“Thank An Ice Tech Week” will celebrate the unsung heroes of curling

By Sheri Block

Before a curler can make that perfect draw to the button or precise double take out, there’s a team of people working hard behind the scenes to make sure the ice is in prime condition and ready for the game.

“There are countless key people who play a pivotal and impactful role in the curling system and curling industry,” said Dustin Mikush, Curling Canada’s Manager of Youth Development & Programming.

“At the heart of these roles who make each youth program, league or championship game happen each season are the incredible ice technicians. During Thank An Ice Tech Week, we celebrate the unsung heroes behind the scenes of every curling centre. Let’s give thanks to the ice technicians who provide world-class playing conditions and experiences, one sheet at a time.”

Taking place Jan. 12-18, Thank An Ice Tech Week will include two virtual Iceside Chats (one in English and one in French) with some of Curling Canada’s national ice technicians.

The English chat, featuring Greg Ewasko, Mike Merklinger and Rebecca Duck, will be held Wednesday, Jan. 15, at noon ET while the French chat, with Neil Gargul and Stéphane Delisle, will take place Tuesday, Jan. 30, at noon ET.

Any affiliated provincial or territorial curling centre ice technician in Canada is welcome to register.

Topics covered will include water, scraping, pebbling, temperature control and stones. The ice techs will also discuss best practices and answer questions from attendees live.

Duck believes talking to others in the profession is the best way to learn and strongly encourages others to join in the Iceside Chat.

“There might be something in there, however small it may be, that you don’t know, that you can take back to your club to do your job faster or more efficient,” she said.

How an ice tech is crucial for curling

Ewasko was a competitive junior curler in Selkirk, Man., when the opportunity for his future dream job arose.

“I was at the local curling club during spares, and maybe skipping a few classes to just throw rocks, when the local ice maker said, ‘Since you’re here all the time do you want a job?’ ” recalled Ewasko. “He showed me the ropes and I thought, ‘This is pretty cool’ and I went from there.”

Ewasko has now been an ice technician for 33 years and the Chief Ice Technician for Curling Canada for the past six.

His job has taken him from coast to coast in Canada, as well as various locations around the world, and he knows what it takes to make a good sheet of ice.

While curlers certainly make it known when ice conditions are subpar, the ice in Canada is often praised for its quality and consistency, thanks to highly skilled technicians like Ewasko.

“We listen to what the teams have to say,” said Ewasko. “The big thing is attention to detail.”

Duck, who has been an ice technician for 18 years, says maintaining the ice depends on several factors, ranging from outside temperature to how many people are in the rink and humidity.

“We watch our temperature closely and we try and prepare for it, so if we know it’s going to be a little bit warmer outside, we’ll start our temperatures a bit on the colder side so as it raises, we’re not getting too warm,” she said.

As the pressure heats up in a big game – such as in a national or world championship – so does the pressure on the ice makers to manage the conditions.

“It’s stressful but it’s a fun, exciting stressful,” said Duck.

Duck started out by helping her dad, who was an ice technician in Mississauga, Ont., 18 years ago, and worked her way up through volunteering at events.

“I did a lot of vacuuming carpets, picking up snow, a lot of stuff like that, and then you just get to know the guys in charge, and they get to know you, how you work and your attitude. Then they started calling me to do bigger jobs,” said Duck, who’s one of only a handful of female ice techs in Canada.

The highlight of her career so far has been the Scotties Tournament of Hearts in Kamloops, B.C. in 2023.

When she’s not at a national event she’s working at the Granite Club north of Toronto where she manages eight sheets of ice. It takes her about three hours of prep time for each draw.

“I think a lot of people don’t realize the amount of time that it takes to do a full scrape and pebble,” said Duck.

 “There’s a lot of other stuff that curlers don’t really think about – keeping the rink clean and picking up the stabilizers, sliders, grippers and brooms that are left around the rink.”

Saying thanks and giving back

Both Duck and Ewasko agree it’s nice to be recognized with Thank an Ice Tech Week and hope it encourages other clubs and curlers to acknowledge their own technicians.

They are looking forward to the Iceside Chat and hope many technicians join in and ask questions.

“I do help on a national and world stage but my heart and soul is to always help out local people that are involved in curling clubs,” said Ewasko.

The 2024 Iceside Chat had a strong turnout with more than 200 technicians in virtual attendance.

“We’re all pretty excited for some of the questions that we’re going to get,” said Duck. “Last year we got a lot of good questions that we weren’t anticipating, and it was great.”