Jordan Tollefson - President
Growing up in the frozen tundra, I learned to appreciate winter at a young age. Like every good North Dakota kid, I started playing hockey at age 3, shortly after I figured out that walking concept. Coincidently, my first real job was to spend countless hours with a broom sweeping lint off of giant rolls of carpet at the Carpet Garage. However it wasn’t until my mid-thirties, when I really got into “curling shape”, that I decided to put my affinity for ice and my mad sweeping skills to the test and take up the sport of curling. Along with a few other good friends, we decided to form a curling team in 2019 and curl in the Copper City Curling Club league in Butte, MT. After many harrowing Sunday night winter drives, we moved our center of curling operations back to Helena and started the Last Chance Curling Club in the winter of 2020. The rest is history…
Andy Welch - Vice President
Andy was born and raised in Boise, ID in a family that enjoyed all things outdoors including camping, fishing, and skiing. Andy moved to the Big Sky state to attend Carroll College and has yet to find a reason to leave. When Andy first played around on ice, he was like a fish out of water. When one of his good friends asked if he wanted to join a curling league in Butte, he said, “Why not. Might as well give it a shot.” Through the thrills and spills he fell in love with the game of curling and the comradery that came with it. Andy is thrilled to serve on the LCCC board and to help build the curling community in Helena.
Todd Myse - Treasurer
Todd is from "The Motherland" (aka Wisconsin). He was born in Appleton and went to college in Eau Claire. During his undergrad studies in geology, he started to visit The West and fell in love with the mountains. He moved out to Vermont to attend graduate school and found work in the area after his studies which brought him to New Hampshire. After about 11 years out East, he moved out to Montana in 2010. He enjoys live music, camping, hiking, backpacking, fishing, and many winter activities. In 2019, he was talking to a friend that was on the Copper City Curling Club Board. He mentioned the Club had just purchased two more sets of curling stones and were expanding their League Teams. Todd asked some friends in Helena if they wanted to form a team and try out this sport of curling. They were interested! Everyone was immediately hooked and fell in love with the sport and the curling community. The love of the sport and the community prompted many folks to bring a Club to Helena. Todd is extremely proud to be a part of that group and looks forward to bringing more curling opportunities and excitement to Helena. Good Curling!
Jason Danielson - Secretary
Jason is a Minnesota native and moved to Montana in 2000 after graduating from the University of North Dakota. Jason had no curling experience until the inaugural season of 2020. After enjoying league and appreciating our amazing curling community, he wanted to support the club and contribute to its mission! Outside of curling, Jason enjoys spending time with his family and all outdoor activities, including trail running, skiing, and mountain biking. He also enjoys local craft beer, wine, and artisan coffee! Go Sweep Show!
Jeff Plaggemeyer
Jeff was born and raised in Helena, and after seeing what else was out there he returned in 2009. Jeffdecided to try curling out with a few friends after one went to a LCCC Learn to Curl in early 2021. His team, Broom Thugs-n-Harmony, have since played every league session (winning back to back Golden Brooms) and a handful of bonspiels (2022 Butte Bonspiel champions). Jeff now joins the board after volunteering for Learn to Curl events and helping out on the Outreach and Education Committee. YEP.
Roy Caldwell
Although a recent transplant to Big Sky Country, I’m technically a fourth-generation Montanan, (although not continuous). I retired from the VA at Fort Harrison in July, 2022, and from the Air Force in 2013. I saw a Facebook post for the newly-formed Last Chance Curling Club in early 2021, joined up and have been in every league play since—loving every minute of it! I also enjoy travelling, skiing, kayaking, biking and spending time with my new four-legged canine roommate Gus. My likeness is cropped from our “Big Curls Don’t Cry” team picture, photo bombed by none other than our Club President. I appreciate the opportunity to join “the committee” and spread the “Spirit of Curling” throughout the Helena “micropolitan” (or is that “micro-brewitan”?) area.
Ryan Michael Schwochert
Ryan journeyed from the Midwestern regions of Milwaukee, Madison and Marshfield Wisconsin, moving to Montana in 2005 to pursue a career in forestry. After a few years in Great Falls and the Flathead, he eventually graduated from the University of Montana in 2010 with a degree in History/Native Americans Studies and an Education degree. Happily married to my wife Kathryn Makarowski and still a proud Papa to our daughter Hazel. Ryan enjoys organizing files and working on Fundraising for various club needs. It has truly been a pleasure getting to know the other board members and club members alike over the past few years. In addition to appreciating a good draw shot or sweep to the button, Ryan enjoys hot springs soakin, gardening, playing softball, golf, tennis, keeping up on local politics and catching live music whenever possible. May we all be so Lucky to have found Montana as a second or first home and enjoy all that this region has to offer. Viel Spass beim Eisstockschiesen!
Amanda Opitz
Amanda is originally of Helena, but spent the better part of the past two decades living elsewhere. In 2019, she and her husband, Micah, wisened up and moved back to Helena to be closer to family and friends. In the dark depths of the pandemic, a bright shining light appeared in the form of the Last Chance Curling Club. Amanda, Micah and their friend Kallie formed the Rock Lobsters team and joined during the Club's inaugural session in Jan. 2021 and have played almost every session since that time. Guest stars on the Lobster Team have included Amanda's dad and sister. Recently, the team welcomed Quinn who has rounded out the team nicely thanks to that innate ability all midwesterners seem to have when it comes to ice-sports. What drew Amanda to this sport initially was a very compelling speech on curling that Kallie presented in a high school speech and debate class (seriously!), and what has kept her coming back is the "spirit of curling." The competition is fun, but the comradery is even better. When not curling, Amanda loves to romp around in Montana's beautiful wild places with her naughty cattle dog, Annabelle.
Ira Barnes
Born and raised in Montana Ira had never curled until the 2021 season when he was introduced to it by friends who had discovered the Last Chance Curling Club in its inaugural (2020) season. It didn't take long for him to develop an affinity for the sport. He has since sought opportunities to grow the club by bringing in new members and driving awareness of the sport. When he's not curling Ira can be found spending time with family, skiing, visiting breweries, reading, or gaming.