More than 300 curlers under the age of 12 took part in the Little Rocks Jamboree at Fredericton’s Willie O’Ree Place and the Capital Winter Club this weekend as 71 teams from all over the province competed in the junior provincial championships.
The massive turnout comes as a relief to veteran players, who have been trying to grow the sport by drumming up interest in kids and teenagers.
The increasing numbers haven’t happened overnight, nor by chance, as a concerted effort to make curling accessible — and above all, fun — for the kids has helped tremendously.
Taillon represented Canada at the World Senior Curling Championships in 2014.
Seeing the sport he loves take off with the younger crowd is a welcome development Taillon hopes will continue.
“To come out here and watch 300 kids, and the smiles on their faces, chokes me up,” he said.
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