Receiving $1000 bursaries are the reigning provincial junior champion skips Katie Shaw and Mitchell Schut, while $500 bursaries were awarded to Liam Kelly, lead on Team Schut, along with Rachel MacLean and Sydney Howatt, skip and third, respectively, on last season’s provincial junior women’s finalist team.
Katie Shaw
Katie Shaw, from Stratford, is attending university at Laurentian in Sudbury Ont. this year, where she is studying English Literature, Media, and Writing, and is curling with Sudbury’s Team Ladouceur. As well as skip for the 2020-21 provincial junior women’s team, she played third on the 2019 team and won three U18 titles, one as skip and two at third stone. She played third at the 2019 Canada Winter Games and on the 2021 Cornwall women’s club championship team and was PEI U16 champion in 2018 as third and 2017 as skip.
Mitchell Schut
Cornwall resident Mitchell Schut is attending Holland College’s Sport and Recreation Management program this academic year. His 14-year curling career includes many accomplishments as skip, including curling at the 2019 Canada Winter Games, and at the 2019 U18 nationals where he won gold in the Mixed Doubles competition. As well as winning the 2021 PEI Junior and the 2019 and 2021 PEI U18 titles, he was a finalist in both events in 2020.
On the Atlantic junior curling circuit, he won the 2019 and 2020 Harvest Spiels at the Mayflower in Halifax, the 2020 Oak Island Spiel in Chester NS, and was finalist at the 2021 TSA Junior Cashspiel in Saint John.
In the off-season, he is an umpire in the sport of baseball.
Liam Kelly
Stratford’s Liam Kelly, who plays lead on the team skipped by Mitchell Schut, and has been curling for 12 years is attending UPEI this year, majoring in Chemistry. His curling accomplishments echo those of his skip, and he has been involved in helping with the Rocks and Rings program that introduces students to the sport of curling.
Sydney Howatt
Sydney Howatt, from Crapaud, is continuing her BSc.studies at UPEI this academic year.
She was on the 2021 PEI Junior Women’s finalist rink and the 2020 PEI Provincial Junior Women’s championship team, as well as the finalist rink at the 2019 PEI Canada Games, the 2018 PEI Mixed Doubles, the 2017 Provincial U16, and the 2015 Provincial Under 13 Championships. She has been selected for the provincial team attending the 2022 World Junior Qualifiers in Saskatoon.
Rachel MacLean
New Haven’s Rachel MacLean is majoring in Psychology in the Bachelor of Arts program at UPEI this year. Her many curling accomplishments over 12 years include:
PEI U13, U16 and U18 championship skip in 2016, 2019, and 2021, respectively, going undefeated each time.
Winning sportsmanship awards in 2018 through 2020.
Representing PEI at Nationals in Saskatoon in 2021.