Michael Dahms's curling plans have changed.
Originally, the 25-year-old Prince George Golf and Curling Club skip ruled out competing in this weekend's B.C. Interior men's playdowns in Kamloops. He's had a change of heart.
"After some discussion, our team did decide to play in the upcoming qualifying bonspiel in Kamloops in addition to the one in Prince George (Jan. 14-16)," said Dahms.
"I went to each player individually and asked if they wanted to play, because if not, I was going to form a new team just for Kamloops. Every one of them came back and said they wanted to play."
Now working in Edmonton, Dahms will due to fly to Kamloops Thursday, while the rest of his team - third J.T. Blanchett, second Chris Calder and lead Matt Gyorfi -- were making the drive down after their work shifts Thursday.
Not having played together yet this season, Dahms said the Kelly Cup champions got together for a curling boot camp last weekend, "trying to make up for lost time."
The Dahms rink will face Lance McGinn of Kelowna today at 2 p.m. in the second draw of the 16-team tournament. The double-knockout formula will be used, with the A- and B-event winners earning qualifying spots for the 2011 Canadian Direct Insurance B.C. men's curling championship, Feb. 7-13 in Vernon.
Former Prince George resident Blaine Black is listed as an alternate for Rick Folk's Kamloops rink. Also entered this weekend in Kamloops are Tom Buchy, Kimberley; Scott Decap, Kamloops; Rob Ferguson, Trail; Josh Firman, Creston; Brent Giles, Kelowna; Tyrel Griffith, Vernon; Aron Herrick, Vernon; Darrell Houston, Vernon; Kevin Marks, Grand Forks; Lance McGinn, Kelowna; Myron Nichol, Nelson; John Pierce, Smithers; Michael Smith, Kamloops; Brent Yamada, Kamloops.
Last weekend at the Interior women's championship in Summerland, Jen Fewster of Prince George won three straight games to win the A-event and qualify for the Scotties Tournament of Hearts in Cloverdale, Jan. 17-23. B-event winner Jill Winters of Nelson also qualified.
Fewster, whose team includes third Kristen Fewster, second Blaine Richards and lead Amber Cheveldave, opened with an 8-1 win over Tracey Jones of Prince George, then beat Patti Knezevic of Prince George 8-7, and ended it with a 7-6 triumph over Karla Thomson of Kamloops.
Knezevic and Jones each finished with 3-3 records and will have another chance to book their provincial tickets at the Interior playoffs, Dec. 17-19 in Williams Lake.
Former Prince George RCMP officer Bob Ursel of Kelowna is already qualified for the men's provincial championship as the B.C. leader in the Canadian Team Ranking System standings, as is Kelley Law of Richmond, for the women's championship.
