At six-foot-seven, Jason Montgomery is an imposing sight on the ice. Not hockey ice, but the pebbled variety.
The 35-year-old skip and his Victoria Curling Club rink 鈥� consisting of third Cameron de Jong, second Miles Craig and lead Will Duggan 鈥� played big on Saturday, using four-enders to pull off a pair of wins in the Island men鈥檚 playdowns at his home club.
Montgomery opened with an 8-4 win over clubmate Paul Henderson鈥檚 young crew in the morning, then opened with a score of four in the very first end to down Neil Dangerfield, also of the VCC, 9-5 in the afternoon A-event semifinal.
The Shawnigan Lake landscaper takes on veteran Wes Craig in this morning鈥檚 A-event final to determine the first of two berths to the belairdirect sa国际传媒 Men鈥檚 Championships, slated for Jan. 30 in Parksville.
鈥淥bviously, we came here to win and our goal is to make the playoffs in provincials, but we have to get through this first,鈥� said Montgomery, who missed last year鈥檚 playdowns because of hernia surgery.
鈥淚 think it鈥檚 our event to win. I think we are the best team here, but you have to play like you鈥檙e the best team here.鈥�
They did it on Saturday, striking for a four-ender in the fifth against Henderson鈥檚 team, skipped by Alex Horvath.
鈥淚t was a closer game than the scoreboard shows,鈥� said Montgomery, who lost the 2014 provincial men鈥檚 final to John Morris with Duggan and Craig on his team, but with Jody Epp throwing final stones.
鈥淚t was just a couple shots that could鈥檝e gone either way,鈥� he added of the 8-4 Saturday morning victory. 鈥淭hey could鈥檝e had a three the end before, but just rubbed the guard.鈥�
Montgomery鈥檚 VCC rink is the No. 1 seed in the eight-team event that continues today with the A- and B-event berths to be determined this morning and afternoon.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a pretty even field, really. I know it鈥檚 seeded and Horvath鈥檚 team was the eighth seed, but he鈥檚 undefeated in the Super League here [at the VCC], so he plays well on this ice,鈥� Montgomery said.
The other semifinal had an interesting twist in that Wes Craig鈥檚 team鈥檚 average age is creeping on 59 years, while McCrady鈥檚 junior rink averages under 19. Craig, with Gerald Poelman at third, Tony Anslow at second and lead Victor Gamble defeated McCrady, of New Westminster, 9-8 in an extra end.
Wes Craig will face his son Miles Craig (Montgomery鈥檚 second) in the A-event final at 10 a.m.
At the women鈥檚 Open event in Hope, Island teams were reduced to just two as Kesa Van Osch of Nanaimo eliminated Dailene Pewarchuk of the VCC 9-6 in C-event play. Holly Donaldson鈥檚 split Vancouver/VCC team, which includes Steph Jackson-Baier at second and Carley Sandwith at lead, was also still alive in C heading to late Saturday play.
Kim Slattery鈥檚 Vernon rink downed Kamloops鈥� Karla Thompson 6-4 to earn the A-event title, the first of three berths to provincials at the VCC Jan. 2-7.
