It's pool season in Barrie and Craig Misener is hoping lots of people will jump right in.
The Canadian Poolplayers Association is putting together teams to get ready for the Fall season, which runs from September to January and features teams consisting of five to eight players competing either seasonally or year-round. Misener is the Simcoe, Grey and Muskoka County CPA league operator and has grown the league significantly since his taking it over eight years ago.
One of the biggest years for he and the teams he runs was this past season as every year the CPA sends teams to the national championships in Las Vegas with different formats being competed in such as a nine-ball team championship, a lady’s championship and the mixed competition. One of the mixed teams finished first overall out of 715 teams, which was a first for the Misener squads. The league operator couldn’t stay to watch the later rounds as he had a wedding to attend back home, but it didn’t stop him from checking in to see what was happening.
“Each championship event is streamed live so I watched the finals on my phone,” said Misener. “I explained to everyone at our dinner table what was happening and they weren’t necessarily interested at first, but as the game went on they were checking it out too. There was about 2,000 people watching on Facebook Live and I don’t know how many on Youtube, but it was amazing to see all the Canadians around the country rallying for this one team.”
Some of the tournaments being competed in can produce prizes in the thousands of dollars with teams splitting the winnings, but Misener says that while that is a great initiative for playing, he has been pushing the social aspect for a few years and anyone from all skill backgrounds should give it a try.
“The really cool thing is that we have league nights on different evenings throughout the week and that is usually the start of the conversation I have with someone is what is your availability,” said Misener. “If you have a group of friends to make a team that’s great but I always have teams looking for a player or two. Their skill level is not an issue as we go by a handicap system and they’ll be placed in a grouping that suits them best; I don’t want people to use their skill level as a reason to not play, there are lots of folks who aren’t experts so just come out and have fun.”
There is also a junior league that has grown in Barrie and Parry Sound with Orillia and Owen Sound being added this season. Misener tells parents that the kids will love the game and it is a great night out for them and friends.
“Our junior league is our fastest growing of all of my divisions,” said Misener. “Parents who picture smokey bars and lots of drinking should contact me and come see some games because that’s not what its like anymore. My kids are involved and we really push the friendly and learning atmosphere with it in that they not only learn skills to play but also skills for life like being gracious in defeat and victory, being social and meeting people that aren’t on their phone screen.”
The CPA fall season runs from September to early January with Barrie’s host locations currently at Dunlop Billiards, Poolhub, and Alliance Billiards which offer eight-ball team play, nine-ball team play, ladies league play, masters league play and junior academy.
For more information or to get signed up, contact Misener at 705-730-2560 or by email at [email protected]. You can also visit the website or the Facebook page at @simcoecountycpa
