(by Eric McCarthy)
ALBERTON – After delivering the final stone of his P.E.I. junior competitive curling career, Matthew MacLean calmly slid down the ice.
Skip Matthew MacLean watches as his sweepers, Jordan MacLean, left, and Noah O’Connor, take charge of his rock. Team MacLean, which also includes Matthew’s brother, Allan, at third stone, dethroned the defending-champion Tyler Smith rink in Alberton early Wednesday evening to win its first-ever P.E.I. Pepsi junior men’s curling championship.
Eric McCarthy/Journal Pioneer
As Smith’s shot stone was being cleared from the rings, MacLean raised his broom shoulder high, hardly the type of enthusiasm one might expect from someone who has been chasing the provincial title for five years.
His brother, Allan, who plays third stone, has been part of all his provincial championships. This is lead stone Jordan MacLean’s second year with MacLean, and the third year for second stone Noah O’Connor.
Team MacLean will represent P.E.I. at the national championship in Stratford, Ont., from Jan. 23 to 31.
His father, Glen, is the team coach and his mother, Glenda, is their manager.
Team MacLean is from the Maple Leaf and Cornwall Curling Clubs.
Individual awards
Lauren Lenentine, skip of the women’s runner-up rink from Cornwall, and Kyle Holland, who threw third stones on Alex MacFadyen’s third-place men’s rink from Silver Fox and Charlottetown, received sportsmanship awards.
Bill Hope and Roger Gavin were the recipients of the Asham coaching awards. Hope coaches the women’s champions, Katie Fullerton rink, and Gavin is the coach of the Leslie Noye team from the Western Community Curling Club.