1961 Joyce McKee Curling Team

Accomplishments: Canadian Ladies’ Curling Champions, 1961.

The Joyce McKee Rink of Saskatoon was the winner of three Canadian Ladies Curling Championships.

In 1961 the McKee rink, this time with Sylvia Fedoruk as third Barbara MacNevin as second and Rosa McFee as lead, were the winners of the first ten province round robin tournament for the Canadian Ladies Curling Championship called the Diamond D Championship. Playing in Ottawa, the National Capital, the McKee rink won nine straight games to bring Saskatchewan its second straight National Ladies Curling title. This same team was runner-up in the 1962 Championships losing only one game.

The superior style of play by these Saskatchewan curlers forced women curlers across the country to come up to their standard affecting an overall improvement in ladies’ curling. The girls played an accurate take out game for the most part, but when necessary could switch to a draw with equal success. Their long slide style, especially that of skip Joyce McKee set a trend which has continued to develop. The sweeping style of the Westerners as well as their mastery of curling strategy was also a type rarely seen in Eastern women’s curling.

The “Joyce McKee Rinks” of Saskatchewan were a success on and off the ice. These three teams played a significant role in helping to establish the Canadian Ladies Curling Association Championship as a major National sporting event.

Installed in the Sports Hall of Fame on March 31, 1973.

Left to Right: Sylvia Fedoruk (third), Joyce McKee (skip), Rosa McFee (lead), Barbara MacNevin (second).