Skip Jamie Koe and his team from Yellowknife, N.W.T., was ejected from the Red Deer Curling Classic on Sunday afternoon.
The World Curling Tour, which is overseeing the event, announced on Twitter that the team had been removed for unsportsmanlike behavior. They were forced to forfeit their remaining game.
The team of Jamie Koe, Ryan Fry, Chris Schille and DJ Kidby has been ejected from the Red Deer Curling Classic due to unsportsmanlike behaviour, forfeiting their remaining game. #curling #wcthttps://t.co/DmrezFmzwq
— World Curling Tour (@worldcurltour) November 18, 2018
Koe, along with teammates Ryan Fry, Chris Schille and DJ Kidby, were barred from the 2018 event.
The Koe rink won their opening match on Friday against Jeremy Harty, but lost Saturday to Ted Appelman and again to Kody Hartung.
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Curling team’s behaviour unacceptable and disrespectful
Both Schille and Koe issued apologies on social media Monday. Koe apologized in his statement and wrote “due to a lapse in judgment on Saturday, we contributed to an unpleasant experience for others,” Koe wrote.
“Although I removed myself from the game before it started, the actions from the team lead to our disqualification. We were disrespectful and the committee was right to disqualify us from further play.”
My official statement regarding the 2018 Red Deer Curling Classic. pic.twitter.com/FUEbW92dG5
— Jamie Koe (@JKnwt) November 19, 2018
Schille added: “I want to apologize for an unfortunate incident that occurred on Saturday at the event. We took our fun a little too far which led to curlers and fans being uncomfortable and upset. I apologized to the Hartung team during our game and to a few of the staff before leaving the arena.”
Sunday in the 12:30 p.m. draw, they were supposed to play Josh Heidt rink.
Various social media reports indicated that the team was excessively intoxicated during their game and the committee made their decision at that point.
From Wade Thurber, Manager of Red Deer Curling Centre
“They went out to curl and they were extremely drunk and breaking brooms and swearing and just unacceptable behaviour that nobody wants to watch or hear or listen to and it was just enough was enough”#cbccurl
— Devin Heroux (@Devin_Heroux) November 19, 2018
As for kicking out the curlers?
“we wanted all the spectators and the curlers to know that we've done something about it cause there was quite a bit of backlash, getting lots of complaints and everyone saying the same thing that we needed to get them out of here, kick them out”
— Devin Heroux (@Devin_Heroux) November 19, 2018
Life comes at you fast pic.twitter.com/Pp6mv5kKS1
— John Cullen (@cullenthecurler) November 18, 2018
— David Sciacero (@DavidSciacero) November 18, 2018
The 56-team bonspiel started on Friday morning and wraps up Monday at the Pidherney Centre.
More to come.
Email sports tips to Byron Hackett
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