Ingersoll DCI girls, Woodstock CI boys capture WOSSAA curling bronze

The TVRA Southeast champion and WOSSAA bronze-medal-winning Woodstock CI Red Devils boys curling team, from left to right, are coach Scott MacIntosh, Harry Langford, Alexis Schaefer, Mikhail Petrukhnov, Grace Nelson, Ryan de Wit, and coach John Weaver. (Jeff Tribe Photo)

Jeff Tribe, Echo Correspondent

Woodstock CI Red Devil curling coach Scott MacIntosh gave full credit to an Arva Medway Cowboys curling team, which continued an undefeated run through Western Ontario Secondary Schools Athletics Association (WOSSAA) curling championships on Monday, March 9, at the Listowel Curling Club.

But he wasn’t taking anything away from his own squad, which exceeded pre-season expectations with a regional bronze medal performance.

“We won the league, made it to WOSSAA and held our own at WOSSAA.”

The Red Devils opened WOSSAA semi-finals against Medway, dropping a 9-2 decision whose final score was extended via a big Cowboys second end, set up by a couple of errant takeout attempts.

“They made their shots, we missed a few, and that cost us in the end,” said MacIntosh.

WCI rebounded, taking to the ice that afternoon against the Exeter South Huron Panthers for a dominant 8-1 win in the bronze medal game.

“They shook after six ends,” said MacIntosh of a decisive victory.

Entering the season, his goal had been to extend and build the program with a ‘decent squad’ skipped by Alexis Schaefer.

“We felt we’d do all right and hoped to do better,” said MacIntosh, pleased to see the entire unit grow and develop through practice and regular Thames Valley Regional Athletics Southeast Division action. Schaefer performed as expected on the back end of a team effort, including strong play from the front end and vice Mikhail Petrukhnov.

“Everyone contributes but their shots made a difference in ends big-time,” said MacIntosh. “That’s the difference between winning the league and winning a bunch of games.”

Pleased with this year’s performance, MacIntosh also sees potential for the 2026-27 season.

“I think we’ll have a good team next year,” he said, pointing to four potential returnees and Petrukhnov’s projected ascension to skip. “We should be in a good position.”

The Ingersoll DCI Blue Bombers girls found themselves in a tough position during their opening WOSSAA game against the London Saunders Sabres. Taking to the ice early in the morning, a bit nervous, they found themselves trailing.

“It took us probably four ends to get into the game,” said co-coach Elaine Di Stefano.

By the time the Bombers found their game, the result was out of reach with the Sabres well on the way to a 7-3 semi-final victory.

In retrospect, an outdoor lunch break featuring homemade submarine sandwiches from Di Stefano, potato-based ‘vegetables’ from a curling parent, and fresh air from Mother Nature provided a welcome opportunity to reset.

“The magic between subs, chips and outdoor sunshine,” Di Stefano summed up.

The Bombers retook the ice with renewed purpose, both starting and finishing strong through an 11-2 win over London CCH. Stratford District SS went on to edge Saunders 7-6 in the gold medal game.

“We played our game from the first end all the way through,” said Di Stefano. “Made our shots, swept well and were ecstatic to win bronze.”

The majority of both IDCI girls and boys curling teams are eligible to return next season, says Di Stefano, looking forward to the potential from mixed talent and dedication while celebrating a WOSSAA medal in the school’s first visit since 2004.

“It’s a huge milestone for the program, that’s for sure.”