(by Jason Simmonds) The Rachel MacLean and Mitchell Schut rinks realized goals of winning provincial curling championships in what has been a year of adjustments, on and off the ice.
The two teams, products of the Cornwall Curling Club’s junior program, captured the 2021 P.E.I. under-18 titles at the Montague Curling Club on Sunday.
Rachel MacLean’s rink from the Cornwall Curling Club won the 2021 P.E.I. under-18 female curling championship in Montague on Sunday with a 6-0 (won-lost) record in the three-day event. Team members are, front row, from left, Lexie Murray, third, Isabella Tatlock, second, and back row, from left, MacLean; David Murphy, coach; Hayden Ford, alternate, and lead Avery Nicholson. – Contributed
“It feels good because we never won the under-18 title before,” said MacLean. “We have been trying for a few years, but we’ve always come second.
“It’s nice to finally get it because this is my last year for this (age category).”
The David Murphy-coached MacLean team, including third Lexie Murray, second Isabella Tatlock, lead Avery Nicholson and alternate Hayden Ford, swept all three sections of the modified triple-knockout format that resulted in no championship round required.
Skip Mitchell Schut and his Cornwall Curling Club rink captured the 2021 P.E.I. under-18 male curling championship in Montague on Sunday. Team Schut completed play in the three-day event with a record of 6-1 (won-lost). Members of the winning rink are, front row, from left, Chase MacMillan, third, Cruz Pineau, second, back row, from left, Schut, Pat Quilty, coach, and Liam Kelly, lead. – Contributed
Team Schut, coached by Pat Quilty, completed play in the three-day event with a 6-1 record. Schut, with third Chase MacMillan, second Cruz Pineau and lead Liam Kelly, won the A and B sections.
Cornwall’s Brayden Snow rink, the 2020 champions, defeated Schut 7-2 in the C section final on Sunday morning. That forced a championship round, where Snow would have had to beat Schut twice to repeat.
Schut took care of business in the afternoon draw, posting a title-clinching 10-1 win in six ends.
Schut said it is “quite the accomplishment” to win the provincial championship. He said his team worked towards this event all season.
“We have played in a lot of events, but one of the biggest things we want to win is provincials because most years you get a chance to represent (your province) at nationals,” said Schut. “This year, we don’t get that chance (due to COVID-19).
“But just to say we are the best team on P.E.I. for our age group is quite the honour.”