Hackner Senior Men's Curling Rink (2006–07)
Hackner Senior Men's Curling Rink (2006–07) was a senior men's curling team from Thunder Bay that won the 2006 Canadian Senior Men's Curling Championship and the 2007 World Senior Curling silver medal. The team was inducted into the Northwestern Ontario Sports Hall of Fame in 2006.[1]
Overview
- Sport: Curling
- Season: 2006–07
- Achievement: 2006 Canadian Senior Champions & 2007 World Silver Medallists
- Inducted: 30 September 2006[1]
Season
The Hackner Senior Men's Curling Rink was formed when Al Hackner joined his former world championship teammate Rick Lang, along with veteran competitors Al Laine and Brian Adams Sr., to enter the senior division. The squad demonstrated strong performance during the zone and district playdowns to qualify for the provincial level. At the Northern Ontario championships, the rink remained unbeaten throughout the round-robin stage. They secured the regional title by defeating the defending champion, Al Harnden of Sault Ste. Marie, which qualified them for the national tournament.[1]
At the 2006 Canadian Senior Curling Championships, the team competed in a field of 12 rinks that included several former Canadian and world titleholders. Following the round-robin portion of the event, the Thunder Bay representatives were part of a four-way tie with an 8–3 record. In the semi-final against Saskatchewan, the match went to an extra end where the Hackner rink won 6–5 after a draw to the button. They advanced to the final against the defending champions from Alberta, skipped by Les Rogers. Leading 6–3 with three ends remaining, the team utilized strategic play to finish with a 7–4 victory, marking the first time a rink from Northwestern Ontario won the Canadian Senior Men's Curling Championship.[1]
As the national champions, the group represented Canada at the 2007 World Senior Curling Championships held in Edmonton, Alberta. They reached the gold medal game to face the Scotland rink skipped by Keith Prentice. The final was decided on the final stone of the last end; the Scottish skip successfully navigated a shot past two guards to land on the button. This play prevented a steal by the Canadian side, resulting in a 6–5 loss for the Thunder Bay team. The rink concluded the season as the first from their region to earn a World Senior Curling silver medal.[1]
Roster
The names below come from the Hall of Fame profile and its team photograph caption.[1]
| Name | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Al Hackner | skip | |
| Rick Lang | third | |
| Al Laine | second | |
| Brian Adams Sr. | lead |
Honours and achievements
- Undefeated in round-robin play at the Northern Ontario provincial championships
- 2006 Northern Ontario Senior Men's champions
- 2006 Canadian Senior Men's Curling Championship winners
- First team from Northwestern Ontario to win a Canadian Senior Men's title
- 2007 World Senior Curling Championships silver medallists[1]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 "Hackner Senior Men's Curling Rink", team profile, Northwestern Ontario Sports Hall of Fame, https://www.nwosportshalloffame.com/team-profile/11847bc2-408e-4522-90e3-caba8e0f1a4d (accessed 31 October 2026). Archived copy on datum.locker.