It’s all about the experience for Skylar Ackerman’s Saskatchewan-based squad at the 2019 New Holland Canadian Juniors – an incredible opportunity that only comes around once in a blue moon.
Host team skip Skylar Ackerman watches the line during Draw 6 at the 2019 New Holland Canadian Juniors (Curling Canada/Melanie Johnson photo)
When Yukon did not declare a team, the spot was allocated to the host province. As the runner-up at the Saskatchewan Junior Women’s Provincial, Ackerman, along with teammates Madison Johnson at third, second Chantel Hoag, lead Samantha McLaren and coach Patrick Ackerman, won the right to don the Host team uniform.
While the Ackerman women have not gotten off to the start they had hoped for, dropping their first three games, including a last rock 10-9 loss to Ontario’s Thea Coburn, the team is focusing on the bigger picture.
“We [formed this team] three years ago with the goal to get to the Canada Winter Games which we have done,” said Ackerman. “We’re hoping to gain some experience here to take to for the Canada Winter Games next month in Red Deer.”
Though the wins are not coming through yet, they’re taking every opportunity to learn and are putting it all into perspective.
“We’re improving each game and getting some extra experience on arena ice which is always good,” said Ackerman.
This is the second national championship experience for the Moose Jaw-based team, as they competed in the 2018 U-18 Canadian Championships in Saint Andrews, New Brunswick. That experience has been invaluable for the young team.
“It’s helped with our nerves. Going into New Brunswick we were super nervous because it was our first time at a national,” said Ackerman. “This time we took the approach that it’s like any other tournament and to just relax.”
What’s the key to the team’s longevity and success thus far?
Team Ackerman displaying their on-ice team chemistry (Curling Canada/Melanie Johnson photo)
“We just love each, we’re like sisters out there,” said Ackerman. “We know what each other needs and how to help each other through hard times.”
Also in action tonight on the women’s side, Saskatchewan’s Sara England improves to 2-1 with a 7-3 win over Lauren Ferguson’s team from Cornwall, P.E.I. Ferguson continues to search for a win in the competition. Team Alberta skipped by Selena Sturmay posted an 8-3 win over Sarah Daniels from North Delta, British Columbia.
In Draw 6 action on the men’s side, two-time Canadian Junior champion Tyler Tardi and his British Columbia squad captured their third win of the competition over Saskatchewan’s Rylan Kleiter. The live-streamed feature game saw New Brunswick’s Jack Smeltzer put on a dominant performance defeating two-time Canadian Junior silver-medallist Tanner Horgan 11-7.
The Quebec men skipped by Vincent Roberge picked up their first win over Northwest Territories’ Sawer Kaeser. Manitoba’s JT Ryan picked up a 7-3 win over P.E.I.’s Tyler Smith. Ryan moves to 3-0 while Smith drops to 1-2. Team Yukon, skipped by Trygg Jensen, picked up its first win of the tournament over Javen Komaksiutiksak from Iqaluit, Nunavut.
Action continues at the 2019 New Holland Canadian Juniors with draws on Monday at 11 a.m., 4 p.m. and 9 p.m. (all times Atlantic). {Smith is playing NS at 11 am and NWT at 9 pm, while Ferguson has one game, also against NWT at 9 pm.]
[Draw 7 on Mon. Jan. 21 between NS Women (Lauren Lenentine 3rd) and BC at 11 am and
Draw 9 on Mon. Jan. 21 between PEI men (Tyler Smith) and the NWT at 9 pm are scheduled to be on livestream today].
Fourteen men’s and 14 women’s teams are competing, with two seven-team pools in each gender. Following Tuesday night’s games, the top four teams from each pool will move into the championship pools beginning Wednesday, while the other teams will play in seeding pool games to determine the final standings.
Round-robin games at the 2019 New Holland Canadian Juniors are being streamed live exclusively on Curling Canada’s Facebook page. TSN/RDS2, the official broadcaster of Curling Canada’s Season of Champions, will provide live and exclusive coverage of the women?s and men?s semifinals on Saturday, Jan. 26, and finals on Sunday, Jan. 27. The same games also will be streamed live in the U.S. on ESPN3. CLICK HERE for streaming and broadcast information.
The winning teams Sunday will represent Canada at the 2019 World Junior Championships, Feb. 16-23 in Liverpool, N.S.
The full scoreboard can be viewed at www.curling.ca/scoreboard/.
For event information, visit www.curling.ca/2019juniors.