Kimberley’s Tom Buchy and his rink are headed to the 2015 AMJ Campbell Van Lines B.C. Mixed Curling Championships in Kelowna March 19 to 22, intent on tracking down a fourth provincial title.
Featuring Tom Buchy as skip, Lori Buchy as third, Dave Toffolo as second and Robyn Toffolo as lead, the Kimberley-based mixed rink previously claimed the 2006, 2011 and 2013 provincial titles.
“Getting off to a strong start and just playing well through the whole event,” Tom said of the keys to success. “You’re down to the best eight teams in the province. It’s tough, if you have a slow start, to try and fight back. We’re just hoping to come out strong, make the playoffs and see what happens.
“We like to keep the pressure on the other team as much as we can.”
The Buchy rink opens the festivities Thursday morning at 8:30 a.m. (MT) when they face Mike Freeman’s rink from the Chilliwack Curling Club.
The Kimberley curlers qualified for the eight-team provincial play downs after claiming regional regency in Trail earlier this season.
The rink has been curling together for 11 years.
“The team is very well-rounded,” Tom said. “We just try to get lots of rocks in play, see if we can score as many points as we can and hopefully carry on a lead.”
The provincial tournament is of the triple-knockout variety.
Buchy expects the Dean Joanisse rink and Paul Cseke rink, both from New Westminster, to each present stiff competition.
Joanisse was runner-up at the 2015 Canadian Direct Insurance B.C. Men’s Championship. Cseke was a part of Joanisse’s men’s rink, though will compete with his own mixed rink this weekend.
Buchy wished to extend his thanks to the following sponsors for helping get his rink to the provincial playdowns: Stephen Rota Management Inc., Coal Valley Motor Products, Assante Wealth Management, Prestige Hotels and Resorts, ABC Country Restaurant, B and B Glass, Caliper Machine and Hydraulics, Canadian Tire, Kootenay Insurance Services, Sun Life Financial - Frank Vanden-Broek, Coors Light, Avenue, and the Kimberley Curling Club.