Edmonton bowling teams move on to national tournament after provincial competition in Medicine Hat. Jayk Sterkenburg/CHAT News

By Jayk Sterkenburg

SPORTS

Provincial bowling tournament in Medicine Hat sees Edmonton move on to nationals

Apr 20, 2025 | 12:39 PM

The Alberta 5 pin Open Championship Provincials took place at Panorama Lanes in Medicine Hat from April 16 to 19, with Edmonton receiving gold for all three of its teams.

Edmonton’s Men’s, Ladies and Mixed teams will move on to the Canadian 5 Pin Bowling Association’s national competition in Regina, Saskatchewan in May.

Medicine Hat only hosts the provincial tournament every ten years, as tournaments take place all throughout Alberta annually.

In the province, five competing zones are divided into Edmonton, Calgary, North, Central and South.

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George Mucciarone is manager of Alberta’s South Zone bowling teams — including bowlers from Lethbridge, Pincher Creek and Medicine Hat — that competed in the tournament.

“A lot of it has to do with the social aspect,” Mucciarone told CHAT News Saturday.

“It’s nice to get out and bowl with your friends and be somewhat competitive, but a lot of it has to do with just getting out with your buddies and friends.”

He said apart from the social aspect, bowling can be competitive for however long a player wants it to be.

“It’s a kind of sport that transcends ages,” he said.

“You can start off bowling in our youth bowling league at the age of five, or even a little bit earlier,” he added.

“We have a competitor here in our zone that’s still bowling in this competition, and she is 75.”

Mucciarone said bowling is the kind of sport where one can participate for many years.

Mucciarone said apart from the social aspect, bowling can be competitive for however long a player wants it to be. Jayk Sterkenburg/CHAT News

Eric Christensen, a member of the Calgary Mixed team, said it’s fun to celebrate the accomplishments of everyone, regardless of what team they’re on.

“On one hand, the competition is fierce. There’s a lot of fantastic bowlers. It’s the best in the province competing,” he said.

“But at the same time, these are also your friends. And when you’re on the lanes you’re competing, but when you’re off the lanes it’s all about the camaraderie and the friendships, and just the social aspect,” he added

“Getting together, Easter week every year. It’s a lot of fun.”

Christensen said when he was younger he would look up to veterans of the game, such as the 75 year old bowler who has been involved in bowling for 55 years.

He said kids that he has coached are now moving up into the tournament as well — and said everyone is quite supportive of each other, willing to pass on knowledge and wisdom.

Christensen said it’s fun to celebrate the accomplishments of everyone, regardless of what team they’re on. Jayk Sterkenburg/CHAT News

The Canadian 5 Pin Bowlers’ Association says that 5 pin bowling originated in Toronto in 1909.

The pins are worth different scoring point values, unlike other forms of bowling such as 10 pin. This allows for more strategy in its play.

Carter Stretch, coach for the North Ladies team, said bowling typically has an entertainment focus throughout the country.

“But there is a really great competitive side now to it. And it’s growing,” he said.

“Obviously when we went through our initial shutdown a few years ago, it was definitely tested, but the bowling communities definitely came out,” he added, referring to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“There’s been a lot of substantial growth through competitive youth bowlers, through competitive adult bowling- and even just in public bowling.”

Stretch said bowling has been a great part of Canadian history from coast to coast.

Stretch said bowling typically has an entertainment focus, but has a great competitive side to it now across the country. Jayk Sterkenburg/CHAT News

Mucciarone said from this tournament, the qualifying Men’s, Ladies and Mixed teams will go to the national competition in Regina on May 21 to 24.

“Alberta is usually a powerhouse when it comes to nationals,” he said.

“Our best bowlers from here will continue on.”

The South Zone Mixed and Ladies teams, involving Medicine Hat players, were the recipients of silver for their efforts in the tournament this week — but will not move on to nationals in May.

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