Jason Montgomery was safely back home Sunday afternoon, securing one of two berths for the upcoming Canadian Direct Insurance sa国际传媒 men's curling championship.
The Victoria Curling Centre skip tripped up club-mate Jay Tuson 7-3 - using a four-ender in the fourth end and a steal of three in the fifth - to qualify him for one of two spots out of the Island Playdowns this past weekend at the Alberni Valley Curling Club.
Montgomery, third Miles Craig, second Will Duggan and lead Josh Hozack - a provincial junior champion last season - got hot at the right time, winning five straight after dropping their first game 7-6 to Nanaimo's Steve Waatainen.
"It was a good weekend," said Montgomery. "We got on a little bit of a roll.
"The four-ender was obviously a turning point in the game. The ice conditions were a little bit tough, we had a couple of good angles set up that worked out well for us that end.
"Miles made two good shots and I made two good shots and that didn't leave much for Jay. He missed his run-back and I had a draw for four.
"It's nice to have it out of the way," added Montgomery. "It's been a few years since we've been to provincials and last year we lost two qualifiers out of the Open event so we were a little disappointed. Now that we have our spot, I don't have to worry about the Opens."
Tuson bounced back to capture the second qualifying spot through an 8-4 win over Greg Hawkes late Sunday afternoon in an all VCC matchup. Hawkes had defeated Jody Epp, also of the VCC, 7-0 in the semifinal earlier Sunday afternoon.
Epp, Hawkes, Waatainen and Neil Dangerfield, who was also eliminated earlier in the weekend, will have another chance to get to provincials - slated for Feb. 5-10 in Parksville - through the Open event in Maple Ridge, Jan. 4-6.
Tuson's rink includes third Colin Mantik, second Glen Jackson and lead Ken Tucker.
? At the Junior Coastal Playdowns at Comox Valley Curling Club, Paul Henderson of the VCC claimed the B-qualifier to join clubmate Cameron de Jong, who won one of two A positions along with Langley's Tyler Klymchuk.
Klymchuk's rink includes third Corey Chester, second Sanjay Bowery and coach Todd Troyer of the VCC.
Henderson defeated Nicholas Parker of Abbotsford 8-4 late Saturday night, while Langley's Tyler Tardi slipped by VCC's Duncan Silversides 8-4 on Sunday morning in B finals. Silversides bounced back for an 8-5 victory over Chilliwack's Gavin Woodfine to grab one of two C berths.
Silversides' rink consists of third Benton Boychuk-Chorney,second Jacob Zorn and lead Timothy Henderson. Paul Henderson's team includes Calvin Heels at third, second Erik Leisinger and lead Byron Heels.
In junior women's play, Richmond's Shawna Jensen, Katherine Silversides of the Juan de Fuca Curling Club and Stephanie Prinse, who hails from Chilliwack, all qualified for provincials, joining Nanaimo's Kalia Van Osch, who grabbed the A event on Saturday.
Prinse is joined by VCC's Merit Thorson at third, while Silversides' rink includes third Dallyce Gillespie, second Brooke Capron and lead Sydney Brilz.
Both the junior men and women will compete at Tim Hortons provincials at the Coquitlam Curling Centre Jan. 1-6.
