Paul Scinocca’s Charleswood team (Ed Barr, Paul Armstrong, Joel Newbury) has won Brandon’s Neil Andrews Classic, a senior men’s bonspiel which serves to identify the final qualifier for the Strathcona Senior Men’s provincial championship.
(l-r) Corey Lawson presenting to Joel Newbury, Paul Armstrong, Ed Barr, and Paul Scinocca
As well as identifying the final provincial qualifier, the bonspiel serves as a competition event for teams already qualified for the provincials in Dauphin in late March.
Scinocca beat Mark Anderson (Brandon) in the championship final by a 10-3 score Sunday after advancing to the final game with a 5-3 victory over reigning Manitoba Masters champions Murray Warren and his Brandon team in the semi-final. As Scinocca had previously qualified for the provincial seniors, Anderson earns the final berth.
In the other semi-final, Anderson had defeated a team skipped by Butch Mouck, who had also previously qualified, also in a tight game – by a 5-4 score.
In effect, Anderson earned the provincial berth when his team reached the final four, as the other three teams had also qualified to complete in Dauphin.
COMPLETE LISTING OF TEAMS QUALIFIED TO COMPETE IN DAUPHIN: Sam Antila – Thompson Kevin Paramor – Arden Murray Warren – Brandon Rob Van Kommer – Carberry Butch Mouck – Gilbert Plains Allan Gitzel – Altona Dave Boehmer – Petersfield Lawrie Hogg – Stonewall Mike Mahon – Granite Richard Muntain – Granite Cory Anderson – Thistle Neil Okumura – Pembina Dean North – Carman Paul Scinocca – Charleswood Randy Neufeld – La Salle Mark ANdersin – Brandon
The much anticipated final round meeting between Jennifer Jones and Kaitlyn Lawes lived up to the expectations of curling fans in the arena and tuning in for the game on CurlManitoba’s YouTube Channel.
The Abby Ackland team, skipped by Meghan Walter, lived up tot heir own expectations, winning a pair of game Saturday to force a late tiebreaker draw and then winning the tiebreaker to earn a spot in today’s 3-team playoff.
Rocks in play!!
The Jones team earned the bye to the Sunday 2PM final game but it wasn’t easy. On the opening end, with a routine draw for two as the easy choice, Kaitlyn Lawes elected to play a tough but makeable double kill for a possible four. A 2, a 3, or a 4 ender were all possible outcomes from curling ‘not quite enough’ or from curling ‘just a little too much’. The result was in-between and the Lawes thrown stone rolled across the top of the second stone without touching it – scoring just a single point.
From there, the teams traded deuces until Lawes was forced to a single on the eight, scored only because she called and made a big weight double between two centre lines guards which contacted both and continued through to remove a Jones stone on the four foot.
Always rocks in play!!
Jones and her St. Vital/Altona foursome finally jumped ahead with a deuce on the ninth and had Lawes apparently beaten coming home when Lawes tried one more highlight reel shot. Her attempted double raise double kill for two and a tie was “oh so close” – as her promoted stone sailed between the two Jones stones on either side of the button in the four foot circle.
It left curling fans wanting more but the only way they get more is if the Lawes Fort Rouge team wins the Sunday 9:30AM semi-final against the Walter/Ackland foursome.
Saturday began with Team Ackland facing the daunting task of winning three games – and two would be against Beth Peterson’s Assiniboine Memorial team – if Peterson lost her opening match to Jennifer Jones.
The Ackland team, who give the East St. Paul organizers a team representing their own club in the playoffs, built momentum throughout the day. They defeated Darcy Robertson while Peterson was challenging Jones in a game which went to the final end. The disappointing loss set the stage for a tough day for Peterson’s team. Team Ackland was on a roll, leading 6-5 after seven ends, they stole the eight and ninth for a victory and then dominated the late tiebreaker game against the same Peterson team.
No matter today’s results, Jennifer Jones and Kaitlyn Lawes and their teams will be going to the national Scotties, either as Manitoba champions or wildcard entries. Ranked #3 & #4 respectively on the Canadian Team Ranking they’ll be at the nationals in Kamloops. Team Ackland, who formal name by that time will be Team Walter, still have a very good chance of being there as well.
As #7 on CTRS, they can go as Manitoba champions if they beat Lawes and then Jones to day. If not, a wildcard invitaiton appears to be as simple as Rachel Homan winning the Ontario final today.
The current CTRS rankings are: #1 – Kerri Einarson (Team Canada) #2 – Rachel Homan #3 – Jennifer Jones #4 – Kaitlyn Lawes #5 – Clancy Grandy (BC Champion) #6 – Casey Scheidegger (Alberta Finalist – she’ll get a wildcard entry) #7 – Abby Ackland
With three wildcard spots available, the formula appears simple. Einarson & Grandy don’t need one and Scheidegger will have one – leaving two for four teams. Assuming a Jones-Lawes final, then one will be provincial champion and the other will get a wild card invitation – leaving one for two teams, either Homan or Ackland.
So Team Ackland will be cheering for Homan – but when the day begins at East St. Paul they can also just focus on the task of beating Lawes and then Jones, an accomplishment which would earn them the champions’ berth at Kamloops and create a legendary finish to be talked about for years.
FYI: Homan in Ontario, like Jones in Manitoba, has advanced to the final and awaits the semi-final winner (Hollie Duncan vs Danielle Inglis)
For several months, Manitoba curling fans have been looking forward (predicting actually) a Scotties Tournament of Hearts final between the new teams of Kaitlyn Lawes and Jennifer Jones.
That could happen tomorrow in East St. Paul. Meanwhile, the two teams will meet in the final game of the Manitoba Scotties Championship round today (Saturday, January 28). Based on the pattern of play so-far, the game will determine first place and the bye to the Sunday afternoon final.
Lawes with sweepers Jill Officer and Kristin MacCuish
Lawes (Fort Rouge) and Jones (St. Vital/Altona) both completed the preliminary round with perfect 5W-0L records. They each won their first championship round game (Jones over Darcy Robertson, Lawes over Abby Ackland), they both scored 12 points in their first champion ship round game. The teams appear to be that even.
It promises to be a classic!!
Jennifer Jones
Seeded #1 (Lawes) and #2 (Jones) coming into the Scotties Tournament of Hearts presented by Rocky Mountain Equipment, even if the two teams somehow lost both games today, they will both advance to the three-team playoff round. Only the third team is still in some question.
Third seed Chelsea Carey never got the stones rolling for her this week in East St. Paul. The hybrid prairie team of players from Alberta (Carey-birthright), Saskatchewan (Rachel Erickson-birthright and Jolene Campbell-import) and Manitoba (Liz Fyfe) ended with a disappointing 1W-4L record.
Of the six teams who advanced to the championship round, five still have a chance to advance. Only former champion Darcy Robertson, who limped into the second round with only two wins, has been eliminated.
Best positioned to advance is Beth Peterson who impressed as a wildcard national Scotties entry in the covid bubble. Currently at 5W-1L, Peterson needs one win today to advance but it won’t be automatic as her Assiniboine Memorial team plays Jones and Granite’s Abby Ackland team (skipped by Meghan Walter). A loss to Jones is predictable, although far from guaranteed. If Team Ackland beats Darcy Robertson on the morning draw, and Jones beats Peterson at the same time, it will set up an Ackland-Peterson afternoon game to create a third place tie.
Beth Peterson
Lisa McLeod (Portage) can also be in the tiebreaker mix – with wins today over Robertson and Lawes.
The 10AM (Central) draw has the games between Ackland & Robertson, Lawes & McLeod, and Jones & Pete4rson. The 4PM games are the ones between Jones & Lawes, McLeod & Robertson, and Peterson & Ackland. If needed a tiebreaker game will go at 8PM.
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The feature game on CurlManitoba’s UTube Channel at 10AM will be the Ackland-Robertson game. The 4PM game will be the Lawes-Jones game.
It is exciting for me to anticipate those two games, with the implications of both, and know that I will have the privileged opportunity to watch them from the commentator’s booth. Barry Gorlick and I have done six games so far with four to go (and possibly five if there is an evening tiebreaker draw).
Resby Coutts with Barry Gorlick (r)
I have been in the broadcast booth since my first experiences doing radio broadcasts of Mel Logan’s 1982 Brier in Brandon and Brian Fowler’s 1987 Brier in Edmonton (alongside Ron Arnst). Also a radio broadcast of the 1994 Thompson Tankard final between Dave Smith and Doug Armour (along side Bob Picken) and a lot of Shaw Cable work over several years with Bob Picken, Ralph Bagley and Cathy Gauthier. There is no better seat in the house for these two games today.
I have enjoyed working with Barry, a friend and sometimes teammate, who is a student of what I have called both the art and the science of curling. He studies the game in much greater depth than most curling fans and is very articulate in his analysis.
If you can’t be in East St. Paul to enjoy the games today, I hope you enjoy our efforts to describe them to you.
Looking at the other teams draws for the day, a gambler might be inclined to say Acklands’ odds of two wins are best and that there is at least a chance of the tie happening, as only Ackland does not have to play the undefeated teams on Saturday.
(CurlManitoba Release) Jordon McDonald (Deer Lodge) and Zoey Terrick (Heather) and their teams have won CurlManitoba’s TELUS Junior Men’s and Junior Women’s championships. The events wrapped up Saturday at the Portage Curling Club.
Team McDonald (l-r) Coach Blaine Malo, Jordon McDonald, Reece Hamm, Elias Huminicki, Cam Olafson Team Terrick (l-r) Zoey Terrick, Jaycee Terrick, Jensen Letham, Tessa Terrick, Coach Clint Cullen
In the Junior Men’s, McDonald with Reece Hamm, Elias Huminicki, Cam Olafson, and Coach Blaine Malo had been seeded #1 going into the championships. They went undefeated through the competition, winning their four round robin games and defeating Jace Freeman’s Virden team (with Thomas McGillivray, Ryan Ostrowsky, Aaron Macdonell, 5th Alex Fontaine and Coach Graham Freeman) twice in the playoffs, first in the Page 1 vs 1 playoff game and then in the final.
With the victory, McDonald, Hamm and Huminicki were able to defend the title they won a year ago.
In the Junior Women’s, Terrick, with older sister Jaycee and younger sister Tessa, as well as Jensen Letham, 5th Cassidy Dundas and Coach Clint Cullen, had been seeded #2 entering the competition. They were the unbeaten “A” playoff qualifiers in the triple knockout championship. After losing the Page 1 vs 2 playoff game to Grace Beaudry’s St. Vital team (with Emily Ogg, Madelyn Hollins, Mackenzie Arbuckle, 5th Julia Milan and Coach Calvin Edie), they beat Cheyenne Ehnes (Pembina) in the semi-final and defeated Team Beaudry in the final game.
Team Terrick, the first three-sisters team to win a Manitoba Championship since Connie Laliberte’s 1984 World Champion team, trailed Team Beaudry 5-1 after three ends but rebounded to lead 8-7 coming home. They forced a single on the home end and won on an extra end with a last stone draw which had to be in the eight foot circle but bit the button.
The Terrick and McDonald teams will go to the New Holland Canadian Junior Championships in late March in Quebec as Team Manitoba. The finalist Freeman and Beaudry teams will also both go to the nationals as Manitoba #2 teams. Manitoba has two entries in both the national Men’s & Women’s Junior championships thanks to the performance of past teams at the national event.
The trips earned Saturday in Portage by the four teams represent remarkable youth curling accomplishments for several of the players involved, as many of then will now participate in multiple national events this season (Canada Games, U18, U21).
Provincial level competition will continue for three of the four teams. The Beaudry team has qualified to compete in the Manitoba Scotties presented by RME, next week at East St. Paul. The McDonald and Freeman teams will compete in the Viterra championship in Neepawa in February.
PLAYOFFS RECAP – JUNIOR MEN: Jordon McDonald (Deer Lodge) and Jace Freeman (Virden) had been the two top seeded teams entering the competition and they went undefeated (4W-0L) through the round robin to meet in the Page Playoff 1 vs 1 game. After McDonald sent Freeman to the semi-final, the Virden team rebounded with a 7-2 win over Ronan Peterson (Heather) to set up the re-match final game. Peterson had won the Page Playoff 3 vs 4 game over Colton Olafson (Portage). The final game went down to last stone on the tenth end – facing two Freeman counters, McDonald had to draw to the eight foot circle to win the game 8-7.
PLAYOFFS RECAP – JUNIOR WOMEN: Zoey Terrick (Heather) and Grace Beaudry (St. Vital) entered the event as the #2 and #3 seeds respectively. In the triple knockout competition, Terrick was the unbeaten “A” qualifier while Beaudry was the “B” qualifier. They met in the Page 1 vs 2 game with Beaudry winning on a dramatic last shot takeout thrown through a very narrow centre line port in a game which was tied 6-6 coming home. Terrick rebounded in the semi-final with a win over Cheyenne Ehnes (Pembina), who had beaten defending champion skip Tansy Tober (Fort Garry) in an extra end in the Page 3 vs 4 game. Down 5-1 after three ends in the final, the Terrick team led 8-7 coming home. A Terrick guard on a stone in the four foot circle overcurled, leaving Beaudry a hit for one to force the extra end. Successfully using the difficult tick shot to remove well placed guards, the Terrick team was able to keep the front clear and won the game with a last rock draw to the edge of the button.
There are four games left in the TELUS Junior Women’s and Men’s Championships in Portage.
On the late draw Friday, Jordon McDonald (Deer Lodge) and Grace Beaudry (St. Vital) won the Page Playoff 1-1 games to advance to their respective championship games. At the same time, they earned the first of two national championship invitations available in each championship.
McDonald defeated Jace Freeman (Virden) in a short game but there was high drama in the junior women’s game as Beaudry jumped out to 4- lead after six ends but gave up four to Zoey Terrick (Heather) to trail 5-4 after seven. Tied coming home, Beaudry’s fourth thrower, Emily Ogg executed a hit up the centre line through a very narrow port to remove a Terrick shot stone and win the game.
Terrick and Freeman have second lives. They’ll play the semi-finals at 11AM.
Freeman faces Ronan Peterson after the Heather eliminated Colton Olafson (Portage) in the Page 3-4 game. Terrick’s opponent will be Cheyenne Ehnes (Heather) after their comeback win over Tansy Tober (Fort Garry).Ehnes stole singles on the ninth, tenth and extra ends to advance to the semifinal.
Zoey Terrick’s Heather team has already qualified for the championship Page Playoff in the CurlManitoba TELUS Junior Women’s Championship in Portage. They await three more teams who will qualify through the triple knockout event’s “C” division on the earlier draws to day.
Grace Beaudry’s St. Vital team, with Emily Ogg throwing fourth stones, plays Katy Lukowich (Granite) on the 11AM draw in Portage in the “B” Qualifying game. The loser will drop to the “C: Qualifier against the winner between Dayna Wahl (Altona) and Tansy Tober (Fort Garry). The other “C” Qualifier at 3:30PM today will have Cheyenne Ehnes playing the winner of a morning game between Shaela Hayward (Carman) and Morgan Maguet (East St. Paul).
Meanwhile, in the TELUS junior Men’s, the top two seeds have unbeaten 3W-0L records with a game to play on the morning draw. Top seed Jordon McDonald and #2 Jace Freeman are assured of advancing to the Page Playoff round. McDonald will play in the 1 vs 1 game while Freeman must win to earn his pool’s first place ranking.
In the McDonald pool, Ronan Peterson (Heather) can finish at 3W-1L with a win over Tanner Graham (Heather). However, even with that win and a McDonald loss (to winless Jonathan Kostna – Pembina), McDonald will have first place locked up thanks to an earlier win over Peterson. A Peterson loss and 2W-2L record will create a 2W-2L second place tie with Ggaham and Hunter Dundas (Brandon).
In the Freeman pool, the leader plays Aaron Van Ryssel (Springfield). A Van Ryssel win would mean the two teams have 3W-1L records and Van Ryssel would be awarded first place due to the win. A Van Ryssel loss would mean a 2W-2L record and a tie with the winner between Colton Olafson and Zack Norris (Morris). Van Ryssel beat Norris but lost to Olafson in the round robin.
Zoey Terrick and her Heather team are the first team to advance to the playoffs of the TELUS CurlManitoba Junior Championships in Portage.
The #2 SEED, Zoey Terrick (with Jaycee Terrick, Jensen Letham, Tessa Terrick, and Coach Clint Cullen) defeated top seed Katy Lukowich and her Granite team 9-4 in the “A” qualifier. Zoey and Tessa Terrick were CurlManitoba’s U-18 champions in 2022.
Team Lukowich drops into “B” Qualifier game, a game which will be played at 11AM tomorrow in Portage. Their opponent will be the winner of an 8PM Thursday game between Cheyenne Ehnes (Pembina) and Grace Beaudry (St. Vital).
The 11 team Junior Women’s event is a triple knockout format.
In the junior men’s event, the top two seeds had first round byes and have since each won two games to lead their respective pools. Junior Men’s play continues on the 8Pm draw Thursday. Top seed Jordon McDonald (Deer Lodge), the defending champion, and #2 seed Jace Freeman (Virden), this year’s U-18 AND Canada Games Trials winner appear to be on track to meet in the Page 1-1 playoff game on Friday evening.
(Curl Manitoba Release) CurlManitoba has announced the top five seeds for the Scotties Tournament of Hearts presented by Rocky Mountain Equipment which will be played January 24-29 at East St. Paul. The seeding of the draw is done by the curlers with the some weighting for each team’s CTRS rankings.
The host East St. Paul Curling Club has three teams representing them in the championship and two of those teams have been ranked in the event’s top five.
Including CTRS #1, Kerri Einarson and her Gimli Team Canada, Manitoba has three teams in the CTRS top five and four in the CTRS top ten teams in Canada. Not surprisingly the three are the top three teams in the draw seeding. Team Canada earned an automatic berth in this year’s national Scotties by winning a year ago.
The top three seeds go slightly against traditional patterns where the defending champion team has often been accorded the first seed.
Seed #1: Representing Fort Rouge CC: Kaitlyn Lawes (Selena Njegovan, Jocelyn Peterman, Kristin MacCuish, Jill Officer) – With a very brief pause for the birth of Kaitlyn Lawes’ baby, the team has focussed this season on the week at East St. Paul. All former champions, their season has justified the top seed position. They have qualified in nine events, reached the final three times and won two championships in their first season together. They are currently ranked CTRS #4. They qualified as the November 2022 CTRS leader.
Seed #2: Representing St. Vital CC/Altona CC: Jennifer Jones (Karlee Burgess, Mackenzie Zacharias, Emily Zacharias, Lauren Lenentine) – Currently ranked CTRS #3, the defending champion Mackenzie Zacharias team has added the many times Manitoba and Canadian champion Jennifer Jones to the roster. The season’s performance also includes qualifying in nine events with two final appearances and two championships. They hold the defending champion’s berth.
Seed #3: Representing East St. Paul CC: Abby Ackland (Meghan Walter, Sara Oliver, Mackenzie Elias, Kaitlyn Jones) – The top seed among a talented group of highly regarded aspiring young teams, they are currently ranked CTRS #8. Their season performance includes a championship and a finalist finish in tour events along with a finalist finish in the CurlManitoba berth bonspiel. They are a Manitoba Curling Tour Points qualifier for the Scotties.
The 4th and 5th seeds are the other two Manitoba teams currently in the CTRS top 25. In ranking these two, their fellow competitors have acknowledged the past Scotties championships as a consideration.
Seed #4: Representing East St. Paul CC: Chelsea Carey (Jolene Campbell, Liz Fyfe, Rachel Erickson) are currently ranked CTRS #25, qualifying in 2 events this season. A former Manitoba champion and a twice Canadian champion from Alberta, Chelsea Carey returns to Manitoba and the Carey-Peters partnership evokes the success of their fathers curling together as Manitoba Men’s champions in the 90’s. They were untested in qualifying through the CurlManitoba Winnipeg regional playoff.
Seed #5: Representing Assiniboine Memorial Curling Club: Beth Peterson (Jenna Loder, Katherine Doerksen, Melissa Gordon, Robyn Njegovan) –They are currently ranked CTRS #21, the Peterson team qualified twice this season and reached the semi-final once. Three members of the team (Peterson, Loder, Doerksen) were impressive in a 2021 national Scotties Wild Card appearance which saw them finish with a 7W-5L record, one placement out of the playoffs. While playing a lesser schedule than the more high profile teams above them, they are a strong aspiring Manitoba team. They qualified by winning the CurlManitoba berth bonspiel.
The draw for the 2023 Scotties Tournament of Hearts presented by RME is available now at curlmanitoba.org.
The remaining teams in the competition, listed alphabetically are:
WINNIPEG: Grace Beaudry (St. Vital) WESTMAN: Alyssa Calvert (Carberry) WINNIPEG: Emma Jensen (Heather) WINNIPEG: Katy Lukowich (Granite) MCT Champion: Lisa McLeod (Portage) WINNIPEG: Darcy Robertson (AMCC) 2021-22 Season CTRS: Kristy Watling (East St. Paul)
The 2023 Manitoba Open Bonspiel wrapped up Monday evening with event finals at Fort Garry and Charleswood Curling Clubs.
The ASHAM championship final game pitted Andrew Irving (Fort Rouge) against Justin Reynolds (Winnipeg Beach). It was all that could be asked for in the final game of the 133rd incarnation of the world’s oldest and largest bonspiel.
133rd Bonspiel Champions (l-r) Roy Janz, Alex Forrest, Brad Van Walleghem, Andrew Irving, CurlManitoba President Keith Johnston (missing Ronan Gueret)
The game was tied 2-2 after four ends and, after a pair of Reynolds blank ends followed by a deuce, Reynolds led 4-2 coming home. The Irving team got two behind a corner guard and Reynolds was about four inches short on a freeze, allowing Irving a last shot draw for three and victory. He slid deep and the game went to an extra end.
With his last rock on the ninth, Reynolds threw a hit past a guard, facing two. He had to roll an inch to the centre line but rolled just that much to the outside, leaving Irving a steal and a 5-4 victory for Andrew Irving, Brad Van Walleghem, Ronan Gueret, Roy Janz, and Alex Forrest.
Viterra Berth Winners (l-r) Bruce Wyche, Al Purdy, Dean Dunstone, Richard Muntain
NOTT AUTOCORP FINAL – Josh Drews (Merrimack Valley) led Richard Muntain (Granite) 5-1 after four. The game ended in favour of the Drews foursome when the teams traded deuces in a 7-3, 6-end final result.
ORIGINAL 16 FINAL – Sean Grassie (Deer Lodge) jumped out to a 3 point lead after the opening end but Joey Witherspoon (Assiniboine Memorial) fought back to tie after 5 ends. Grassie was up 4-3 coming home but faced two with his final rock. He made a delicate hit and roll behind cover, forcing Witherspoon to draw for a single but he slid an inch too deep and Grassie stole a 5-3 win.
Before the final games began, it was possible to confirm the three Viterra Championship berth winners. The two ASHAM finalists were both potential berth recipients. However, the Andrew Irving foursome had knowingly played the last few games with an ineligible team. Justin Reynolds, Nick Weshnoweski, Josh Maisey, Sean Giesbrecht, Dan LeBlanc were awarded the berth as ASHAM event finalist.
That meant two berths were available for the most advanced eligible teams in the NOTT AUTCORP and ORIGINAL 16 events. The Josh Drews team (Merrimack Valley, New Hampshire) was ineligible and Sean Grassie (Deer Lodge) had already won a berth. Therefore, the last two Viterra berths went to Richard Muntain’s Granite team (Dean Dunstone, Al Purdy, Bruce Wyche) and Joey Witherspoon and his Assiniboine Memorial team (Taylor McIntyre, Derek Blanchard, Trevor Calvert).
Viterra Berth Winners (l-r) Sean Giesbrecht, Josh Maisey, Nick Weshnoweski, Justin Reynolds (missing Dan LeBlanc)
In December, Reynolds had played in the East Regional playoff and lost both the “A” and the “B” qualifying games while Muntain had missed qualifying through the Winnipeg Regional playoff.
Witherspoon, who was a 2010 Junior Champion at third for Alex Forrest, is originally from Carberry and provides another local attraction for the Neepawa host committee.
In the other Manitoba Open Bonspiel Event Finals:
ATKINS: Jesse McCullough (Fort Garry) 7-4 over Norma Purdy (St. Vital) MANITOBA HYDRO: Andrew Wickman (Fort Rouge) 7-3 over Shaun Parsons (Burntwood) DYNASTY: Darryl Friesen (St. Vital) 8-0 over Evan Gillies (Morden) BITUMINEX PAVING: Adam Minor (AMCC) 8-1 over Rod Cruz (Heather) MANITOBA PORK: Ken Stanley (St. Vital) 6-2 over Bryce McEwen (Granite) CURLMANITOBA: Steve Michaleski (Morris) 5-3 over Corey Boisevert (Granite) MCMUNN & YATES: Dan Birchard (Pembina) 5-2 over Craig Nichol (Stonewall) SPORT MANITOBA: Fernando Requiema (West St. Paul) 10-2 over Timothy Friesen (East St. Paul)
The CurlManitoba TELUS Junior Championships begin Tuesday evening at the Portage Curling Club with 11 Junior Women’s team and 10 Junior Men’s teams competing for the coveted Manitoba championship and a berth in the national championship.
Based on recent past performance at the national championships, Manitoba will have two berths again in 2023 so the two teams in the championship final games will both earn national berths.
The top three teams in the Manitoba Junior Curling Tour rankings are the top three seeds in the Telus Junior Men’s while three of the four top-ranked MJCT teams are the top three seeds in the TELUS Junior Women’s.
JUNIOR MEN:
#1 SEED: Jordon McDonald (Deer Lodge) Reece Hamm, Elias Huminicki, Cam Olafson, Coach Blaine Malo – the defending champion team with one change from a year ago, Cam Olafson replacing Alexandre Fontaine. McDonald has a long record of success in his young career: 2019-2020-2022 U-18 champion, 2022 Viterra Berth winner and this year’s juniors’ team has also won a 2023 Viterra Berth. The #2 ranked MJCT team also won the end-of-season MJCT Championship (over Freeman)
#2 SEED: Jace Freeman (Virden) Thomas McGillivary, Ryan Ostrowsky, Aaron Macdonell, Coach Graham Freeman – the Virden skip has already this season skipped winning teams in CurlManitoba’s Canada Games Trials and the U-18 Championship (with Huminicki on both teams). This junior team has also won a Viterra Berth for this year. Lead Aaron Macdonell will also go to the Canada Games as Mixed Doubles winner. The team finished the MJCT season ranked #1
#3 SEED Aaron Van Ryssel (Springfield) Riel Dufault, Jonah Peterson, Andrew McKay, Coach Ron Westcott – the MJCT #3 team won one MJCT event (over Freeman) and lost a final (to McDonald) and gained valuable experience by playing in Viterra regional playoffs.
JUNIOR WOMEN:
#1 SEED: Katy Lukowich (Granite), Lauren Rajala, Mikaylah Lyburn, Makenna Hadway, Coach Mark Lukowich – already a Scotties berth winner this season, the Lukowich foursome will go direct from Portage to the Scotties in East St. Paul They were the winners of one event and were the #2 ranked team on the MJCT this season
#2 SEED: Zoey Terrick (Heather) Jaycee Terrick, Jensen Letham, Tessa Terrick, Coach Clint Cullen – Zoey and Tess Terrick were CurlManitoba’s U-18 champions in 2022. They were the #1 ranked MJCT team this season as a result of three event wins, including the season ending MJCT championship (over Beaudry)
#3 SEED: Grace Beaudry (St. Vital), Emily Ogg, Maddy Hollins, Mackenzie Arbuckle, Julia Millan, Coach Calvin Edie – also a Scotties regional berth winner, Grace Beaudry has had finalist finishes (with a different team) in both the U-18 championships and the Canada Games Trials already this season. They are the #2 ranked team on the MJCT as a result of winning a pair of events along with the Tour Championship finalist finish.
The Junior Men will play a round-robin format with two pools of five teams and a 4-team Page Playoff while the 11 team Junior Women’s event will be a triple knockout, also with a 4-team Page Playoff.
Competition begins at the Portage Curling Club Tuesday, January 17 at 7:30PM with the first Junior Women’s draw. Junior Men’s play begins Wednesday, January 18 at 10AM.
Two games on each draw will be livestreamed, one with commentary and one without. The CurlManitoba TELUS Juniors live-stream can be found at CurlManitoba YouTube page.
