Bill Tetley Men's Curling Rink (1975)
Bill Tetley Men's Curling Rink (1975) was a men's curling team from Thunder Bay that won the first national men's title for Northwestern Ontario. The team was inducted into the Northwestern Ontario Sports Hall of Fame in 1986.[1]
Overview
Season
The Bill Tetley rink secured the first national men's Curling championship for Northwestern Ontario in 1975. Before this victory, Bill Tetley of Thunder Bay had previously participated in the 1957 and 1971 Briers. The team's composition evolved during their competitive run. The initial lineup featured Tom Tod at third, Bill Hodgson Jr. at second, and Peter Hnatiw at lead. During the Northwestern Ontario playdowns, Rick Lang, then 21 years old, joined the squad as second to fill in for an injured Bill Hodgson Jr..[1]
By the time the team reached the Northern Ontario finals, Bill Hodgson Jr. had returned to the lineup, but Tom Tod was sidelined by illness. Rick Lang subsequently moved to the third position. This configuration of Bill Tetley, Rick Lang, Bill Hodgson Jr., and Peter Hnatiw finished the Northern Ontario playdowns with a 6-1 record, earning a spot in the national championship. At the Brier held in Fredericton, New Brunswick, the rink reached the final against a team from Newfoundland. The match was decided in the tenth end; while leading by one point and facing two opposing stones, Bill Tetley executed a draw to the four-foot to win the title. This marked the first Brier win for a Northern Ontario representative in 25 years.[1]
As the Canadian champions, the rink traveled to Perth, Scotland, for the 1975 World Curling Championships, also known as the Silver Broom. They finished at the top of the standings following a round-robin featuring ten different countries. In the semi-finals, they played against the Switzerland rink skipped by Otto Danielli. The game remained close until the tenth end, where Switzerland secured a 6-5 win. The Switzerland team eventually won the world title by beating the United States. Upon returning to Northwestern Ontario, the team was honored with receptions and motorcades.[1]
Roster
The names below come from the Hall of Fame profile and its team photograph caption.[1]
| Name | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Bill Tetley | skip | |
| Rick Lang | third | |
| Bill Hodgson Jr. | second | |
| Peter Hnatiw | lead | |
| Tom Tod | third | original third; missed finals due to illness |
Honours and achievements
- 1975 Brier Champions
- First Northwestern Ontario rink to win the Canadian men's curling title
- First Northern Ontario Brier victory in 25 years
- Represented Canada at the 1975 World Curling Championships
- Finished first in the round-robin at the 1975 Silver Broom[1]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 "Tetley [Bill] Men's Curling Rink", team profile, Northwestern Ontario Sports Hall of Fame, https://www.nwosportshalloffame.com/team-profile/9d69b024-abc6-4696-acd6-e09a4c491b4f (accessed 31 October 2026). Archived copy on datum.locker.