High expectations

P.E.I. rinks hoping to make championship round of junior nationals

SUMMERSIDE – Two P.E.I. rinks are entering the 2020 New Holland Canadian junior under-21 curling championships with high expectations.

The Lauren Ferguson rink from the Cornwall Curling Club will compete for the women’s title while Tyler Smith and his Montague Curling Rink team will pursue the boys’ crown.

“We are hoping to win as many games as we can,” said Smith. “I think we have a pretty good shot at it and it will be one of the better chances we’ve had.”

The skip, who will be attending his sixth junior nationals, is hoping his veteran rink can draw on past experiences. Smith, third Ryan Abraham and lead Ryan Lowery have all attended previous junior nationals and this will mark the debut for second Jake Flemming, whose father, Paul, represented Nova Scotia at numerous national events, including the Brier.

“Three of the four guys all have quite a bit of experience and one new guy who will catch on quick,” said Smith. “It’s a long event, so we are hoping the experience will help us at the end of the week. Maybe when some of the other teams are starting to get tired mentally, physically or both, and we have the experience to keep pushing through.”

Ferguson’s teammates are third Sydney Howatt, second Kristie Rogers and lead Rachel O’Connor, who got the team together after last season.

“I couldn’t ask for better teammates,” said O’Connor. “They have been amazing and are dedicated to the sport. Our hard work paid off for sure (in winning the provincials).”

This year will mark O’Connor’s fifth time competing in a national championship. Team Ferguson isn’t just happy to be there, either.

“We are hoping to make it to at least to the championship round and we’ll see how we do from there,” said O’Connor.

The top-five teams qualify for the championship round.