Yes, there were hugs and plenty of smiles, but Hailey Armstrong鈥檚 rink 鈥� comprised of third Grace Holyoke, second Lindsay Dubue and lead Marcia Richardson 鈥� isn鈥檛 quite celebrating yet, though they have some reason to be.
The undefeated Ontario foursome is a perfect 9-0 at the Canadian Junior Men鈥檚 and Women鈥檚 Curling Championships, adding wins of 5-4 in an extra end over P.E.I.鈥檚 Lauren Lenentine in the morning draw and 6-2 over Saskatchewan鈥檚 Kaitlyn Jones in the afternoon on Thursday.
That means Armstrong and Co. are heading to Sunday鈥檚 9 a.m. championship final at Archie Browning Sports Centre, having secured first place overall in the women鈥檚 championship round.
Tyler Tardi鈥檚 sa国际传媒 foursome also joined that mini celebration in the late draw, easily defeating P.E.I.鈥檚 Tyler Smith 9-3 to qualify for the men鈥檚 championship game at 1:30 p.m. on Sunday. Earlier, Tardi downed Alberta鈥檚 Colton Goller 11-8.
Manitoba鈥檚 J.T. Ryan (4-2) lost 6-5 to Ontario鈥檚 Matthew Hall (4-2) to send Tardi through and clutter up the standings as Northern Ontario鈥檚 Tanner Horgan is also 4-2. Second place will play third in semifinals on Saturday after today鈥檚 final morning draw and any possible tiebreakers at 2 p.m.
鈥淚鈥檓 amazed that we鈥檙e in the final,鈥� Armstrong said of her team鈥檚 feat. 鈥淚t feels really good. Everyone played really well and we鈥檝e been playing real well all week. I just hope we鈥檙e going to keep it up.鈥�
The task becomes a little tougher, considering they have a full two days in between to think about it and prepare, but they鈥檙e in a position that every other team envies.
Unlike Tardi鈥檚 favoured team, Ontario鈥檚 success here has been somewhat of a surprise, especially after battling through provincial playdowns, which included a come-back win in the semifinal, down 7-2 midway. The foursome wasn鈥檛 sure what to expect in Victoria.
鈥淚 asked the team, 鈥榃hat are our goals?鈥� Some of us wanted to make all-star and the other goal was to at least make the championship round. We鈥檝e made that goal and our next is to win the final,鈥� said Armstrong.
For Tardi, the job is also still incomplete.
鈥淚t鈥檚 always been a dream of mine to make the final. I remember watching Matt Dunstone play in his first final and ever since then, it鈥檚 been my dream to make it there, so it鈥檚 exciting. I couldn鈥檛 be happier,鈥� said Tardi who is joined by Sterling Middleton at third, Jordan Tardi at second and lead Nick Meister.
As for Corryn Brown鈥檚 sa国际传媒 womens鈥� crew, which include Nanaimo鈥檚 Marika Van Osch at third, Dezaray Hawes at second and Sam Fisher at lead, they were defeated 7-6 by Alberta鈥檚 Kristen Streifel (7-2). sa国际传媒 falls to 5-4, behind Quebec鈥檚 Camille Boisvert and Northern Ontario鈥檚 Krysta Burns, both 6-3, so Brown will need help this morning if she wants to advance.
