MacLean rink eager to play at Cdn. Jrs. (Journal)

(by Eric McCarthy)

P.E.I. men focused heading into Canadian championships

STRATFORD, ONT. – Arriving at his team’s accommodations in Stratford Ont., on Thursday, Matthew MacLean was looking forward to getting on arena ice for practice Friday.

Lead stone Jordan MacLean, left, and mate Allan MacLean from the Matthew MacLean rink sweep a rock for second stone Noah O’Connor. The MacLean rink won the provincial junior men’s curling championship in Alberton recently, and will represent P.E.I. at the national championship starting on Saturday in Stratford, Ont.

Eric McCarthy/Journal Pioneer

His opening game of the 2016 Canadian junior men’s curling championship is against Team British Columbia’s Tyler Tardi on Saturday at 2:30 p.m., Atlantic Time.

For the first time ever, all games in the men’s and women’s junior championships will be played on arena ice.

For Team MacLean, which consists of Matthew MacLean’s brother, Allan, at mate; Noah O’Connor at second stone, and Jordon MacLean (no relation) throwing lead, it is their first-ever opportunity to play on arena ice.

Matthew and Allan’s father, Glen, is the team’s coach.

Having everyone on the team throwing and releasing the same is particularly important on arena ice, Matthew said, as it allows the skip to judge how much curl there will be in the stones.

What they’ve been focusing on most since defeating the defending provincial champions in the P.E.I. championships three weeks ago has been consistency,

“Try to throw the same rock the same way so that we can expect the same outcome for each rock that we throw,” said Matthew.

Click for full story in the Journal Pioneer.

P.E.I. men’s round-robin schedule:

All times Atlantic

Saturday, Jan 23

2:30 pm – British Columbia.

Sunday, Jan. 24

2:30 p.m. – N. Ontario.

7:30 p.m. – Northwest Territories.

Monday, Jan. 25

10 a.m. – Saskatchewan.

2:30 p.m. – New Brunswick.