One had to win. One had to lose.
That was the situation on Sunday when the Smith sisters from the Cornwall Club Club competed for the bronze medal in the inaugural mixed doubles tournament at the M&M Meat Shops Canadian Junior Curling Championships in Fort McMurray, Alta.
Sabrina Smith was teamed with Quebec’s Marc-Alexandre Charest-Dion against Veronica Smith and Ontario’s David Easter. Sabrina’s team won the medal with a 7-4 decision.
Mitchell Young from the Yukon and Sarah Sears from Nova Scotia defeated New Brunswick’s Rene Comeau and Northern Ontario’s Megan Westlund 5-2 in the final. The mixed doubles competition was open to all players not participating in the playoffs.
Manitoba’s junior men’s squad earned the national team title Saturday night. The Manitoba junior women’s team was trying to make it a provincial sweep in a game late Sunday night against B.C.
Following the bronze- medal game in the mixed doubles, Veronica Smith, looked back on the mini weekend tournament.
“It was a fun event that enabled us to meet new people in a fun environment.”
Regarding the entire week — and originally in the hunt for the national championship — Veronica was thrilled.
“I don’t really think there are words to describe the week I just had,” said the skip, whose team also included Katie Fullerton and Chloe McCloskey as well as sister Sabrina. “I have met so many great people, played against the best junior curlers in the country, had the opportunity to play on arena ice for the first time, and represent the province of Prince Edward Island.”
“I am so proud,” she added. “This is something I have dreamed for and worked towards for years, and for it to come true at last it tells you that all the work and time you put into your goal and dream was all very much worth it.”
Smith’s foursome finished the national championships with a 3-6 record.
On the junior men’s side, the foursome of Tyler Smith, Alex Sutherland, Alex Jenkins, and Jonathan Schut — also from the Cornwall Curling Club — finished with the same 3-6 record during the main part of the competition. The boys did not advance to the medal games in the mixed doubles event.
“Mixed doubles was really fun actually, a little confusing but still fun,” said Sutherland.
“It was a great idea to end the week with the mini-event.”
Regarding the entire week at nationals, Sutherland said it was unforgettable.
“It was an amazing experience,” he stated. “We all met some amazing people, who we will hopefully see around either junior or competitive play in the next few years. I would love to come back for my last year, if at all possible.”
“I loved representing P.E.I.,” he added. “It’s such an honour to wear the crest. It was an awesome learning experience, both socially and curling wise. I hope next year’s representatives have as much fun as we did.”
