Perhaps more than ever, the All Sorts curling league is ringing true to its name this year.

True, the Tuesday night tradition at the Idylwylde Golf & Country Club has attracted an interesting mix in the past.

But where the age brackets might have covered the entire spectrum of athletes who would line up their shots from the hack, the common denominator in most seasons was a fairly high level of competitive background – even if it was in divisions ranging from youth all the way up to masters.

And yes, the field is still dotted with names who have enjoyed the excitement of national curling championships. But it’s also dotted with names like that of Guy Robineau.

A highly accomplished golfer, the product of Ecole Secondaire Macdonald-Cartier more than just a year or two ago was skipping his team to victory this past week despite still finding himself early on in the learning curve of strategy and such.

“I was introduced to this sport by Amanda Gates two years ago,” said Robineau.

The long-time member of the Tracy (Horgan) Fleury rink was the driving force behind “Wild Wednesdays”, a beginners only curling offering that allowed for four end games with participants rotating their way through all four positions in the lineup.

“I got hooked so bad, right from the get-go,” said Robineau.

Entering a team in the All Sorts for the first time this year, the late fifty-ish gentlemen made sure to surround himself with others for whom the game was not quite so new. Spouse and former L.U. varsity skip Carol Craig, Philip Ng, Jesse Valic (a one-time teammate of Gates during their high-school days together at St Benedict) and spare Brigit Levac round out the squad.

And in keeping with the fun first and foremost theme to the team, the group would christen Robineau as skip. “He’s confident and athletic,” laughed Craig – and few would dispute that. On this particular evening, it would be enough to pick up the “W” over Team Heideman, down a couple of regulars for illness and other reasons.

“They knew we were ready for a bust out game,” Robineau laughed, tongue in cheek – and clearly blessed with the confidence to call the shots and lead his team into battle.

A year ago this time, Owen Allard would boast even less curling experience than Robineau.

With the Laurentian Voyageurs looking to fill out a roster given that they were hosting nationals last March but dealing with the misfortune of a scheduling conflict that would see NOCA Mixed Doubles provincials taking place the exact same weekend as the OUA playdowns, it was the now 20 year-old Lockerby Composite graduate who would step up.

“I told them: if you simply need a warm body, I’m your guy,” suggested the third year Bio Med major at Laurentian University. Turns out that L.U. curling coach and current principal at Lockerby Ryan Lafraniere recalled Allard venturing out to a tryout or two during his time as a Viking.

And given a general across the board resume of sporting involvement that included soccer and badminton, downhill skiing and golf, Allard was more than willing to lend a helping hand – and is now back for another season with the varsity crew this winter, with both Voyageurs teams also on the docket of the All Sorts schedule.

“If there’s any sport that has any semblance to curling, despite how different it is, it might be golf – in the sense that understanding that small adjustments make for big changes,” said Allard.

“You’re thinking the game the same way you would on a golf course: if I hit it here, where am I going next.”

Because the only criteria for being allowed into the field for this particular U Sports tournament is the fact that you have first entered your university provincial playdowns, wins and losses were a secondary concern as Allard joined some regulars from the NOCA junior circuit in representing Laurentian initially last February.

And with the blessings of all involved, he’s back to do it all over again.

“I am keeping it fun for myself because my expectations are not high,” he said. “And they are keeping me grounded. When I am disappointed that I didn’t hit my shot, they keep me in check. They are very supportive. Their experience, their knowledge is invaluable. When they are calling line and weight, just trust them.”

And if all aligns on a particular shot, understand that lightning may not strike twice.

“You have two shots per end and you’re not going to throw them both perfectly,” said Allard, voicing a sentiment that is no doubt shared by Robineau and so many others who strive for perfection on the ice. “Even when you hit that perfect shot, it’s a matter of understanding that shot doesn’t matter now for the next one.”

Of course, for the likes of Tanner Horgan, Jake Horgan, Ian McMillan and Scott Chadwick, the ability to duplicate perfection (or get very close to it) shot after shot is exponentially higher.

Last weekend in Sault Ste Marie, it all came together as well as it has at any point this year for the newly formed rink. Taking part in the triple knockout event that was the Soo Curlers Fall Classic, Team Horgan overcame an opening round loss to Scott Dunnam (6-5) to earn a split on day one with an 8-3 win over the Brian Adams Jr quartet from Thunder Bay.

The Friday draw treated the local lads well, registering wins over Soo-Hyuk Kim (7-2), Team Dunnam in a rematch (4-3) and the Sandy MacEwan crew in an all-Sudbury matchup (5-2).

Unfortunately, a 5-4 setback to Team Howard left the Horgan siblings with no wiggle room as they strung posted back to back Saturday triumphs over both Nathan Young (8-1) and Karsten Sturmay (5-1) before falling in the semi-final to a very talented Matt Dunstone quartet, 7-3.