P.E.I.’s Tyler Smith will play with New Brunswick at the 2018 Canadian Junior Curling Championships Jan. 13-21 in Shawinigan, Que.
The Liam Marin rink from Saint John, which includes Smith at third, earned their berth by winning the U21 provincial championships Nov. 30 – Dec. 3 in Moncton. The team finished with a 5-1 record.
Last season, Smith, who is currently attending school in N.B., skipped the P.E.I. junior men’s team at the nationals. The 19-year-old from the Hunter River area has been to three national championships with team P.E.I. in the past.
Curling Canada allows a player to play for another province or territory if they are in school or living there. Smith is living in N.B. as he completes a Class 1 trucking program.
One difference he’ll face in his fourth trip to the national juniors is his position as third on the team. Smith has been a skip his entire curling career.
“It was kind of weird at the start of the year because I wasn’t used to it. But we’ve played a lot of games, like 40. After you get a couple weeks into the season and play a few tournaments it starts to feel normal. But it was definitely different for the first couple weeks not being in the house all the time, calling the shots,” said Smith.
Joining Smith on the Liam Marin rink is lead Dylan MacDonald and second Felipe K. Marin. Smith says he and his new teammates are actually quite familiar with each other.
“I’ve known them for pretty near my whole curling life. They’ve been on the competitive Maritime tour. We’ve probably played 25 or 30 games against each other.”
After winning provincials with Team New Brunswick, he joked with his teammates about his newly donned jacket colours.
“It’s going to look weird in my closet when I have a bunch of green-and-white jackets and one black-and-yellow one. But it’s a good story,” said Smith.
A number of provinces and territories across the country, including P.E.I., still have to decide their representatives for the nationals via their respective provincial championships. B.C. are the defending champs of the event, as skipped by Tyler Tardi in 2017. Smith says there will be some usual contenders to watch out for at the nationals.
“Manitoba is always strong. They’re like the centre of curling the last 10 years or so. Curling is huge out there. And Northern Ontario will be really good. They finished second and third the last two years.”
Smith said that with this being his fourth nationals, he’s able to draw off of his previous experiences.
“You know what to expect. You’re relaxed going out there to play the first game. You’ve been there, done that. Nothing really surprises you.”
The winners of the upcoming national juniors will represent Canada at the World Junior Curling Championships 2018 in Aberdeen, Scotland.
Regardless of what provincial colours he is sporting, Smith says one objective remains the same throughout.
“As long as we’re winning. Winning is the main thing.”
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