By Jonathan Brazeau
Madison Bear didn’t imagine she would be throwing lead stones and skipping Team Strouse this season.
After Sarah Anderson stepped back from women’s curling, Team Strouse needed a new player, and Bear just so happened to have a stellar run to the semifinals in the U.S. Olympic mixed doubles trials that garnered attention.
Now that the season is underway, Bear said she’s having fun playing alongside fourth Delaney Strouse, third Anne O’Hara and second Sydney Mullaney and that it kind of was "meant to be."
“It definitely wasn’t exactly expected, but I’m super excited and really grateful that I get to play with them,” Bear said earlier this month during the Stu Sells Oakville Tankard in Oakville, Ont. “It’s always fun when you get to play with friends, right?”
Bear’s arrival led to a roster shuffle as O’Hara shifted from lead to third and Strouse handed the skip reins.
The Portage, Wisc., native skipped her own squad (while throwing last rocks) and played lead on Cory Thiesse’s team in the past.
Although skipping from the lead position is rare at the elite level, Bear is embracing her new dual role.
“Truthfully, it’s like the best of both worlds,” Bear said. “Lead is probably my favourite position, so I get to do that and still get to do my favourite part of the game, which is the strategy and calling line.”
Bear made her Team Strouse debut in early August at playdowns for the Pan Continental Curling Championships and finished runner-up to Team Peterson.
“I don’t even have ice to practice on yet, but they’ve made it really easy to fit in,” Bear said. “It’s just a matter of getting to know each other right now, so it takes a little bit of patience, which we know, but it’s going really well.”
Team Strouse, based in Traverse City, Mich., will make a short trip across the border for the AMJ Masters Tier 2, taking place Sept. 24-27 at the St. Thomas Curling Club in St. Thomas, Ont., with the finals on arena ice alongside the top flight Sept. 28 at the Western Fair Sports Centre in London, Ont.
It’s a key event for them to not only earn valuable ranking points but also get solid reps against tough competition ahead of the U.S. Olympic curling team trials in November.
“I think every event we’re just learning something new to take with us, and we’re kind of defining success on our own terms right now,” Bear said. “Each event, we just have an idea of what we’re looking to accomplish so that we’re ready to peak come later in the season.”
Tickets are now available for the AMJ Masters Tier 1 and Tier 2 events. Visit GSOCtickets.com to purchase yours today.
Live streaming for all AMJ Masters Tier 1 games, plus the Tier 2 finals and GSOC Wheelchair Invitational medal games, will be available for free here on thegrandslamofcurling.com.
