Leo Buckley's Deep River team captured 1st place during the regular season portion of the 2003-2004 Upper Ottawa Valley Curling Superleague and were awarded the Stokes memorial trophy. This is the third year the trophy has been awarded by the league, which has been in existence for over 20 years. The trophy was donated in memory of a great curler and friend, Gord Stokes from Cobden. Gord had the unfortunate distinction of having won the round robin portion of the league 5 or 6 times but never was able to capture the League Championship trophy awarded to the winner of the league playoffs - this has made the trophy very appropriate and coveted by league curlers.
Photo Caption: 2003-2004 Upper Ottawa Valley Superleague 1st Place Champions from the Deep River Curling and Squash Club with the Gord Stokes memorial trophy. From left to right: Chris Knight (3rd), Martin Chisholm (2nd), Leo Buckley (Skip), Bob Burton (Lead) and Ron Grozelle (Alternate)
Buckley's team of Chris Knight (third), Martin Chisholm (2nd), Bob Burton (Lead) and Ron Grozelle (Alternate), have now moved into the playoffs which sees the top 4 team playdown for Championship Trophy. In the semi-finals Buckley's team defeated their home club rival team skipped by Chris Moore of Deep River with Malcolm James Third, Joe Kasaboskie, Jeff Olfert and alternate Don Taylor. Moore's team finished the regular season in fourth place and were on a roll having comeback from an 0-5 first half to post a 5 and 5 season record. In the other semi-final two Pembroke teams skipped by Emile Robert and Dave Trautrim met and Robert will now move on to the final against Buckley on Wednesday, February 25 in Pembroke. On the same night Moore's rink will square-off against Trautrim in the Bronze medal game. Gametime is 8:30 at the Pembroke Curling Club.