Sitting third in the standings heading into the final event 鈥� this weekend鈥檚 Esquimalt Optimist Junior Cashspiel 鈥� Henderson can鈥檛 catch leaders Tyler Tardi or Matthew McCrady, who have locked down the top two positions.
But Henderson 鈥� last year鈥檚 provincial junior champion 鈥� will know what to expect when he, third Duncan Silverside, second Benton Boychuk-Chorney and lead Timothy Henderson line up to face them again, should he qualify for the 2016 sa国际传媒s.
鈥淚t鈥檚 been such a great opportunity, a really organized tour that鈥檚 given us the chance to play against the top junior teams,鈥� said Henderson, who will be competing at the Esquimalt Curling Club starting tonight. 鈥淭his has given us some great preparation.鈥�
The five-event tour, which concludes in Esquimalt, provides two berths for both junior men and women for the coveted provincials. The tour is also creating awareness and interest at the junior level and provides cash prizes to assist the young teams in their travels.
鈥淲ith my previous junior teams, we were always looking around at what spiels to attend,鈥� said Team Henderson coach Todd Troyer. 鈥淪o we would either have a choice of men鈥檚 events in Victoria and Esquimalt, more the recreational, spiels, or paying a couple of thousand dollars and going into a World Curling Tour event.
鈥淗aving several junior events in the province has certainly been nice. In the past there have been one or two at the max, but they tend to go by the wayside every year. Having the tour now allows you to pick and choose whatever fits your training schedule.鈥�
The Esquimalt event has five junior men鈥檚 teams competing and four junior women with a total of $3,200 purse money.
Alex Stoyles and his VCC crew of third Evan Scott-Moncrieff, second Ryan Cassidy and lead Thomas Thierbach were eighth in the junior tour standings. Clubmates Connar Croteau, third Derek Chandler, second Scott Gray, lead Jarrod Vlassis and alternate Ben Krystalow were 10th.
All three VCC junior men鈥檚 teams are competing this weekend and played at the Abbotsford tour stop. Henderson and Stoyles also competed at the Rick Cotter Memorial event in Vernon, and Henderson also played the Anita Cochrane Memorial.
Among the junior women鈥檚 teams competing on the tour are Shawna Jensen of the Mainland, who has Katherine Silverside of the VCC at third, Parksville sisters Michaela and Rebecca Douglas at second and lead, respectively. The team is in fourth place.
Mariah Coulombe鈥檚 VCC crew of Bailey Tinkler at third, Jordan Koster at second and lead Sydney Brilz are fifth. Easily leading the way is Sarah Daniels鈥� Mainland rink that includes Nanaimo鈥檚 Marika Van Osch at second.
The Jensen and Coulombe rinks are in Esquimalt this weekend where there will be one draw tonight with two on Saturday and Sunday.
The Coastal junior playdowns are set for Nov. 20-22 at Port Moody and the provincials go Dec. 29-Jan. 3 in Kamloops.
