throughout the decade-first with skip Bill Kent and later Jim Ursel. His Brier championship victory came with Ursel, Art Lobel and Brian Ross, taking the title in their home city of Montreal in 1977. The Hall of Famer shares stories from early junior success and discovering drag effect in the 1960s, up to his final Brier appearances as a skip in the early 80s.

Episode 72 - Terry Jones

Episode 72 - Terry Jones

Terry Jones wanted to have fun. As a kid he ran errands for the press box during the local baseball tournament and saw the thrill of being a sportswriter. Over his career "Jonesy" has covered it all, including succeeding Don "Buckets" Flemming as the curling scribe for the Edmonton Journal. Terry shares a secret to Don's success, reveals his own origin story, then weaves a history of curling in Northern Alberta, by way of his book World Curling Capital. A limited release, some copies are still available and can be purchased by contacting Curling Alberta. Terry was inducted into the Canadian Curling Hall of Fame in 2019. This episode also includes Kevin's commentary on recent discourse about changing the Brier and Scotties (67:30) and an excerpt from podcast episode "Run it Back: 1997 Brier Final" from Rocks Across The Pond (84:00)

Episode 71 - Elaine Dagg-Jackson

Episode 71 - Elaine Dagg-Jackson

Elaine Dagg-Jackson pursued her passion to coach curling. The decision led her to amazing experiences across the globe and eventually her dream job as National Women's Coach with Curling Canada. Her introduction to the sport came from father Lyall, winner of the 1964 Brier and World Championship. Her first trip to the Scotties was in 1987 as the alternate for Pat Sanders, but it was her work with Julie Sutton in the early 90s that would raise her coaching development to new levels. Elaine shares how her path in curling was not always clear and reflects on the moments that ultimately led to her becoming one of the first professional coaches in the game.

Episode 70 - Bert Gretzinger

Episode 70 - Bert Gretzinger

Bert Gretzinger has a few stories to tell. Born in Winnipeg, he spent his middle-school years in Calgary and eventually landed in Vancouver, winning his first purple heart as vice for Bernie Sparkes in 1976. After moving to Kelowna, Bert next won the BC Provincials in 1989 with Rick Folk. They lost to the Ryan Express in the Brier final and when Pat moved to Kelowna, Bert was willing to drop to second to form a new team. With Gerry Richard at lead, their team of skips would compete in three straight Briers, including back-to-back finals against Russ Howard in 1993 and '94. Bert would finally skip a team to a Brier in 1999 and fall one game short of a chance at the Olympics in 2001. Bert tells stories of car spiels, calcuttas and his version of the rock handle controversy at the 1994 Brier. He also shares a lesson in gamesmanship from Bernie Sparkes.