THE BATTLEFORDS — Cole Tenetuik has a storied curling history out of the Twin Rivers Curling Club in North Battleford. He is currently a member of a Canadian curling contingent participating in the Can-Am curling tour across the Midwest United States.
“With Cole taking competitive curling beyond the Battlefords and to another country, I think it is a great reflection of the skill, dedication and passion nurtured at Twin Rivers Curling Club.” Twin Rivers Curling Club Manager Brandon Hall says.
“As a longtime member with a very successful curling resume. Cole taking those skills he developed in and around Twin Rivers abroad speaks volumes of the Twin Rivers community’s support and commitment to excellence, inspiring athletes especially youth to carry forward the spirit and strength of Twin Rivers wherever they go.”
Tenetuik is playing on a team of players from across Canada, and while the team’s name isn’t under his, he is throwing the last rock. Jim Noonan from Nova Scotia, Jim Kapron from Ontario and Frank Willoboughby from Alberta were put together with Tenetuik by the event co-ordinator. The Canadian team includes 20 curlers from across Canada.
Together, the Canadian players that make up five teams will log in 109 games on the Can-Am tour.
“This ended up working out for me as November is a very slow month for work, and working a lot during the summer months made it possible for time off,” affirms the North Battleford curler.
Players are participating all on their dime as there is no official funding for the event. Participants paid all costs out of pocket however Tenetuik said he was fortunate to get some sponsorship from Strathcona Resources to help with some of the costs.
“I am very excited for Cole to be participating in the Can-Am Curling Tour,” Tenetuik’s former teacher and curling coach at NBCHS, Evan Reid, says.
“Cole has been a fierce competitor from early on in his curling career. It’s quite impressive that he has represented the Battlefords and his province at so many different levels throughout his career. His accomplishments serve as a source of inspiration to our student-athletes as he started out much like they did. I’m sure Cole is representing us well at the Can-Am.”
The Can-Am curling tour is held every five years. The inaugural tour was in 2019 when the United States toured the Maritimes in Canada. A curler submitted an application form and a selection was made from those applications who would represent Team Canada on this tour. While it is not a Curling Canada event, it is endorsed by Curling Canada.
“Whether official or not, it is always an honour to wear the maple leaf and represent your country. I am extremely proud to be a part of this event and excited to get to experience all of the different clubs and see how the people in these areas respect and play the game,” acknowledges Tenetuik.
Tenetuik started curling when he was only four years old. He loved the game enough that when he was only 12, he was curling competitively, making for 26 years of curling and 18 of those years as a competitive curler.
Tenetuik’s resumé includes winning the coveted green jacket as a junior, playing third for Team Hersikorn, and advancing the team to Canadian juniors in Cornerbrook, N.L. in 2015 where the team captured a silver medal.
“In 2021, I won the Saskatchewan Mixed Curling Championship playing second for Team Grindheim. We represented Saskatchewan at the Canadian Mixed in Canmore, Alta. Nov.7 to 14, 2021. In 2022 I won the Saskatchewan Club Men’s Curling Championship skipping my own team. We represented Saskatchewan at the Canadian Club Curling Championships in West Edmonton Mall, Alta. Nov. 21 to 26, 2022,” adds Tenetuik.
The Twin Rivers curler still plays mixed doubles with Alison Ingram, competing in provincial playdowns, as well as playing a four-person mixed team alongside Alison.
The Can-Am curling tour is taking place in the Midwest of the United States, lasting 18 days and playing at 28 different clubs throughout the area. Tenetuik said their tour began in St. Paul, Minn. Nov. 2 and would end in Detroit, Mich. on Nov. 19.
