For the last decade, advocates were convinced a new curling rink would go a long way in increasing the popularity of the sport in Cochrane.

So far, they have been proven right with another growth spurt being witnessed in their second season at the Spray Lake Sawmills (SLS) Family Sports Centre. They’ve grown by 19 teams since arriving in their new home; seven last year and 12 this season.

Cochrane Curling Club managing director Barb Gibson believes they are right on target for their aim to be at full capacity by year three.

Already, the Tuesday night men’s league is at full capacity with 24 teams for the first time in years, the Monday night ladies league has 22 and the Wednesday mixed league has 20 teams. The Thursday night mixed double league has one full draw of 12 teams.

“We still have the capacity to take some more teams and we were hoping we would be at full capacity in three years,” says an ecstatic Gibson. “The way we’re going I think we will. We’re up in every single league. We’re up in juniors, we’re up in seniors and we’re up in evening leagues. It’s just amazing.”

Daytime at the centre is quite hectic. The new Monday afternoon competitive league was launched this week and the new facility drew the “Oldtimers” league from Calgary. About 10 per cent of their players are from Cochrane and the rest are from outside of the community.

“That whole league came here from Calgary, so it’s just awesome,” says Gibson

Gibson believes the success being witnessed is the result of the synergy of the curling club, quality ice and the amenities of the SLS Family Sports Centre.

“We would be turning teams away if we were in the old rink, we wouldn’t have been able to accommodate them so coming here has been fabulous.”

It won’t be long before the club's bonspiel season begins. It kicks off with junior bonspiel, Nov. 30 to Dec. 2, followed by the men’s bonspiel in January, women’s bonspiel in February and mixed bonspiel in March.

First up, though, is the 9th Annual Super Senior Squares Bonspiel, Nov. 21-24. Last year it rocked the house as the centre’s first major event and with 44 teams and 164 curlers set a record for the number of participants in the bonspiel.

Drawmaster Doug Campbell has booked more ice time on the strength of last year’s numbers and registrations are now being accepted. This bonspiel closely matches teams by age and has a large social element, with social events being organized for all four evenings of the bonspiel.