The Winnipeg Sun from Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada • 37

THE WINNIPEG SUN Wednesday, February. 12, 1992 37 1992 MANITOBA TANKARD IT'S TANKARD TIME File photo Stoughton, Peters to meet in final? Some irony has already been poured into the 1992 Tankard. 1 As defending champion, Jeff Stoughton is listed as the early Fans can sip brew with bird's eye view A piglet of the Hog Line Inn could have Labatt Tankard fans living high off the hog at Winnipeg Arena this weekend. In an effort to re-create the magic of the Hog Line Inn at the world curling championships, a Tankard Tavern will be established in the rafters of the arena. The tavern will overlook the ice and closed circuit TV will be available on the east-side upper deck.

It will have a capacity of about 500. "We want to have a party said Tankard chairman Ken Roth. "We're hoping that it will be a big drawing card." Attendance has been sparse at recent Tankards held in the arena. Last year, the Tankard in Brandon was a major success and a tavern within the Keystone Centre played a huge part. poured into the 1992 Tankard.

Bill Carey's corporation still sponsors Granite's Vic Peters. Not only that but Carey began the season as the fifth man for him. That way, Peters circumvented the Manitoba Curling Tour rule that states only three-quarters of winnings would count in the standings if a regular team member was replaced by a spare. Peters enters tomorrow's Labatt Tankard with half of Carey's former team. Brother Dan Carey became his third while Don Rudd is at lead.

As the new third for Wildewood's Jeff Stoughton, Bill Carey stands a good chance of meeting his former teammates with the Manitoba championship on the line. Stoughton, the defending champ, and Peters are one-two in the seeding for the Tankard that starts at the Winnipeg Arena and Valour Road and Victoria Curling Clubs tomorrow. "In a way, it would be great to play the final against Vic," Carey said. "Then I'd know that, whomever wins, it's going to make me feel good. But I will have some mixed emotions.

"If we play against each other, I won't enjoy losing because I hate to lose, and I'd hate to beat them, too. It would be a tough situation for probably Dan, Don and myself because we've always played together and never played against each other. But it's a real possibility." Actually, Peters did beat Stoughton in the Fort Rouge Christmas cashspiel. "I was bugging him about that one and he said, 'You might have won the battle but you haven't won the said Dan Carey. favorite.

"I think they're saying that but I don't JIM BENDER TANKARD MORNING LINE Stoughton Repeat? Bubbs Hot in MCA Peters (5-1). Overcome jinx? Gauthier Time to hit top Riach Aggie curse Duguid (12- Could sneak in McMillan Has horses Fry (20-1). History writer? Usackis (30-1). Do it again? McGibbon (50- -1 really think they want to meet," Peters countered. "You don't really know what kind of effect that would have on them, although I think they'd still be competitive.

"I don't look nearly that far ahead. I'd just love to have another shot at the final." Wildewood's John Bubbs, Heather's Ron Gauthier and Fort Garry's Doug Riach, are the third, fourth and fifth seeds, respectively. Draws are at 8 a.m., 11:30, 3:30 p.m. and 7:15 p.m. tomorrow.

Much ado about second "The atmosphere for a If you said La Salle's Scott party has not been there and Hamilton, you're half right. patrons are tired of paying Sure, Hamilton was awarded (Winnipeg) Enterprises second by the Manitoba Curling prices," Roth said. Association after Wildewood's Jeff Profit will be split 50-50 Stoughton beat the La Salle team in with the Enterprises, Roth the final. But Hamilton did not said. Bill Scott, who ran the win, or lose, any more or any less Hog Line Inn, is the co- games than A-side loser Bill Carey.

chairman of the Tavern. "I find that outrageous," says Dan Gary Gumprich is the Carey, Bill's second last year. "I chairman. thought that was absolutely "Even the curlers want ridiculous. Scott Hamilton did not to get together after a game progress any farther than we did; and they usually leave the they just played later." arena.

Maybe will be an Welcome to curling politics. The this area for them to meet," Roth MCA decided a few years ago the said. last two teams in the provincial The Tankard committee playdowns would be the official looked into booking the finalists, said Tankard chairman Blue and Gold Room across Ken Roth. Because the players had the street but the rent there wanted to play the A final early, the was $1,000 a day. B-side confrontation comes last.

Meanwhile, there will be "I wouldn't want to comment on a curling exhibition at the the fairness of that," Roth adds. arena today at 10 a.m. The So big deal, right? Sure, Hamilton public is welcome and the recognition and was deemed admission is free, Roth said. got Stoughton's replacement in the Quick, who was the runner-up at year's Tankard? cashspiels. And the one that sticks in Dan Carey's craw is the fact that Hamilton was invited to the $40,000 McCain's SuperSpiel while Bill Carey was not.

And Howard Restall, who did not advance as far as Carey in the Tankard, was invited. "You have to assume that's a mistake," Dan Carey says. "The MCA apparently recommended teams to the McCain's people and the MCA gave them the top four teams on the side of the draw. That was a little strange. I didn't understand that one at all." Bill Carey announced his retirement before the 1991 Tankard, but the rest of the team continued.

"It cost us a chance to get into Portage and a chance to get into the (TSN Skins Game)," says Dan Carey, now vice-skip for Granite's Vic Peters. "(Ontario's) Russ Howard has won more than $100,000 this year but he picked up most of that money at the McCain's spiels and the Skins Game. Without that, he's won about $40,000. "We've won about $40,000 this year but if we had gotten into the Skins and won, who knows how much we would have won?" HAMILTON: Lucky loser? unlikely event that he could not make the trip to the Brier. But both teams were losers, so what difference does it make? Well, as the official runner-up, Hamilton got invited to various.