AMHERST – It was a frenzy of bright colours, dirty looks, stare downs and bow ties Friday at the Amherst Curling Club as two rival teams, the Good Lookin’ Guys and the Better Lookin’ Guys, prepared to take to the ice to battle it out in a game of curling. The two teams aren’t playing for a trophy, but something better: charity.
“It’s my turn to win this year,” said Good Lookin’ Guys’ captain Don Smith. “That’s how we usually do it. He’s won two in a row, so it’s my turn to win this year.”
“I hate to differ with this but that punk is going down,” interrupted Carl LeBlanc, captain and Skip for the Better Lookin’ Guys. “I’m after his jugular. We’ve had too many close calls.”
And thus began the pre game scuffle, neither captain willing to be outdone by the other, nor willing to share their team strategy, but rather stare each other down angrily, more than ready to get out on the ice. Before long, the two gentlemen were bringing up past arguments.
“This is how it all went down, when we first did this, I said we were going to be called the Good Lookin’ Guys. When I asked Carl what he wanted to be called, he said the Better Lookin’ Guys,” Smith insisted. LeBlanc shook his head.
In the past, the teams have had many different costumes, including a Hawaiian theme, doctors outfits and even brought out the tartan. But this year, the teams dressed up as Barber Shop quartets, the Good Lookin’ Guys donned in pale pink suits and the Better Lookin’ Guys in a pale green.
After a few more threats, hoping to knock the other off their game, the pair decided to get a little serious.
“We’re doing this for the community,” said Smith. “We’re doing this for cancer and everyone has been affected by that evil disease.”
“Don lost his father-in-law with whom he was very close to and I lost my wife Jackie after 46 years,” added LeBlanc. “This means a lot to us.”
Both teams surpassed their goal of $25,000, bringing in $27,695, taking their overall total to $103,000, donated over eight years they have held the charity game.
“It’s awesome,” said Joe Dupuis of the Good Lookin’ Guys. “I can’t say enough.”
Although the teams raised more than their goal, Dupuis was disappointed to admit the Better Lookin’ Guys won the game.
The money the teams raised from the event will be donated to the Cumberland County Hospice Palliative Care Society and the Cancer Assistance Fund.
Twitter: @ADNjocelyn
