World Financial Group

The month of January has not been kind to the Nanaimo Clippers thus far as the “Junior A” hockey club, sponsored by World Financial Group, has lost more games than they have won.  So would the last week of January be better for the team?

Last Tuesday, the Clippers hit the road playing opposite the Cowichan Valley Capitals.  The Clippers went on the power play seven times in the contest and scored on three of them, with two goals from Teal Burns and one from Luc Olivier Blain.  Unfortunately, the Caps took this contest 4-3, even though Clippers’ goalie Loic Boivin was able to save 30 shots on goal.

The next night, the WFG-sponsored hockey team came home to Frank Crane Arena to host the Prince George Spruce Kings.  This game had to go to two overtimes to decide a victor, but this time, the Clippers won 4-3!  Scoring goals in the victory were Teal Burns, Kyle Kramer, Luc Olivier Blain and Cody Bremner in double OT. Kramer and Bremner were named the Second and Third Stars of the Game, respectively.

With their first win of January, the Clippers returned to the road to take on the Alberni Valley Bulldogs.  And, like the previous game, this one was close all the way to the third period.  One goal per period was scored by Clippers teammates Brayden Jaw (first), Kyle Kramer (second, unassisted) and Cody Bremner (third).  However, the Bulldogs matched all those goals, and earned two more, to win the game 5-3.

But the Clippers had one more road game this past week with another visit to Victoria to take on the Grizzlies.  Lately, the Grizzlies have had the Clippers number.  But in this game, the Clippers gained the lead early and never trailed in a 4-3 win.  First Star of the Game Colton Cyr scored the first two goals and Third Star Teal Burns added the other two, including a power play goal in the second.

The WFG-sponsored Nanaimo Clippers return to the road for four more games.  On Tuesday, the team visits the Merritt Centennials and Wednesday sees the Clippers take on the Quesnel Millionaires.  Friday is a rematch against the Prince George Spruce Kings, and on Saturday the road trip ends opposite the Williams Lake Timberwolves.  Go Clippers!

Cesana, Italy is a picturesque commune in the Turin province of Italy.  The 2006 Olympic luge competition was held there, and more recently Luge action returned to the town for the final meet for the Luge World Cup.  The World Financial Group-sponsored USA Luge team was among the competitors and all told the team did rather well.  

Nations Cup sliding had two men’s team members in the top 10.  Finishing best was WFG-adopted athlete Bengt Walden with a time of 52.114 seconds, only 0.269 seconds off the leader, and good enough to place him fourth place overall.  Chris Mazdzer came in eighth with a time of 52.287 seconds.  The women’s team fielded one member, Megan Sweeney, who finished fourth with a time of 47.238, only 0.135 seconds off first.  Way to go, team!

In World Cup racing, USA Luge had three men’s team members competing.  Finishing was ahead of the rest was Tony Benshoof, whose combined time of 1:43.861 - only 0.746 seconds from first place - earned him fifth place..  Also sliding were Chris Mazdzer, whose 1:44.177 was good for 14^th place and WFG-adopted athlete Bengt Walden came in 17^th with a time of 1:44.345.

The women of USA Luge also had three competitors.  2009 World Cup Champion Erin Hamlin won the bronze at this event with a combined time of 1:33.925 – a time that was only 0.114 seconds away from the gold.  Not far behind Erin was Megan Sweeney who finished 8^th with a combined time of 1:34.820.  Julia Clukey finished 17^th in this event with a time of 1:36.425.

World Cup doubles featured two teams from USA Luge.  Christian Niccum and Dan Joye came in fifth with a time of 1:33.236, only 0.254 seconds off the leader.  The WFG-adopted teammates Mark Grimmette and Brian Martin finished 11^th with a time of 1:34.567.

Also held in Cesana was a Challenge Cup race.  Among the men, Tony Benshoof came in 5^th with a time of 51.725.  Erin Hamlin finished second with a time of 47.115 (a mere sixth hundredth of a second away from first) among the women.  Doubles teams Christian Niccum and Dan Joye finished 7^th and the WFG-adopted team of Mark Grimmette and Brian Martin came in 10^th.

While the Luge World Cup season is over, luge competition is nowhere near finished.  Up next is the 2010 Winter Olympics.  Look for the men to start competing on Feb. 13 and finishing on Valentine’s Day.  The women will begin on Feb. 15 (President’s Day in the US) and finish the next day.  And doubles competition takes place on the Feb. 17.  Here’s hoping for gold medals for our fine USA Luge team!

A little more than two weeks have passed since the World Financial Group-sponsored Ferbey 4 took second place at the Casino Rama Skins Game without fourth thrower David Nedohin. Last weekend, however, David returned with his team as they competed at the BDO Canadian Open, another match in the “Grand Slam of Curling”.  Unfortunately, team skip Randy Ferbey had to sit out this tournament with a knee injury, so Paul Fleming of Halifax, NS, threw third for our curling rink as David took over the skipper role for the Open. 

On the first day of competition, Fri., Jan. 22, our “Kings of Canadian Curling” faced three teams.  First was the fellow Edmonton rink of Kevin Koe.  The Ferbey 4 had the hammer and used it to throw to a 7-3 victory in seven ends, and it was Paul Flemming who had the best accuracy during the match with 90%. 

Immediately after this win, our team took on Jason Gunnlaugson of Beausejour, MB.  And the guys in the WFG curling shirts used the hammer to score four rocks in the first end and won the second match 7-4 in seven ends.  Scott Pfeifer led all shooting with 92% accuracy.

The Ferbey 4’s third opponent was the rink of Thomas Ulsrud of Oslo, Norway.  While our rink had the hammer, Ulsrud’s rink ended victorious in eight ends by a 6-4 score.  But lead thrower Marcel Rocque, of the Ferbey 4, had the best accuracy among both teams with 84%.

The next day’s Round Robin started opposite the Edmonton rink of Ted Appelman.  Ted had the hammer and used it to win 10-7, but the Ferbey 4 did take the match to extra ends thanks to Marcel’s 91% throwing accuracy.  The Round Robin ended for our WFG-sponsored team with a game against Kerry Burtnyk from Winnipeg, in which David led the team to a 7-4 win, despite Kerry having the hammer.  Scott’s 85% accuracy was the best of this match.

The 3-2 record at the end of the Round Robin helped land the Ferbey 4 in the quarterfinals.  Their opponent was Thomas Ulsrud and although our guys gave the Oslo rink a run for its money, Ulsrud had the hammer and used it to win 6-5 in eight ends.  However, this match boasted another top accuracy rating from Scott with 89%.

Although our team lost the BDO, they are still in a good place to take the “Grand Slam of Curling”.  David tells us that “we are number two right now [in the “Grand Slam” standings] going into the final event, the Player’s Championship, in April.”  David also tells us that the Ferbey 4 is in a very good position and they are certainly in the running to win the title outright.  The next tournament our WFG-sponsored rink looks to win is the Alberta Provincial Championship being held February 3-7.  Keep reading here for all the latest on our favorite curling team!  

The World Financial Group-sponsored Nanaimo Clippers of the BCHL took to the ice recently for two contests. 

The first game, on Wed., Jan. 20, had the WFG-sponsored hockey team visiting the Victoria Clippers.  Despite 30 Nanaimo shots on goal, Victoria blanked the Clippers 2-0.  Goalie Loic Boivin was named the Second Star of the Game for blocking all of Victoria’s 17 shots on goal in the first period and 36 total shots in the game.

Nanaimo returned to the friendly confines of Frank Crane Arena on Fri., Jan. 22 to take on the Cowichan Valley Capitals.  Although Clippers’ goalie Loic Boivin shut the Caps out of the third period, the Capitals had already scored a goal in both the first and second periods.  While Nanaimo’s forward Teal Burns scored in the second period on a power play, the Caps won this one 2-1 in front of 1,621 Clippers fans.  Burns was named the Second Star of the Game. 

The WFG-sponsored Nanaimo Clippers have a busy week ahead of them.  Tuesday sees the Clippers visiting the Capitals.  The next night, the Prince George Spruce Kings visit Frank Crane Arena.  Then the team hit the road on Friday against the Alberni Valley Bulldogs and another trip to Victoria on Saturday.  Go Clippers!

Last year, the World Financial Group-sponsored Ferbey 4, the “Kings of Canadian Curling”, played in and won the Casino Rama Skins game in Orilla, ON, and the team was invited back to defend their title.  However, this year featured a different lineup for our favorite curling rink as David Nedohin was sidelined with a back injury.  Filling in for David was Wayne Middaugh, the Victoria Harbour, ON skip - and he looked great in the WFG blue and yellow.

In a Skins Game, the teams compete for “skins” awarded with a victory in a particular end.  These skins were worth anywhere from $1,000 to $5,000 during an eight end game.  If nobody wins the particular end, the skin carries over.  This could be advantageous to the rinks as some skins are worth more money than others. 

The Ferbey 4’s first match of the tournament was opposite Ontario’s Glenn Howard.  No skins were won in the first two ends, although Howard jumped to an early lead.  Then, in the sixth end, the WFG curling team won a $3,000 skin.  The match went into a carry-over, making the last two skins worth $11,000, which the Ferbey 4 won both - totaling $14,000 - and a spot in the final.

Oberhof, Germany has been a haven for winter sports for over 100 years, and the World Financial Group-sponsored USA Luge team had the opportunity to visit this beautiful hamlet over the weekend.  This was their final stop in Germany for the season and the penultimate meet before the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics.

Nations Cup racing started the event on January 15.  Sliding for the US men were Chris Mazdzer and WFG-adopted athlete, Bengt Walden.  Chris’s time of 45.839 seconds, which was only 0.43 seconds off the leader, earned him 7^th place and Bengt’s time of 45.912 seconds earned him 10^th place.  The lone USA Luge woman sliding in the Nations Cup was Megan Sweeney who earned 9^th place with a time of 44.131 seconds, only 0.487 seconds off first.

World Cup racing began Saturday.  Among the men, Tony Benshoof was the highest placing USA Luge member whose combined time of 1:32.012, just 0.629 seconds off first, earned him 11^th place.  Not too far behind him was Chris Mazdzer with a time of 1:32.107 that placed him 14^th.  And WFG-adopted athlete Bengt Walden rounded out the US competitors with a time of 1:32.646, placing him 25^th.

The women had three USA Luge team members among its rankings.  Finishing best was World Champion Erin Hamlin with a combined time of 1:27.188 - 1.252 seconds off the leader - that earned her 8^th place.  Placing 14^th was Julia Clukey with a time of 1:27.544, and coming in 16^th, with a time of 1:27.591, was Megan Sweeney.

In doubles World Cup sliding, WFG-adopted athletes Mark Grimmette and Brian Martin finished in 7^th place with a combined time of 1:26.518, only 0.951 seconds off first.  And coming in 9^th were Christian Niccum and Dan Joye with a time of 1:26.694.

And in the meet-ending relay race, the USA Luge team of Erin, Chris, Mark and Brian finished fifth with a time of 2:30.806, which was 1.027 seconds off first.

World Cup racing resumes on January 29 in Cesana, Italy.  We at World Financial Group wish the USA Luge team continued success there, as well as at the 2010 Olympics. Go Team USA!

The World Financial Group-sponsored Nanaimo Clippers returned to competition after the BCHL All-Star break with two games.  How did our team do?

Friday, January 15 saw the Clippers take on the Vernon Vipers in the friendly confines of Frank Crane Arena.  Although the Vipers took an early lead, the Clippers kept things close with power play goals in the second period from Teal Burns and Nicholas McIntyre.  The third period also saw goals from Clippers Kiefer McNaughton and Brayden Jaw.  However, the Vipers scored the tie breaker at the end of the third period to take this match 5-4.  For their hard play and timely assists, Andrew Gladiuk and Mike Domsodi were named the First and Third Star of the Game, respectively.

The next night saw the WFG-sponsored “Junior A” hockey team travel to Powell River to take on the Kings.  Despite goals from Teal Burns, Luc Olivier Blain and Cody Bremner, this game was all Powell River thanks to a seven goal second period, which contributed to their 11-3 victory.

The Clippers hope to start their rebound this coming Wednesday in Victoria against the Grizzlies.  Friday will see the Cowichan Valley Capitals come calling to Frank Crane Arena.

Clippers defenseman Victor Newell announced this week that he has committed to Yale University.  He will start playing for the Ivy League institution in 2011.  Congratulations, Victor!

The World Financial Group-sponsored USA Luge team continued their visit in Germany with attendance at the second of three World Cup meets.  Although the location changed to Winterberg, the racing did not let up over January 9 and 10, 2010.

In Nations Cup sliding among the men, WFG-adopted athlete Bengt Walden led all competitors with a time of 53.991 seconds.  Also sliding among the men was Chris Mazdzer, placing 19^th with a time of 54.668 seconds, which was only 0.677 seconds off Bengt.  For the women, Megan Sweeney finished third with a time of 57.383 seconds, only 0.387 seconds off the leader.  Also placing in the top ten was Julia Clukey, finishing 9^th with a time of 57.873 seconds.  Doubles racing featured WFG-adopted athletes Mark Grimmette and Brian Martin.  They finished second with a time of 44.450 seconds, which was only 0.096 seconds off the leader.

World Cup racing the next day featured three men sliding for the USA.  Tony Benshoof led the guys with a combined time of 1:48.767 seconds, good for 13^th place.  This was 1.166 seconds off the leader.  Not far behind him was Chris Mazdzer, coming in 16^th with a time of 1:49.216.  And WFG-adopted athlete Bengt Walden finished in 29^th with a time of 1:50.873.

The women of USA Luge did well, with current World Champion Erin Hamlin finishing third with a time of 1:53.329, just 0.15 seconds off the leader.  Coming in 10^th was Julia Clukey with her time of 1:54.591, and on her heels was Megan Sweeney, whose time of 1:54.629 earned her 11^th place.  This was Megan’s best World Cup showing yet.  Congratulations!

In World Cup doubles sliding, WFG-adopted athletes Mark Grimmette and Brian Martin finished fourth with a combined time of 1:29.126, only 0.529 seconds off first place.  And placing in the top ten was the team of Christian Niccum and Dan Joye, finishing 8^th with a time of 1:29.517.

The trip to Winterberg ended with a relay competition, and USA Luge earned bronze medal status with a combined time of 2:26.663.  Sliding were Erin, Bengt, Mark and Brian.  Congratulations on your finish!

Our WFG-sponsored USA Luge team will compete in Oberhof, Germany over the MLK holiday weekend.  And after a week break, the team will travel to Cesana, Italy for the final World Cup match of the season before the Vancouver Winter Olympics.  Keep reading here for all the latest on these athletes in “the fastest sport on ice”.

Koenigssee, Germany is the home of one of the most challenging luge courses in the world.  In fact, the course has a “legendary” aura among sliders.  But the USA Luge team, proudly sponsored by World Financial Group, was more than up for the task.  Over two days of racing on January 2 and 3, our sliding men and women sought to conquer the course and make it their own.

In men’s Nations Cup racing, WFG-adopted athlete Bengt Walden finished second in his race with a time of 47.435 seconds.  This was a thousandth of a second off first place finisher Stefan Höhener (47.434 seconds) of Switzerland.  Also sliding for our team was Chris Mazdzer.  His time of 47.803 seconds earned him 13^th place.  For the US women, Julia Clukey finished in 5^th place with a time of 47.813 seconds, only 0.252 seconds off first.  Her teammate Megan Sweeney finished 16^th with a time of 48.841 seconds.  In the doubles Nations Cup race, WFG-adopted athletes Mark Grimmette and Brian Martin led all competitors with a time of 47.469 seconds!

World Cup racing featured three men’s USA Luge team members in competition.  Tony Benshoof finished best among the men with a combined time of 1:35.141.  His time was only 0.965 seconds from first, which earned him 13^th place.  Chris Mazdzer finished 21^st with a time of 1:36.094 and WFG-adopted athlete Bengt Walden came in 30^th, showing 1:36.553.  For the women, current National Champion Erin Hamlin came in fifth with a time of 1:36.304, only 0.98 seconds off the leader.  Not far behind her was Julia Clukey, finishing in seventh place with a time of 1:36.546.  Megan Sweeney’s time of 1:37.672 earned her 17th place.  In doubles competition, the US pair of Christian Niccum and Dan Joye finished in sixth place with a time of 1:35.258 seconds, which was only 0.762 seconds away from first.  WFG-adopted athletes Mark Grimmette and Brian Martin finished 11^th with a time of 1:35.622.

Winterberg, Germany will be the location of the next Nations and World Cup meet this coming weekend.  Look for coverage on Universal Sports and here at wfgsports.com! 

The World Financial Group-sponsored curling rink, the Ferbey 4, participated in The Swiss Chalet National tournament this past weekend in Guleph, ON.  Randy, David, Scott and Marcel were more than ready to throw rocks in this tournament, considered a part of the “Grand Slam of Curling”, after the Roar of the Rings.

Their first opponent was Sean Geall’s rink out of New Westminster, BC.  Although Sean had the hammer, the Ferbey 4 only needed six ends to take this match 8-3.  Later that day, our guys in the WFG curling shirts took on Kerry Burtnyk’s rink from Winnipeg.  Kerry had the hammer and used it to slide to a 9-3 win over the Ferbey rink.

This wasn’t the end for our team, however.  The next day, the Ferbey 4 faced David Murdoch from Scotland.  Randy, David, Scott and Marcel had the hammer and used it to win by a score of 7-2 in five ends.  On a roll, our rink later that day faced Jason Gunnlaugson’s rink from Beausejour, MB.  Once again, the Ferbey team had the hammer and only needed six ends to win 6-1.

In their last match of the Round Robin, our WFG-sponsored curling rink faced Brad Gushue from St. John’s, Newfoundland.  This match needed all eight ends, but Randy and the guys eked out a 6-5 win which landed them in the quarterfinals.

Their quarterfinal opponent was Wayne Middaugh out of Toronto.  Wayne’s rink had the hammer, but the Ferbey 4 only needed seven ends to win 7-5.  In this match, David scored the best accuracy with 83% among both teams.

The semifinals featured the fellow Edmonton rink of Kevin Koe as the Ferbey 4’s opponent.  In a back and forth affair, Randy led his rink to a 7-5 victory despite Kevin having the hammer.  David and Marcel tied for best accuracy with an impressive 96%!

This led to a final match, broadcast on CBC, opposite their former opponent Brad Gushue.  The match was very evenly based, with Randy holding the hammer.  However, Brad’s rink scored two rocks in the eighth end to win The National by a score of 6-4.  Among the Ferbey 4, Marcel had the best accuracy with 88%.

Take heart, Ferbey fans, as the World Financial Group-sponsored “Kings of Canadian Curling” will play the Casino Rama Skins Game.  Last year, the Ferbey 4 won this match outright and they hope to repeat as champions.  Look for more coverage of our favorite curling rink right here at wfgsports.com.