Life in a bubble is becoming somewhat common for athletes as sport organizations try to offer a safe environment to continue play through the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic.
We have seen the National Hockey League, the Canadian Elite Basketball League and National Basketball Association go with bubbles successfully and now Curling Canada is going to follow the model.
The national organization recently unveiled its curling hub plans for Calgary. The federation initially announced intentions to hold the 2021 men's and women's national championships, the mixed doubles championship and the men's world curling championship in Calgary.
The Scotties Tournament of Hearts will likely kick things off in the bubble in late February. The Tim Horton's Brier is expected to be played in early March, followed by the mixed doubles competition.
Since the first announcement two more competitions have been added to the Calgary curling 鈥榖ubble鈥�.
The Grand Slam of Curling has announced plans to host The Players' Championship and Champions Cup at Winsport's Canada Olympic Park in Calgary.
Dates have yet to be finalized, but both bonspiels will likely be held in the spring.
Curling Canada plans to adopt a similar model to the one the NHL used. Spectators were not allowed in the hockey venues and that will be the case for curling as well.
Conditional on government approval, the proposed curling events will adhere to strict health guidelines to prioritize the safety of players, staff and all involved.
One curler definitely happy to learn of the 鈥榖ubble鈥� is defending Saskatchewan men鈥檚 champ Matt Dunstone.
鈥淚t鈥檚 been a wild year,鈥� began a recent telephone conversation with Dunstone who was in Yorkton in January competing in the the Meridian Canadian Open.
The wild year of course related to the impact COVID-19 on curling, and on everything else as well, he added.
So was Dunstone expecting life in the bubble to be an option?
鈥淚 sort of knew for a few months that bubble talks were taking place,鈥� he said, adding that gave him reason for optimism, but as the weeks and months passed with no official word he was becoming concerned it would not happen.
鈥淣ow it looks like we have a plan for some curling.鈥�
Dunstone said life in the bubble will not mean a lot of changes on the ice, but off ice the focus will be on health safety.
鈥淭here will be rapid testing which you absolutely have to have,鈥� he said, adding 鈥渆xtra protocols will be in place (like the likelihood of wearing masks off ice).鈥�
While meaning some changes, Dunstone noted, 鈥渋t鈥檚 just part of the deal,鈥� to get back to playing. 鈥淚 can鈥檛 see anybody having an issue with it.鈥�
That鈥檚 good news for Dunstone who has been on a general upward trajectory as a curler in recent years. He won the in ,and represented Canada at the , where he won the bronze medal.
In 2018 Dunstone formed his own Saskatchewan-based team, with him as skip, at third , at second and at lead.
The team was able to win the .
After falling into the C Event, Team Dunstone won four -straight games including defeating in the final to win the provincial championship.
At the , they finished the round robin and championship pool with a 8鈥�3 record which qualified them for the playoffs against 's . They lost the game 9鈥�4 and then lost the semifinal to 's Gushue, settling for a bronze medal.
The question now for teams like the Dunstone quartet is how to prepare for Calgary.
鈥淭he million dollar question is where to find practice time,鈥� he said, adding curling rinks in Saskatchewan and in Manitoba where he know resides are closed due to the pandemic. 鈥�... So practice time is very hard to come by at this time.鈥�
Whether they can practice, or not, Dunstone said they are itching to get back on the trail to a Canadian title, a desire made keener by the strong Brier earlier this year that ended on a somewhat sour note.
鈥淚 just hope there鈥檚 provincial playdowns,鈥� he said, adding even if those are a no-go CurlSask 鈥渨ill be sending somebody to the Brier and Scotties.鈥�
Dunstone said clearly they want another shot at the Brier this time coming out 鈥渏ust two wins better鈥� to earn a shot at the World Championships.
鈥淭hat鈥檚 one of the things you get so close you can taste it.鈥�
And of course an Olympic trials spot looms too.
鈥淭here鈥檚 all kind of motivation this season,鈥� said Dunstone.
