Familiar with curling success at the local, junior national and university level, the young Colin Thomas rink will take a big leap this week as they become Team Canada and head to Japan to compete in the prestigious Karuizawa International Curling Event in Karuizawa, Japan.

The Canadian Interuniversity Sport-Canadian Curling Association (CIS-CCA) Championship rink of Mr. Thomas, Cory Schuh, Spencer Wicks, Chris Ford, Stephen Ryan and coach Jeff Thomas earned the opportunity to wear the Team Canada uniform after winning the CIS-CCA Championship on home ice last March as the team took the national title in a narrow 7-6 victory over the University of Manitoba. 

The Memorial students will join the Wilfrid Laurier University women’s team, who won the 2011 CIS women’s championship and will also represent Canada at this event. The teams head to Edmonton Jan. 19 to attend a two-day camp at the National Curling Training Center. Scores and results from the event will be available at www.karuizawaclub.ne.jp/icurling/en/info/index.cfm. The competition will run Jan. 25-29, and will feature an eight team event, with six countries represented including Canada, Norway, Germany, China and Korea. 

Mr. Thomas and his teammates just received their Team Canada gear for on-ice play and are eager and proud to wear the maple leaf representing their country.

“I am thrilled to have the privilege to participate in this prestigious international bonspiel,” he said. “Representing my hometown, Memorial University, Newfoundland and Labrador and Canada will be an amazing experience that I already know I will remember for a lifetime.”

Although the excitement of winning the CIS championship has faded somewhat for Mr. Thomas and his teammates, it still resonates as one of the highlights of his curling career.

“As the event in Japan gets closer I find that the winning feeling from the CIS championship comes back more and more every day, as I realize what has come with our accomplishment,” he said.

Follow Team Thomas and his rink on their international journey by visiting www.goseahawks.ca.