Anne Merklinger understands the mind of an athlete. As a swimmer she competed with the University of South Carolina and Canada's national team, a choice that delayed her curling pursuits for four years. Eventually Anne returned to Ottawa and skipped a team that would battle the best in Canada for a decade. Her rink of third Theresa Breen, second Patti McKnight and lead Audrey Frey won four Ontario Provincials, losing a semifinal (1993) and two finals ('98 and '00) at the Scotties Tournament of Hearts. Anne's career in sport management led to a role as director of Canoe Kayak Canada and then to her current position as CEO of Own the Podium, Canada's Olympic development program. We discuss the difficult losses, Ontario rivalries, the early days of the Womens Tour and the positive influence Olympians can have on Canadians.

Episode 52 - Anne Merklinger

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

Sports

John Cullen joins Kevin to discuss his new podcast series Broomgate: A Curling Scandal. John explains how the project came together, what he learned through the experience and what surprised him. John shares stories left out of the show and they discuss how sweeping is impacting the sport today. Following the talk with John, Warren Hansen provides his memories from two of the craziest Briers in history. The 1993 Brier featured an unexpected procedure to break the four-way tie for first place. The resulting Friday night fiasco was preceded earlier in the week by a secret visit from ice maker Shorty Jenkins. In 1994, the newly written Brier rulebook produced a stalemate between Rick Folk and Russ Howard on choice of stones ahead of the playoffs, all leading to a confrontation the night before Sunday's championship final.

Episode 89 - John Cullen/Warren Hansen

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 88 - Dorenda Bailey

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 87 - Jim Waite

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 86 - Susan Seitz

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 52 - Anne Merklinger

Download our free app to listen on your phone