31 teams compete in annual Ice to Dice
Another year of Acadia Valley’s annual Ice to Dice curling bonspiel has come to an end. The Acadia Valley Rec Club celebrated its 26th year of hosting the weeklong event, which is the club’s major fundraiser to support the community. They are extremely grateful for another successful year.
The event kicked off on Sunday, February 23rd—a day earlier than most previous years—with 31 teams registered. Teams played a guaranteed three games, with the winning teams advancing to the finals on Sunday, March 2nd.
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The busy week eased in, with curling, visiting, and nightly 50/50 draws being the focus from Sunday to Tuesday.
The action started Wednesday with the annual Crib Tournament, the opening night of the Jackpot Wheel and the Fundraiser Dinner hosted by The Prairie Elevator Museum and Teahouse. A total of 20 teams competed in the tournament. Robert & Taylor Fauth won first place; Wally Skappak & April Heeg took second place; and Dennis Lemare & Wes Konelson took third.
Thursday’s highly anticipated Wing Night was once again a huge hit, selling out with just over 225 dozen wings! The Flash Draw fundraiser started last year for the 25th anniversary and was brought back for a second year. Robert Fauth was the lucky winner, taking home a 50” TV & $300 gift card.
The following night, 50 poker players competed to win one of five prizes. Players and guests were greeted with a fundraiser supper hosted by The Oyen Daycare, followed by a specialty cocktail menu crafted by Roger & Jamie Didychuk and Phil Jarvis. Ryan Niwa took home first place in the tournament, followed by Jordan Stolz in Second and Ashton Kuhn in third. Randi Kuhn took fourth, and Tom Rafa finished fifth.
Saturday morning was greeted with a breakfast, coffee and lunch visit from “The Clay Cup Co,” along with a full day of curling. A catered meal provided by “Pat’s Kitchen”, kicked off the evening portion of the event, with draws & silent biding slowly winding down throughout the evening. The ‘Canmore Weekend Getaway Trip’ was won by Dustin Rafa; Kregan Warrington took home the ‘Yeti Package’; ‘The Jackpot Wheel Pot’ was won by Yolanda Kuhn; ‘Best Poker Hand’ went to Taylor Fauth and ‘The Worst Poker Hand’ went to Dakota Skappak; Kelli Smigelski was the lucky winner of the ‘Toonie Broom & Money’; Chynna-Lynn Photography won the ‘Business Trip.’
Finally, the coveted ‘Vegas Trip’ that all curling teams are entered in a draw to win was won by Brittany Allen, along with her team, Brett & Kelli Smigelski & Braden Conway.
The evening was celebrated with a DJ dance, visiting and smiles all around.
The teams who had advanced in their respective curling events battled it out on Sunday. After a full day of curling, Dale Monkman and his team won the ‘A Event’; followed by Scott Heeg, Chance McCurdy & Morgan Senkiw’s teams; Brett Peterson’s team won the ‘B Event,’ followed by Marie Cowan, Joe Niwa and Randy Stolz’s teams; Tami Cox and her team won the ‘C Event’, followed by Gary Hawkins, Derek Kauppinen & Deena Dillabough’s teams.
Throughout the week, a ‘tip jar’ was stationed at the bar window, collecting donations for the Hayhurst’s; a local family who recently had their lives uprooted when Al & Robyn were involved in a motor vehicle accident while travelling to Oyen. Since The Rec Club offered to match the donations collected, the family will receive just under $2100. In addition, prior to the start of Friday’s poker tournament, friends, families and some fellow Acadia Valley Fire Department volunteers hosted a “Pass the Boot” fundraiser for the family, passing around & collecting donations in Al’s fire boot. The family received an additional $1710. These fundraising efforts will be used to help alleviate some of the financial burden associated with their recovery.
To learn more about the week, visit the event page on Facebook and search “Acadia Valley Ice to Dice.” Here, you can find the daily recaps, including the nightly 50/50 winners, generous donors, and any additional information pertaining to the event.
On behalf of the Ice to Dice committee, The Rec Club, and the community, thank you to everyone who supports this event in all capacities, big and small. This event wouldn’t have been the 26-year success that it is without you.