Victoria’s De Jong Advances

Victoria’s Cameron de Jong who calls BC home finally advanced to the men’s championship round at the Canadian junior curling championship with a win that as it worked out – wasn’t really needed.

De Jong’s rink defeated Rene Comeau of New Brunswick’s by scores of 9-7 finishing with a 4-2 record in Pool B, but both managed to qualify for the eight-team championship round starting mid week.

The end result was that he didn’t need the win to advance; but the various tiebreaker situations had yet to been determined by the time that his game actually started.

He stated “I’m actually glad I didn’t know,” he said, after nailing the victory with a clutch outturn draw to the four-foot and it probably would have put more pressure on us out there. It’s easier not knowing, and having fate in your own hands.”

Also advancing to the championship are Braden Calvert of Manitoba (6-0 Pool A), Saskatchewan’s Tyler Hartung (4-2 Pool A), Ontario’s Ryan McCrady (4-2 Pool A), Northern Ontario’s Tanner Horgan (4-2 Pool A), Comeau (5-1 Pool B), Alberta’s Carter Lautner (5-1 Pool B) and Nova Scotia’s Robert Mayhew (4-2 Pool B).

The preliminary records carry over, with Pool A teams playing Pool B squads to determine which will move on to Sunday’s playoffs.

Other action on Tuesday saw the Yukon improve their record to 2-4 with Joe Wallingham’s 11-6 win over Kyle Holland of Prince Edward Island (1-5), while Alberta beat Nova Scotia 7-4.

The women’s side saw Quebec’s Camille Boisvert held off the Yukon’s Sarah Koltun 7-6 to grab the eighth and final berth into the championship round. This actually got underway mid week (Wednesday) to determine the three (3) teams for Saturday’s playoffs.

Both teams had finished with 3-3 records in Pool A.

Joining Quebec in the championship round are Alberta’s Kelsey Rocque (6-0), B.C.’s Kalia Van Osch (4-2), Saskatchewan’s Kristen Streifel (3-3), Ontario’s Molly Greenwood (5-1), Nova Scotia’s Mary Fay (5-1), New Brunswick’s Jessica Daigle (3-3) and Manitoba’s Meaghan Brezden (3-3).