WINNIPEG — Step into any curling rink and you’ll hear why they call it the roaring game. But when the sport goes silent, the hurry hards come from the hands.
“We have to watch that instead of relying on our auditory senses,” said Sylvia Sigurdson, the third for the Canadian women’s deaf curling team. “We have to use our sight so we watch the communication happen instead of listening to it.”
Sigurdson’s foursome is one of two teams based out of Winnipeg’s Deer Lodge Curling Club that will represent Canada at next week’s Winter Deaflympics in Russia. The event, sanctioned by the International Olympic Committee, is held every four years.
“It’s going to be a challenge but I think we’re up for the challenge,” said men’s second Shawn Demianyk. “We’re up for the competition. I think it’s going to be a great experience.”
While they’re proud to wear the maple leaf on their backs, the crest on the front means more.
“The name on our jacket is Clifford Beaulieu,” said men’s skip John Gessner. “He was the skip on the team. He had an unfortunate, tragic accident a month ago.”
Beaulieu died Feb. 5 after he was found outside in the cold by RCMP near St. François Xavier. His teammates are dedicating their drive to the Deaflympics podium in his honour.
“Certainly it was Cliff’s dream for us to get the gold, so we’re going to work really hard to make that happen,” said Demianyk.
Comments