Hall of Famers: 2023

Flock, Bob
BUILDER
Inducted 2023

Bob Flock was a St. James-Assiniboia, and then City of Winnipeg, Police Officer who also happened to be a pretty good curler. Although he had won a High School bonspiel event and lost the provincial final game to go to the national championship, he knew early that a police career was not conducive to a competitive curling career.

Through his combined love of curling and his police career, Bob Flock saw a need and an opportunity. He was a leader of a group of police officers who established the Police & Pal Bonspiel hosted during the 1974 Spring Break. He was instrumental in organizing the youth curlers and police curlers as well as the banquet. The Police & Pal Bonspiel ran for 19 years and Bob was the coordinator for all 19 years.

Bob Flock’s MCA/CurlManitoba competitive record is quite limited – one Men’s, one Mixed, one Senior Men’s appearance. He played for the love of the game. He enjoyed competing and he enjoyed the MCA Bonspiel, where he had a few modest successes. However, he focussed his real competitive attention on the Police Curling Championship where he played in 19 provincial events, winning nine and winning the Canadian title in 1981.

His leadership included 10 years on the Executive of the Manitoba Police Curling Association (MPCA). He also acted as drawmaster for the Police provincials. He served a term as the MPCA President as well as executive positions on the Canadian Police Association and as Chairman of the 1984 Canadian Police Curling Championships.

His off-ice service to the sport of curling was not limited to the Police Curling Association.

He served on the executive of the Deer Lodge Curling Club and served as club president in 1997-98, was Chairperson for Accreditation for the 2003 World Curling Championships, and was Chairperson for Accreditation for the 2008 Tim Hortons Brier in Winnipeg.

He is an Honourary Life Member of the Canadian Police Curling Association (1992), the Manitoba Curling Association (1995), and the Deer Lodge Curling Club (2003).

Doug Harrison played in a Manitoba Junior Men’s (1967) and two British Consols (1971 & 1973) with limited success before grabbing a prominent place in the curling spotlight by winning the 1978 MCA Bonspiel Grand Aggregate. With momentum coming out of the bonspiel, his team (Rick Hoffman, Jim Sampson, Bryan Wood) rolled into Brandon’s Keystone Centre and won the Manitoba Men’s title with a 7W-1L record.

In all, Harrison played in 21 Manitoba Men’s from the British Consols, through the Labatt Tankard, Safeway Select, and Safeway Championship eras and into the Viterra Championship era when he played in his final Men’s championship in 2016. He is one of very few men to have played for all five of the championship trophies. (Note: Mark Franklin and Peter Prokopowich are the others known.)

In all he played in 40 Manitoba championships and won Manitoba championships on five occasions; as skip in the 1978 British Consols, 2000 Manitoba Mixed (Lori Zeller, Terry McRae, Allyson Stewart), and 2005 Senior Men’s (Howard Restall, Doug Holmes, Bill Hodgson)  and as third for Restall in 2006 and Vic Peters in the 2008 Manitoba Senior Men’s. He was also the finalist skip in the Manitoba Mixed in 1985 and finalist as third for Rob Westcott in the Manitoba Senior Men’s.

He won a second MCA Bonspiel Grand Aggregate in 1988, the 1,280 team 100th anniversary edition, playing third for Mike Riley.

Doug Harrison had an overall Manitoba championship 127W-88L record (Juniors 1W-2L, Men 52W-42L, Seniors 33W-8L, Masters 8W-13L, Mixed 32W-26L).  He had a more modest 28W-27L record at his five Canadian championships (Men 5W-6L, Senior Men 19W-14L, Mixed 4W-7L).

Harrison, Doug
CURLER
Inducted 2023

Petursson, Dave
BUILDER
Inducted 2023

Dave Petursson dedicated most of his curling life to service as an official. His 40 years of national-level umpiring curling began at the first Labatt Brier in 1980 in Calgary and ended at the 2019 Brandon Brier. He officiated 44 national and international events including 24 Briers, numerous Canadian Scotties-Juniors-Seniors- Mixed, Canadian Curling Trials, Worlds and Olympics.

He played a key role in developing the original officiating manuals and guidelines in the years before he moved to Manitoba, focussing on the need for officials to work cooperatively with the competitors to ensure a fair competition with intervention by officials only when necessary.

At Brandon in 2019, Curling Canada inducted him into the Canadian Curling Hall of Fame – a deserved honour. Induction into the Manitoba Curling Hall of Fame recognizes his contributes to curling in his home province.

After his move home to Manitoba in 1993, he assumed a lead role in developing the MCA/MLCA officiating procedures and although not formally called by the name, he was Manitoba curling’s Chief Umpire for nearly 25 years. He was the Head Official for 16 Manitoba Men’s championships as well as, at various times, Manitoba Juniors (Men & Women) – Scotties – Mixed – Senior Women, advised the associations on officiating issues, and mentored the officials who followed in his footsteps.

Petursson’s name also appears in the CurlManitoba competition record books, as the coach of ten different teams in Junior Women’s & Men’s and Scotties competition. As with most coaches, his teams had varying degrees of success from going winless to Alyssa Vandepoele’s 9W-3L finalist finish in the 2012 Manitoba Junior Women’s Championship.

During his officiating days, he was one of only ten certified Level V officials in Canada. He received the first Canadian Curling Association Official of the Year award and was also recognized with a Sport Manitoba Official of the Year award.  He received a CurlManitoba Honorary Life Membership in 2010.

Ruth Wiebe was content to be a front-end player and was the kind of reliable front-ender that championship teams are built around.

In a total of 31 Senior and Masters Women`s provincial appearance, her name appears only twice as anything but lead or second (at third for Marlene Cleutinx in the 1992 and 1996 Senior Women`s championships). It is also noted that her name first appears in the CurlManitoba/MLCA record in 1987 when she skipped the winning team in the City of Winnipeg Ladies Championship.

Her record, however, is that of a front-end player with great longevity, great success and great loyalty.

In the 29 years between 1992 and 2019, Ruth Wiebe played in at least one provincial championship every year except 1998. She made a total of 31 provincial appearances (13 Senior, 18 Masters) and won two Senior Women’s along with nine Masters Women’s Championships. Her 18 appearances, 116 games played and 94 victories are all Master’s Women records which are unlikely to be matched.

More impressive perhaps is that her 31 provincial appearances were with only three skips.  From 1992 to 1997, with Marlene Cleutinx, she had six Senior Women’s appearances with a finalist finish in 1997. From 1999 to 2011, with Elaine Jones, she had seven Senior Women’s and 10 Masters Women’s appearances with two Senior and six Masters Women’s championships along with one Manitoba and three Canadian finalist finishes. From 2012 to 2019, with Pat Malanchuk, she had eight Masters Women’s appearances with three Manitoba championships.

Among Ruth Wiebe’s career highlights are winning both Manitoba Senior Women’s and Masters Women’s championships the same year (2003) and being on two different teams, over a decade apart, which won three consecutive Manitoba titles; Team Elaine Jones (2002-2004) and Team Pat Malanchuk (2014-16).

Wiebe, Ruth
CURLER
Inducted 2023

Bailey – 2004 Canadian Masters Champion TEAM
Inducted 2023

The 2004 Canadian Masters Men’s Champion team skipped by Martin Bailey represented the Heather Curling Club.

The team’s first appearance at the provincial Masters was in 2003 when Helston, Taylor and Smith (with Barry Coleman at third) posted a 6W-2L record. In 2004, with Helston replacing Coleman and Martin Bailey skipping, the team had instant success winning the Manitoba Championship with an 8W-1L record and then going undefeated (9W) to capture the Canadian title.

In 2005, the team had a 7W-2L record at the provincial Masters, losing the final game to Doug Armour. Their two season provincial and national record together was 24 wins and only three losses.

In 2006, with Ron Toews replacing Taylor, their provincial Masters record was 6W-2L.

In 2007, Bailey and John Helston joined forces with Les Hooper and Bill Hodgson for an 8W-2L record and a second Manitoba Masters title.

Helston also won the Canadian Men’s (Brier) in 1984 with Mike Riley and the Canadian Seniors in 1991 with Jim Ursel. Both teams were previously inducted into the Manitoba Curling Hall of Fame. Gary Smith won a Canadian Seniors with Gary Ross in 2001. That team has also been inducted into the Manitoba Curling Hall of Fame. It is the first induction for both Martin Bailey and Brian Taylor.

John Helston and Gary Smith are also Manitoba Curling Hall of Fame members as Curler-Builders. Martin Bailey was honoured by the establishment of the Martin Bailey Award – presented annually as the Sportsmanship Award at the Canadian Masters Championship.

(Martin Bailey and Gary Smith are inducted posthumously.)

The 2005 Canadian Masters Men’s Champion team of Doug Armour with Frank Gudz, Don Barr, and Ken Sabad played their national championship close to home at Brandon’s Riverview Curling Club.

The Souris team won the first and only (at the time) Canadian championship for all four team members. Doug Armour later won the Canadian Seniors in 2011 with Kelly Robertson.

Gudz and Sabad had won the Manitoba Masters together in 2000. Armour and Sabad won another Manitoba Masters title in 2008.

The 2005 Canadian champion team evolved from the 2000 Manitoba champion team when Gudz and Sabad had won with Rollie McKay and Gene Cory.  They had won in 2000 and lost the final in 2001. In 2003, Don Barr replaced Cory and in 2005, Doug Armour moved in at skip with Gudz dropping to third and Barr to second.

Over the next three seasons, the team accumulated a record of 27 wins and seven losses in Manitoba and Canadian championship games. They were 8W-1L in winning Manitoba and 7W-2L in winning Canada in 2005.  In 2006, at 7W-2L they were the Manitoba finalist. In 2007, their final year playing together, they had a 5W-2L record.

Along with two Masters titles, Armour won the Manitoba Men’s (1982), two Mixed (1997, 1999), and four Seniors (2003, 2011, 2012, 2014) Manitoba titles. Don Barr went to the Macdonald Brier in 1974 and won the Manitoba Seniors in 2003.  Frank Gudz won the Manitoba Seniors in 1993. Ken Sabad won the Manitoba Seniors (2003) to go with his three Masters titles.

Doug Armour was previously inducted into the Manitoba Curling Hall of Fame in recognition of his individual career. It is the first induction for Frank Gudz, Don Barr, and Ken Sabad. (Frank Gudz is inducted posthumously.)

Armour – 2005 Canadian Masters Champion TEAM
Inducted 2023

Orr – 2009 Canadian Masters Champion TEAM
Inducted 2023

The 2009 Canadian Masters Men’s Champion team are the first Manitoba Curling Hall of Fame inductees from the Minnedosa Curling Club.

Sleeping in their own beds seems to have been the secret to success for the Minnedosa Masters team of Ray Orr, Dennis Peckover, Bob Manns, John Mendrikis, and Brian Manns.

Playing the Manitoba Masters at home in Minnedosa, the team posted a 7W-3L record to win the championship. Bob Manns was the second on the Manitoba champion team but at the Canadian championship, due to competition rules, 5^th Brian Manns moved into the lineup as the team won eight and loss three in winning the Canadian trophy. Bob Manns joined them at the national event as coach and adviser.

Other than that one championship season, the team had a relatively modest success record. Including 2009, the team had an overall 12W-12L record in three Masters appearances. 

Prior to the 2009 championship year, the team’s individual highlights include an undefeated 1961 MCA Bonspiel Grand Aggregate for Bob Manns, with Bruce Hudson and a 2000 Senior men’s finalist finish for Ray Orr, with Peter Kennedy.

The 2011 Canadian Masters Women’s Champion team won the Canadian title in the first year of a back-to-back-to-back Manitoba championship run.

In 2011, 2012, and 2013 Joyce McDougall’s Brandon Curling Club team of Linda Van Daele, Cheyl Orr, and Karen Dunbar won Manitoba Masters championships. In 2011, they captured their Canadian championship trophy with a victory at Winnipeg’s Assiniboine Memorial Curling Club.

Prior to playing in Masters competitions, Joyce McDougall had played in five Manitoba Senior Women’s championships: winning in 2001 and finalist in 2002 as third for Linda Van Daele and winning in 2004, 2006 and 2007 as skip of a team which also included Karen Dunbar.

Their experience together in those years of Senior competition, and with Cheryl Orr forming a strong front end with Dunbar, was the basis for the three championships in a row run in the Masters – an accomplishment matched only three timess, with the same team line-up, in all Manitoba curling history. (** See note below)

In 2011, the team had a 6W-1L record in winning Manitoba and were an undefeated 8W-0L in winning the Canadian Championship.  They went unbeaten to win Manitoba in both 2012 and 2013 with four wins each year and were 6W-5L and 4W-4L in those next two Canadian Championships.

In addition to her multiple championships with McDougall, Karen Dunbar won back-to-back Manitoba Lassie titles in 1975 and 1976 (with Joan Mogk); Cheryl Orr won Manitoba Senior Women`s titles in 1998 (with Elaine Anderson) and 2008 (with Jean Garbolinsky); and Linda Vandaele skipped winning Senior Women`s teams in 2001, 2005, and 2010 along with being the Scotties finalist in 2002 and Senior Women`s finalist in 2004, 2008, and 2009.

Linda Van Daele and Karen Dunbar were both previously inducted into the Manitoba Curling Hall of Fame as individual curlers. Dunbar is also a Brandon University Sports Wall of Fame and Manitoba Softball Hall of Fame inductee.

Note: Only 14 Manitoba skips, men & women, have won three consecutive championships. Only McDougall`s Masters Women team, Pat Malanchuk’s Masters Team (2014-2016), Dave Boehmer`s Senior Men (2018-2020) and Ernie Boushy’s Mixed team (1965-1967) did it with the same line-up.

McDougall – 2011 Canadian Masters Champion TEAM
Inducted 2023

Robertson – 2011 Canadian Senior Champion TEAM
Inducted 2023

The 2001 Canadian Senior Champion team won won the Manitoba Senior Men’s championship three times in a four year period (2011, 2012, 2014). Kelly Robertson, Doug Armour, Peter Prokopowich, and Bob Scales won the 2011 Canadian championship and came ‘just that close’ to winning the 2012 World Seniors as well.

Only a dramatic extra end steal by an unheralded but unbeaten team from Ireland kept the team from hanging a world championship banner in the Neepawa Curling Club.

The Robertson team was one of the most successful teams in Manitoba senior men`s curling history. Between 2011 and 2014, they had played in four consecutive Manitoba championship finals along with two Canadian and one world final.

Robertson, Armour, and Prokopowich played in the 2010 Manitoba Seniors with Brent McCannell at lead. The next year, with Bob Scales now at lead, the team began a seven year run with a Manitoba and Canadian Championship. Over the next six seasons, they won two more Manitoba titles, the 2012 World Silver Medal, and had a finalist finish once at both Manitoba and Canadian championships. Their championship win-loss record over the seven seasons was a remarkable 79W-21L.

In 2019, they played one more Manitoba championship together and their 5W-3L performance gave them a career 84W-24L senior championship games record.

It is the first Manitoba Curling Hall of Fame induction for a team from the Neepawa Curling Club and for Kelly Robertson, Peter Prokopowich, and Bob Scales, who was also a Manitoba Men`s champion in 2003 (with John Bubbs). Doug Armour was previously inducted as an individual curler and this year with his 2005 Masters team. He is a nine time Manitoba champion with one Men`s, two Mixed, four Senior Men`s and two Masters titles. Scales, whose father Mac is a Hall of Fame inductee, becomes one of only a few two-generation Manitoba Curling Hall of Fame family members.