Did you notice the proud smile on the face of the coach of Ontario’s Team King at the 2026 Montana’s Brier? Did you realize the smile belonged to Guelph Curling member Morgan (Court) Lavell? Coaching Team King at the Brier and being one of only two female coaches at the national event is just one of many incredible curling experiences Morgan has had. Following the success of last season, Morgan has stayed on to coach Team King once again.

We all come to curling at different points in our lives. For Morgan, it was in her blood and heart from a very young age. She comes from a curling family and began to curl when she was nine years old.  As a teen, Morgan was curling four times a week at the Orillia Curling Club. Her dad, Paul, has been her biggest fan and influence. Morgan recalls a huge Rubbermaid bin full of VHS tapes of championship curling games recorded by Paul that they would watch together, analyze and learn from. (Note: Paul is also a member of Guelph Curling and plays in the men’s afternoon leagues)

She attended the University of Guelph before curling was a funded sport at the University and has been a member of Guelph Curling ever since. Morgan has been a bartender, board member, and instructor in learn-to-curl clinics as well as running her own clinics.

Things,however, took a big turn when a friend made a connection for Morgan to curler Alison Flaxey and her competitive career took off. She was a member of Team Flaxey from 2012/2013 to 2017/2018. She loved being coached by Caleb Flaxey (current coach for Team Dunstone) and thrived with her disciplined practice and training routines. Her final competitive season was 2019/2020.

Some of Morgan’s favourite memories from being on Team Flaxey were representing Team Ontario at the 2014 Scotties, winning a Grand Slam in 2016 and playing in the 2017 Olympic Trials. A special memory of the Olympic trials was a sign made by Bruce McIntosh, member of Guelph Curling, acknowledging Morgan as the “Pride of Guelph”.

Guelph Curling has given her so much, a sense of community and even her family. Morgan met her husband Ryan Lavell (also a member of Guelph Curling) at the 2013 Gay Lea Better Butter bonspiel and they welcomed son Max in 2020.  This time of joy also brought hardship as during this time, Morgan was diagnosed with breast cancer at age 35. This is when Guelph Curling truly showed her how deep the community ran. Members of Guelph Curling rallied around Morgan during this difficult time, sending messages of love and support and some beautiful gifts – including a large hand-knit blanket with curling and Breast Cancer symbols on it crafted by a member’s wife. 

She is grateful for the friendships and community she has found at Guelph Curling. Morgan currently plays in the Open Team – Monday Night League as well as some competitive outings with other members of Guelph Curling. Outside of her family and curling, she has a full-time job at the University of Waterloo developing on-line learning.

However, her biggest passion and focus is on coaching and helping others learn to love and excel at the sport. She joined the UofG Gryphons Curling Team coaching staff for the 2023/24 season and became the head coach for the women’s team in 2024/25. Last season, Morgan and her assistant coach, Ryan Yee (also a Guelph Curling member) coached four rookie team members to win the OUA Championship, which qualified them for the USports Championship (finishing T5) – what an incredible achievement!  

Morgan got to know two members of the King team when they (Skip, Jayden King and Vice, Dylan Niepage) were curling for the Gryphons and she continued to advise, encourage and support them. She served as their coach at the Olympic Pre-trials and then at the Brier.  What an accomplishment!

Morgan’s passion for and dedication to the sport of curling is inspirational. How fortunate the University of Guelph is to have her on their coaching team and how lucky we are  to have her as a member of Guelph Curling!

Three years ago, Trevor Littlejohn wasn’t a curler. Growing up, he knew of the sport but it never played a part in his own life. Today, not only is Trevor a proud member of Guelph Curling, but he has played an instrumental role in helping Guelph Curling grow as a safe space for everyone to learn and enjoy curling, coming to the sport exactly as they are.

A trained chef that had once gone to the Junior Culinary Olympics for team Canada (placing 7th, the best a Canadian Junior team has done to date) and spent several years teaching at Niagara College, including taking students to the Cannes Film Festival to cook for the stars, Trevor found himself at a transition point in his life when he inherited his grandfather’s house in Guelph. The inheritance gave him the perfect opportunity for a change.

He packed up and left Fort Erie for Guelph and quickly realized that he needed something to do during the winter. His friends (and future partner) curled so they encouraged him to check out Guelph Curling. Having moved midseason, Trevor signed up for the Thursday night drop-in league and the Adult Learn-to-Curl program, where he immediately connected with Heather Meldrum, one of the instructors. She had exactly the vibes that he was looking for, so he sought her out.

That was three years ago, and not only is Heather now one of his closest friends, she is also his mixed doubles partner. Trevor now plays at least three times a week, Monday Open (where he’s now playing in the A final), Thursday Open, Sunday Doubles, and Guelph Curling’s newest league, Out on the Ice, which might not exist at all if it weren’t for Trevor.

Running every other Sunday night, Out on the Ice originated in KW Granite (created by Abby Weagant and Alex Turner-Bolt) as a league specifically designed to create a safe and welcoming space for the LGBTQ2S+ community to learn and play curling with their friends. Trevor met Out on the Ice Co-Creator Abby (a very brief Guelph Curling member) at the Better Butter and spearheaded the creation of Guelph’s own league. With 34 curlers signed up within its first year, Out on the Ice has been a great success, leading to Trevor’s proudest moment to date: the 2026 Guelph Curling Burlesque Bonspiel.

Despite having never run a bonspiel before, and with only three years of curling under his belt, Trevor (with the support of Adam and other Guelph Curling members) wanted to create an event for his Out on the Ice curlers to experience exactly the joy and community that curling can offer. Inviting curlers from Guelph’s own Out on the Ice league as well as KW Granite and Hamilton Curling, 14 teams came out for a full day of curling, games, and of course, burlesque. Watching these curlers, many of whom had only learned to curl earlier this year (including the winners), come out to celebrate both the sport and themselves will definitely remain one of Trevor’s highlights regardless of where curling takes him next.

As the 2025–2026 season comes to an end, Trevor is looking forward to another great season of curling, fun, and friends. With the success of Out on the Ice’s inaugural year, he looks forward to watching it grow. Whether you are a brand new curler looking to enjoy the sport in an environment that encourages you to be exactly who you are, or an experienced curler looking for another night to simply enjoy what makes the game great (friends, fun, and, of course, fabulous music), Out on the Ice is the perfect place to start your week with some fantastic fun.

Picture this: you’re down one with hammer in the eight end. Your opponent is sitting one, slightly under cover and you’ve got one rock left. You have two choices, draw to tie the game or a take out for the win.

Now imagine this is the last rock you’ll ever throw after 68 years of curling. 

On April 6th, this is exactly the set up that Murray Woods faced in his last game in the Monday afternoon jitney—and his last game to end his curling career. When his vice, Brian Barker, asked if he wanted to draw for the tie, Murray replied without hesitation: “No, a takeout for the win!”

And he did just that.

At the end of the game, there were hugs all around, including some from Murray’s special fans – his son, son-in-law, and grandson – who were cheering him on! Having announced his retirement after the game, Murray (and his friends and family) retired to the lounge where he treated his curling friends to a complimentary drink from the bar. 

Hearing this story, we knew we needed to meet with Murray to learn more about him and the role curling has played in his life.  To be honest, this short story will only touch the highlights of a life well lived on and off the ice. If you are keen to learn more about Murray, he has written an amazing book about his life entitled “Chronicles of the Boy from Belwood”.

As a young athlete, Murray could most often be found on the baseball diamond, having great success as a pitcher. Later, he graduated from the University of Guelph OAC in 1956 and had a wonderful career in the Agricultural sector. Murray has enjoyed travelling around the world and has stayed in touch with many of his University of Guelph classmates. He shared stories of epic sailing adventures.

He began curling in 1957, joining for half a season at the Oakwood Curling Club, west of Lindsay. He paid $9 and was provided with a corn broom. Murray and his wife Emily, also a curler, moved to several communities for Murray’s work, so they curled in Newmarket and London before settling in Guelph in 1998.  This year marks Murray’s 28^th year as a member of Guelph Curling.

Some of Murray’s fondest curling memories are connected to the Tarlton-Robertson Masters Bonspiel, an event he curled in for over 22 years, last in 2020, and winning the event in 2018. Murray served on several organizing committees for this event and was the Chairperson three times, but his huge claim to fame was his contribution to the entertainment at the event. The audience embraced Murray’s Charlie Farquarson impersonations and some folk still call him “Charlie”! Murray’s “Charlie” became a very popular entertainer at many events – including banquets, alumni weekend, service clubs and even a wedding! For you young-uns here is a link to a Charlie Farquarson clip –  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vXwVljOhBko.

Murray also curled in the Ross Tarlton International Competition for seven years to great success. He was an avid participant in the Tri-County Monday morning league from 1999-2025.  One of his team members, George McCaw, credits Murray with being a true gentleman on the ice and applauded his amazing draw weight with his stick. Murray shared his love of curling with his neighbours in the Village by the Arboretum, encouraging many of them to try curling.

Murray loves to share a Thought for the Day with his family. One of the messages he lives by is: “worry never changes the sorrow of tomorrow; it only saps the joy of today”.  At age 93 when asked how he is doing Murray will reply with “still smiling”.  He has enjoyed good health until very recently, so he decided to step away from the game he loves on a strong note. We wish him well as he enjoys his family cottage on Boshkung Lake near Minden this summer and hope to see him at Guelph Curling next season cheering on his curling friends from beyond the glass. 

Can you guess who the keenest volunteer at our Grand Slam event was? If you guessed Weidi Carruthers you are right!

Weidi was a member of the Ice Crew for the WFG Masters Grand Slam of Curling and worked tireless hours ensuring the ice was in great shape for the curlers. While off shift, Weidi was busy collecting autographs from players for his event program and got to spend time with some of his favourite teams. He is a fan of the Homan Empire, Team Hasselberg (who he got to meet at the Slam), Katilyn Lawes and Brendan Bottcher (who he met during Mixed Doubles competition at Guelph Curling). He has many favourite teams and has been collecting lots of sport hoodies!

You will see Weidi at Guelph Curling working as an assistant to the ice crew several times a week. He is proud of getting the ice ready for leagues and events, ensuring the surface is perfect for the curlers. ”Weidi is a great addition to the crew and always shows up with a smile on his face. He is keen on ensuring the ice game ready” said Dave McDermott, Head Ice Technician.

It is clear that curling is an important part of his life. He began curling when he was 12, attended several curling camps and curls in the high school league and youth learn-to-curl program at GC. He currently spares at GC and helps Meesa with the FUNdamentals youth learn-to-curl program.

We asked him about his interest in curling and ice making and he immediately credits his father, David. David was a long-time ice maker at both Brampton and Chinguacousy curling clubs and he passed on his love of the sport to his son. Fun fact – David was a member of Team Wayne Middaugh, winner of both the 1998 Brier and World Championship! The Carruthers’ family used to curl together and Weidi is excited that his sister Katie will return to play next season.

Besides curling, Weidi is a huge fan of other sports too, especially of both winter and summer Olympics. He loves March Madness and the Blue Jays. When curling season is done you will find him in the pool as he loves to swim. He loves to play cards, especially UNO. His parents have an Equestrian Farm and while Weidi sometimes helps with them, he declares that he is not a horse person.

He is currently in his last year of high school at Centennial in a special program and is looking ahead to graduation and finding meaningful work – perhaps related to curling!

Weidi has some big goals in life – he’d like to continue to be involved in ice making for big curling events and perhaps get involved in sports broadcasting. He believes strongly that curling should be Canada’s national sport…. and we have to agree with him!

Thanks, Weidi, for sharing your enthusiasm and your big, warm smile with us!

In some ways, I believe you can learn everything you need to know about Vishrut Bhatt in the way that he introduces himself: “You can call me Vishrut, Vic, or The Curlfather”. However, we’ll get to that later. First, let’s set the scene. 

It’s January 2024, and Vishrut is driving back from Elora, returning to Guelph via Hwy 6. After an indeterminate amount of time in darkness, weaving through the country roads, he suddenly saw a light, our light. At the start of 2024, we’d yet to start the renovations that transformed our building, and our old sign still stood bright at the edge of the highway, welcoming wayward travellers to our doors. At least, it caught Vishrut’s eye, and although he hadn’t realized it yet, that one sign (that doesn’t exist any longer) changed everything.

Vishrut’s story actually starts long before that—as most of ours do. Born in India, Vishrut came to Canada in 2021 to complete his Masters of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Guelph. During his time at the university, he had built a community. Yet, despite promises to the contrary, when he graduated, that community began to go its separate ways. Vishrut began looking for a hobby. Yet, the question became “which one”? Vishrut is the first to admit he isn’t athletic. Despite being the one tapped to write this story, I can’t quite convey Vishrut’s way with words when he described himself as something along the lines of “5 foot something of flabby muscle,” but you get the picture. This is where Vishrut was when our sign appeared through the darkness.

Although he was offered a job in Engineering almost immediately after graduating, Vishrut spent his university years working at Walmart. Therefore, our sign became even more of a mystery to him. He wondered how he could have worked so close to us for so long, but never known this building existed. The morning after driving by our sign, Vishrut pulled us up on Google Maps to figure out what he’d been looking at, and one word stuck out to him – curling. 

From there, he did what many of us are guilty of. He googled curling and fell quickly into a rabbit hole, jumping from one video to the next until he decided, hey, this might be just the thing he was looking for. So, he sent Guelph Curling an email inquiring about how he could get involved, considering we were halfway through a season. Adam replied, offering him a series of times in which he’d be around, and Vishrut could drop by to chat. The rest, really, is history. 

Due to his work schedule, Vishrut could only come in the evenings. So, one Tuesday night, he left his house around 7:30 and drove to Guelph Curling. He walked in the front door and began talking to Adam. By 8:00 or so, Vishrut was on the ice, learning the basics from Adam. Having grown up in the warm part of India, Vishrut had never been on ice before, let alone attempted to navigate on it. By 8:15 or so, the Tuesday Night Open Social was heading onto the ice. One team was missing a player, so when they saw Vishrut with Adam, they asked if he wanted to join them. So, after the world’s quickest introduction to curling, Vishrut played his first game. 

His first rock didn’t make it to the far hogline. His second rock went so wide it almost took out another player standing between the sheets (something she’s never let Vishrut live down). However, no one laughed. No one made fun of him. They just encouraged him to get up and try again. By the end of the game, some of his shots were going where they were supposed to. 

Vishrut left his house at 7:30, thinking he’d be home in 30 – 60 minutes tops. Two to three hours later, he was sitting around with the same people he’d just curled with, marvelling at how easily they could switch from fierce competition on the ice to laughing at the table, sharing a drink. He knew he’d found his hobby.

The next morning, as soon as he got to work, the first email he sent had nothing to do with his job. Instead, it was to Adam, asking if he could join. That year, Vishrut joined the Tuesday Night Open Social and began sparing for the 8:15 draw of the Friday Night Social Open. He also joined bonspiels when he could. Two years later, Vishrut is an active member of the Guelph Curling community and loves what curling has offered him, not just on the ice but off of it. 

As an immigrant, living far from his biological family, Vishrut values the found family Guelph Curling has offered him, spending time with the friends he’s made off the ice as well. As for why Vishrut is called the Curlfather… Well, I think you’re just going to have to find him sometime and ask him for yourself. 

If you would like to read one of his famed pre-bonspiel team speeches, please keep reading below.

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Have you noticed the plaque in the vestibule of Guelph Curling (GC)?  On it you will note the names of two very special members – Elaine and Fred Osburn. As long-time members who have both made significant contributions to Guelph Curling, both have been designated as Honorary Members. When you learn about their history with Guelph Curling you will understand why.

They met as high school curlers at GC (Elaine at John F. Ross and Fred at GCVI). Fred began curling at the “old club” and showed us photos of it displayed in the lower lounge. He was one of the original members of the current GC and is our longest continuous player. Both Fred and Elaine have never missed a year of curling since they joined – 62 years for Fred and 58 for Elaine. What a record!

Elaine and Fred have represented GC in many competitions over the years; Fred participated in the national School Boy Championship, while Elaine’s team won the silver medal at the Ontario Winter Games. Their team portraits are mounted beside each other on the wall in the lower level! They have done some mixed curling together; however, today you will find them skipping their own teams in several leagues.

Both have made incredible contributions to the governance of GC; each serving several terms on the Board of Directors with Elaine being the first female president in 1992-93. They have both served on committees, taught learn-to-curls, stick curling and volunteered for numerous curling events. What an incredible commitment they have both made to the success of Guelph Curling.

For both Elaine and Fred, it is not just the curling that keeps them engaged and interested in GC. It is the people and the friendships they have held for years. They shared memories of senior members encouraging and welcoming them as juniors, mentors who helped them, Saturday night dances with bands (juniors having to sit on couches near the door away from the bar as legal drinking age was 21), as well as Elaine and friends providing entertainment on the concrete pad under the ice rink for the closing party (does anyone recall the Golden Girls?).

Outside of the curling season, Elaine and Fred enjoyed the deep friendships that were formed on the ice. They show us how a curling community deepens our lives.