THUNDER BAY – Robyn Despins is getting used to winning early in the 2024-25 curling season.
Given the competition she’ll face early next year when the Northern Ontario playdowns land in Thunder Bay, all focus on dethroning two-time Scotties Tournament of Hearts runner-up Krista McCarville, as the victories add up, so does the confidence.
Despins, Nicole Westlund-Stewart, Samantha Morris and Rebecca Carr, back for their second year together as a team, continued their winning ways on Wednesday night, winning for a second straight week to start the Tbaytel Major League of Curling Season, an 8-1 romp over first-year foursome, Team Dubinsky.
“We spent lots of time together over the summer and we were really excited to come into this season. We’re just trying to keep it simple and build a good foundation for the season and go from there,” Despins said.
“One thing we’re kind of working on is our strategy, our game plan, when we’re putting pressure on, when we’re being a little bit more defensive. We’ve been working on putting that pressure on earlier.”
Team Despins jumped in front 3-0 after two ends, putting up a deuce in the first and stealing another point in the second.
Two more in the fourth opened a 5-1 lead, and back-to-back steals in the fifth and sixth ends, the former worth a pair, put the match away early.
“It’s been a great start to the year,” Despins said, acknowledging what’s ultimately at stake this season.
“We’re really excited to be as competitive as we can and see where the season goes. We’re definitely looking to competing and bringing our best foot forward for the provincials.”
Al Hackner, on the other hand, has left competitive curling at the provincial and national level in the rear-view mirror.
But the two-time world champion is still a force to be reckoned with anytime he sets foot on the ice.
Hackner, thanks in part to a pick by opposing third Mike McCarville, put up four in the seventh end on Wednesday, breaking open a tight match against defending Northern Ontario men’s champion Trevor Bonot.
The veteran skip trailed 4-3 after six, but went on to claim a 7-4 triumph.
“We had a pick in the sixth end and they ended up getting a deuce out of it. They had a nasty pick to start the seventh and we got four out of it. So, we got the better end of the picks,” Hackner said.
“Both ends run totally different if the rocks don’t pick.”
Like Despins, Hackner and his teammates, Jonah Dupuis, Rob Sinclair and Gary Champagne, are off to a 2-0 start.
Piling up the points in the early going is key, Hackner said.
“Especially when we just played two of the top teams in the league,” he said. “(Brian) Adams was in the semis and Bonot is the defending champ. For us to come out with two wins, it’s a good effort by our team. The ice is fast and straight. It’s just tricky enough that we’re veteran enough to handle it and a few breaks and good shooting and we got two wins.”
Ron Rosengren is the only other team with two wins after the second draw. He made easy work of Andrew Sinclair, needing just five ends to put up an 8-1 victory. In other action at the Port Arthur Curling Centre, Dylan Johnston downed Chris Silver 7-2, Adams Jr. knocked off Denis Mallette 7-2, Myles Stevens doubled up Rob Skinner 6-3, Bryan Burgess scored three on his final stone to edge Ben Mikkelsen 7-6 and Ashley Palmer won her debut, beating Gary Weiss 6-3.
