Medicine Hat News
More than 350 school children in Medicine Hat will hit the ice on Wednesday and Thursday for the 48th Annual JamPail Bonspiel at the Kinplex.
The long-running tradition was originally created to provide students from Grades 3 to 6 with an activity during Teacher's Convention.
Today, the event provides an introduction to curling for some students, according to Natalie Sauer, the City's Recreation Supervisor and a former JamPail Bonspiel participant.
"Over the years, the bonspiel has evolved into a family-oriented event with parents as scorekeepers/supervisors to the participating students," said Sauer "Many parents of our current curlers played when they were students and I believe we are now working on third generation participants."
For the two day bonspiel, the ice at the Kinplex is converted into 13 curling rinks.
Attention is directed towards participation and fun.Ê Every participant gets a ribbon from first-place to eighth in each pool.
Teams consist of four players and are comprised of either school or neighborhood friends.ÊGrades 3 and 4 students play on Wednesday starting at 5 p.m., with Grades 5 and 6 rinks playing on Thursday. All teams get three games.