(by Eric McCarthy)
O’LEARY – Maria Doyle’s Silver Fox rink peaked at just the right time Sunday.
Rod MacDonald, right, representing the P.E.I. Curling Associantion, congratulates the Maria Doyle rink from the Silver Fox on winning the 2015 Girls 16 and Under provincial curling championship. Team members are, from left, coach Don Vickerson, who received the coaching award; Maria Doyle, Maddison Moore, Gabrielle Gallant and Abbie MacDonald.
Eric McCarthy/Journal Pioneer
After going through the four-team round-robin portion of the Curl P.E.I. provincial under-16 girls championship without a win on Friday and Saturday, Doyle and her team of Maddison Moore, Gabrielle Gallant and Abbie MacDonald strung together two playoff wins at the Maple Leaf Curling Club here to claim the title.
This is the second year for three members of the Doyle team playing together. They’ve added Abbie MacDonald at lead, and Don Vickerson coaches the foursome.
“He just put good thoughts in our head and he said, ‘Go for the win and, whatever happens, we did our best,’” Doyle said of the advice the team got from their coach prior to the semifinal.
Donald DeWolfe and his Cornwall rink went into the three-team boys’ tournament as the defending champion and retained the crown. They put together a 3-1 (won-lost) record in the double round-robin schedule to nail down a spot in the final. Alex Gallant and his Silver Fox rink got to the final based on a 9-7 win over the Mitchell Schut rink from Cornwall in the final round-robin game Sunday morning to finish second at 2-2.
Coach Lori Robinson, from left, lead Nick Johnston, second Logan Makeer, mate Jacob Wilkins and skip Donald DeWolfe, accept the Curl P.E.I. Boys 16 and Under championship trophies from P.E.I. Curling Association director Rod MacDonald.
Eric McCarthy/Journal Pioneer