Medicine Hat Curling Club President Bryden Smith and Cal Hauserman, co-chair of facilities committee with the curling club, are seen next to one of 17 rolls of PVC portable ice mats that are set to be installed this August.--NEWS PHOTO BRENDAN MILLER
bmiller@medicinehatnews.com
Slip on your sliders, dust off your rocks and shake out your brooms, curling will be back in the Hat this October.
It’s been more than 19 months since the club had to cease operations due to a brine leak that prevented ice from being maintained.
Over the time club officials worked countless hours securing grants and working with the city to fundraise more than $1.7 million for repairs and new equipment, including portable ice mats and a new ice plant.
Easier this week the club received its portable mat system made of PVC material that will be put on top of the floor rather than installing them in the cement, making future repairs far easier.
“So in our cement here, we have brine leaks,” explains Cal Hauserman, co-chair of facilities committee with the Medicine Hat Curling Club. “To get in and repair them, we have to go in and drill out the cement and find the hole. Whereas if there’s any damage to these mats, they’re going to be above ground and so you can repair.”
Mats have been fitted for the facility and club officials say they will begin installing the system once the air plant arrives in August.
“There’ll be some effort to get things hooked up,” says Hauserman. “Because you’ve got to have all the water power and everything taken care of so when all those things are hooked up then we’re ready to make ice.”
While repairs are being made on the ice surface, the club has also used this time to make some renovations to the building and update the lounge area with new cabinets, lighting, plumbing and a quartz bar countertop.
“We had several volunteers working hundreds of hours up here painting, redoing countertop and everything,” says Hauserman. “Also the business community has been wonderful donating paint, quartz (bar) and donating labour for some of the plumbing.”
Dynamic Industrial Solutions, a local company that offers welding and fabrication services, is donating free labour to help install the new ice-making equipment.
“We really appreciate their expertise and their help,” says Hauserman. “They’re donating some of their time to the club, so that was wonderful.”
Club president Bryden Smith says excitement is growing among local curlers. The club has been updating progress of the repairs over social media and its website.
“We’ve received nothing but positive feedback from our social media channels and comments,” says Smith. “I’ve had a few people that I know personally text me to say, ‘Hey, it’s looking awesome.”
Although nothing is confirmed, the club is planning to host an open house closer to the start of the curling season to allow members of the public to see all the changes at the facility.
This season the club would also like to work with the local music scene to provide live music in the updated lounge area.
As well, the club is interested in starting both a corporate curling league and high school curling league.
If repairs remain on schedule, the goal is to open during the first two weeks of October.
“We’re excited because you can physically see the mats, we know they work. And so we’re excited about that opportunity to make ice in the fall,” says Hauserman.
