It was the ultimate roaring game family affair at the Innisfail Curling Club.
Lowell Peterman was on the ice during the evening of March 24 for the club's title games in both the mixed and men's finals. His daughter Jocelyn was on national television playing for a world championship in Saskatchewan. And son Joel was cheering them both.
“It is kind of surreal, watching Jocelyn out there. We are going tomorrow if they win tonight,” said Joel, a Grade 5 French immersion teacher in Red Deer, who was watching his younger sister play on the big screen in the club lounge.
“I think I am paying more attention to the game on television than the mixed game out there,” conceded Joel, who at 26 is four years older than Jocelyn.
Lowell was roaring hard on the ice but it was not easy for the veteran curler, whose daughter was busy as second for Team Canada at the 2016 Ford World Women's Curling Championship in Swift Current.
“I was more concerned about my daughter's game than mine,” said Lowell, the Innisfail club's rink manager. “The whole week was stressful just watching her games. I was more nervous for her than I have ever been for myself.”
And when the evening was over, both dad and daughter were winners. Lowell's team, which included Tracy Bush, Lane Ferguson and Nancy McInerney, claimed the local club's mixed title. However, Team Peterman had to settle for second best in the men's final, which was won by Team Marshall. The squad included Larry Marshall, his son Todd, Al Keffen and Jim Donner. As for the women's title, it was decided without a playoff. The Kim Lewis Team was crowned earlier as the winner of the league championship.
Best of all for the Peterman clan was that Jocelyn helped Canada beat Scotland 9-4 to secure a playoff spot at the world tourney. Unfortunately, Jocelyn's team later fell to Russia 9-8 in the bronze medal game.
“It was a relief to get off the ice and find out they had won and they'd have a chance at a medal,” said Lowell, who drove down to Swift Current with his family the following day to watch his daughter play. “I would have been really disappointed if they didn't even get to that opportunity.”
Nevertheless, title night at the Innisfail Curling Club was extra special, ending a season on a high note, and the first full one for Lowell Peterman who was hired from Red Deer last year to be the club's new manager and ice technician.
“This has been awesome. It has been so exciting coming to the rink watching them play while we are curling,” said a smiling Ed Plitz, one of eight club directors.
Plitz said the club can be satisfied with a good season, with as many teams for the 2015-16 season as in previous years, and an exciting new atmosphere around the rink with the hiring of Peterman.
“Everybody in town already knew him because he's been in the area forever, from a well-known curling family, and just retired,” said Plitz. “This is kind of a retirement job, looking after us. He not only manages the rink but also looks after the ice. He has done an outstanding job this year.”
As for Lowell Peterman, the evening of March 24 will be one he won't soon forget.
“I had three games that day, a league game in Red Deer and our club championships here, (and), Jocelyn was playing,” said Lowell, who will be returning to the club as manager next season. “It was quite a week but there was a good end to it actually.”
For more information on the Innisfail Curling Club visit its website at http://innisfailcurling.com
Joel Peterman
"It is kind of surreal, watching Jocelyn out there. It is pretty exciting. I think I am paying more attention to the game on television than the mixed game out there."
