By Bird Bouchard
Returning for the first time since 2019, members of the North Hatley Curling Club are excited for the return of their Spring Mixed Bonspiel ‘The Shack’.
According to Club president Marc Cote, the Bonspiel got its name because of its sugar shack and maple product theme, which lines up perfectly with the sugaring off season.
“This is definitely our showpiece event,” said Cote. “There is sugar on snow Friday night, a cabane a sucre brunch on Saturday and the finalists are bagpiped onto the ice on Sunday. This is probably one of the most unique events in the region.”
Running from March 30 to April 2, the Bonspiel is maxed out with 16 teams, including five from the United States (Belfast, ME, Merrimack Valley, NH and Cape Cod/Potomac), one team from Montreal (Baie D’Urfe) and a handful of locals (North Hatley, Danville, Sherbrooke, Border).
Cote assured this year’s event will once again have a strong focus on the maple theme. He added the club has set up a sugar house and decorated the clubhouse to make it appear more rustic.
