Czech U-17 athletes introduced to curling during Canadian visit

While a few had tried the sport at home before, it was a foreign concept for many.

Before they even stepped onto the ice, the Czech players and coaches were given the rundown by Medicine Hat’s curling community about the rules of the sport and tips on how to begin playing.

After getting used to sliding rather than skating, the Czech team began picking up the basics of throwing rocks, sweeping, and calling plays.

By the end of the day they were making shots with ease, to the delight of first-time players like Czech forward Petr Gajda.

“Curling is a nice sport, I like [it] and it’s good,” said Gajda.

Surprised at how quick many of the 16-year-olds picked up the basics, Sjolie joked they may have a future in the sport if hockey doesn’t pan out.

“There’s a lot of them that actually are doing very, very well,” she said. “I think they’re enjoying it and some of them, maybe that’s something they’ll look at doing in the future.”

For the Medicine Hat Curling Club, it was also an opportunity to promote the sport to a group of athletes who are quite familiar with the curling principles of teamwork and commitment.

“I don’t know how much other stuff they get to experience when they’re playing hockey at such a young age and that’s what I think their whole life becomes,” said Sjolie. “So, it’s nice to show them what is offered in different countries and around the world.”

While not quite as popular as hockey, curling is gaining steam in the Czech Republic.

Both of that country’s men’s and women’s teams are ranked top 20 in the world, with Sjolie adding they’re only improving ahead of the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing.

“[The] Czech now in curling, they’re developing their programs,” said Sjolie. “You mention the word Olympics and of course, athletes get excited about that.”

In turn, the Czechs offered a gesture of thanks to the local club by presenting Sjolie a jersey signed by every member of the team.

Medicine Hat Curling Club manager Vicki Sjolie receiving a signed Czech Republic jersey (Photo courtesy of Scott Roblin)

Symbolic of a relationship between countries that extends beyond the ice and touches on something much deeper.

“I like the people, they’re very friendly,” said Gajda. “And, it’s a very nice country.”

Team Czech Republic will head to Swift Current on Thursday for their 2:00 pm quarter-final tilt against Team Sweden.

by Scott Roblin

Czech U-17 athletes introduced to curling during Canadian visit

Our Community