The odds were definitely against the Rick Lang rink as they entered the final match of the 1981 Canadian Mixed Curling Championships in Winnipeg. Rick Lang had never beaten a rink from the Province of Saskatchewan, and his opposing skip, Rick Folk, was the 1980 Men's World Champion. If that was not enough, the ice during the round robin was suited to Folk's team who had a 9-2 record and a 9-5 victory over the Northern Ontario squad in the earlier round.

The playoffs, however, would end up being a sharp contrast to the round robin. The team, skipped by Lang, with the husband and wife team of Anne and Bert Provo at third and second respectively, and the lead Lorraine Edwards (now Lang), had a change of luck come their way. The ice, which had been swingy and suddenly changed to a fast, straight ice surface, definitely suited their individual talents.

After a 11-3 dismantling of Alberta, the Northern Ontario rink was ready to take on Saskatchewan who received a bye into the final. Although having trouble with the draw weight, Folk managed to establish a 3-2 lead before Lang tied it up in the eighth end. After blanking the ninth, Folk was looking at two Northern Ontario stones in the house with one last shot to win the game. The stone was heavy and the celebrating began for the Lang team as they became only the second team from northwestern Ontario to win the Canadian mixed title.

Team:

Rick Lang (skip), Anne Provo (third), Bert Provo (second), and Lorraine (Edwards) Lang (lead).

Inducted into the Northwestern Ontario Sports Hall of Fame, September 29, 1990