Island curlers ready for challenge at B.C. junior championships

Several Vancouver Island rinks will be in the mix when the 2018 Boston Pizza B.C. Junior Curling Championships fly out of the hack at the Langley Curling Club on Monday.

Eight Under-21 junior men’s and women’s teams will compete in a round-robin tournament with the top four advancing to the Page playoff format.

In junior men’s play, a split Victoria Curling Club/Royal City team, skipped by Kyle Habkirk with Duncan Silversides at third, Derek Chandler at second and Matt Chan at lead, will be joined by the VCC’s Alex Horvath team, which includes Ryan Cassidy at third, second Zane Bartlett and lead Tim Henderson.

Both teams will be looking for a playoff spot, with defending B.C. and Canadian champion Tyler Tardi as the favourite.

Tardi is joined by third Sterling Middleton, second Jordan Tardi and lead Zachary Curtis.

Among the junior women are the Taylor Reese-Hansen rink of Victoria with Catera Park at third, Jordan Koster at second and Sydney Brilz at lead and the split Juan de Fuca/Kerry Park team of skip Kayla Wilson, third Brenna Drought, second Loganne Bell, lead Sasha Wilson and fifth Cassandra Blenkin.

One of the favourites will be the Sarah Daniels team with Kayla MacMillan at third, second Megan Daniels and lead Sarak Loken.

Play begins on Monday at 2 p.m. and concludes on Saturday.