Port Alberni skip Rebecca Douglas and her rink will return to the BC U18 Curling Championships in March, after winning their playdowns earlier this month.
Douglas’s team features Douglas as skip, third Brooke Reintjes of Duncan, second Libby Elliott of Parksville, lead Dalaena Reintjes of Duncan and fifth Gabriella Higdon of Victoria. Douglas and Elliott are the only returning players from the team that qualified for the provincials last year. Douglas’ 2017 rink won bronze at the U18s in Nanaimo.
“The girls played terrific which is indicative of the dedication, effort and training they have been putting in all year,” said head coach Dave Douglas, Rebecca’s father.
The B.C. championships will take place March 13-18, 2018, at the Salmon Arm Curling Centre. Eight teams of each gender will compete for the chance to represent B.C. at the nationals in St. Andrews, N.B.
A total of 12 U18 boys’ teams and 13 U18 girls’ teams competed Jan. 5–7 for the chance to play at provincials. The playdowns took place in Salmon Arm, Mill Bay (Kerry Park Curling Club), Nelson and Williams Lake, but teams from anywhere in the province could enter into any region.
Three U18 boys’ berths were awarded. The Kerry Park berth went to Team Ballard of Coquitlam and Royal City curling clubs. The team of fourth Hayato Sato, skip Dawson Ballard (throwing third rocks), second Joshua Miki and lead Troy Chong came second at the 2018 Boston Pizza Junior Curling Championships, a U21 event, so they continue their successful season.
In Williams Lake, Team Steventon from Smithers earned a berth to provincials. The team of Matt Steventon, third Evan Doyle, second Spencer Walton, lead Oliver Kildaw and fifth Duncan Kildaw have competitive experience in high school curling.
Team McCrady were successful in playdowns in Salmon Arm. The team of skip Matthew McCrady, third Brayden Carpenter, second Brenin Moore and lead Jacob Umbach represent Royal City Curling Club.
On the girl’s side, four U18 berths were available – one in Williams Lake, one in Nelson and two in Kerry Park.
Team Richards from Comox Valley Curling Club also earned a spot in the provincials. The team consists of skip Gracelyn Richards, third Chanelle Meeres, second Keelie Duncan and lead Bryn Woloshyn.
In Nelson, Team Schmidt from Winfield was the successful team. The team features skip Clare Schmidt, third Abby Otteson, second Hanna Rempel and lead Jaiden Lloyd.
The northern girls’ playdown was a close affair, but the team from Prince George was the qualifier. Team Connor features skip Carly Connor, third Jordan Henson, second Hannah Lindner and lead Carsyn Hamilton.