Both Newfoundland teams advancing at national junior competition

Province’s women’s entry wins twice on final day of preliminary play

Newfoundland and Labrador, represented by a rink skipped by Mackenzie Mitchell, closed out its preliminary-round schedule on a winning note and remained in medal contention Tuesday at the New Holland Canadian junior women’s curling championship in Langley, B.C.

Mitchell, a Memorial University student from Corner Brook, and teammates Katie Follett, Sarah Chaytor and Claire Hartlen had two decisive wins Tuesday, defeating Saskatchewan 11-3 and Yukon 13-3, to finish with a 4-2 record in preliminary play.

That guaranteed the team would have a top-four finish in its preliminary pool, meaning it will advance to the championship pool in the competition, the next stage for teams still in the hunt for medals.

The 2020 national junior men’s championship is being held concurrently in Langley. Newfoundland’s entry in that competition, skipped by Daniel Bruce, and including third Ryan Mcneil Lamswood, second Joel Krats and lead Nathan King, entered Tuesday already knowing they would be advancing to championship pool.

The rink, which is also based out of the Re/max Centre, had a perfect 5-0 record as it prepared for its final preliminary game, Tuesday night against Saskatchewan.

There are 14 teams in both the men’s and women’s divisions in Langley. In each case, they are divided into two seven-team pools for preliminary play. The top four finishers in each preliminary poll advance to the championship pool, taking their records with them. Play in the championship pool will determine the four medal-round contenders.

The full group of teams moving on to the championship pool was to be determined based on the results of Tuesday’s late games.