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St. Albert skip Abby Marks at U21 nationals and other curling updates

WEB SPORTS 1801 juniors CC 9007 c
STUDENT OF THE ROARING GAME – Curtis Sommers of the St. Albert Junior Elite Development program works on his delivery at St. Albert Curling Club. The third-year STAJED for Success initiative is designed for competitive junior curlers with instruction on and off the ice twice week in the afternoons from September to March for a total of 50 sessions. CHRIS COLBOURNE/St. Albert Gazette

U21 nationals

The Canadian juniors start today for the defending women’s champions from Alberta with Abby Marks of St. Albert curling in her second U21 nationals.

Marks is the skip for University of Alberta Pandas’ rink of third Catherine Clifford, second Paige Papley and lead Jamie Scott at the 14-team tournament in Langley, B.C.

Alberta is grouped in pool A with Ontario, British Columbia, Saskatchewan, Newfound/Labrador, Northwest Territories and the Yukon.

The top four teams in both pools advance to the championship round to determine the three playoff qualifiers.

The winner of the Jan. 26 final represents Canada at the U21 worlds, Feb. 15 to 22 in Krasnoyarsk, Russia.

Last year’s Alberta rink of skip Selena Sturmay, Marks at third, second Kate Goodhelpsen and Papley at lead finished 11-0 as the seventh women’s team to go undefeated at nationals.

The Canadian champions settled for silver at worlds in Liverpool, N.S., and the team's record was 7-4 after losing the gold-medal game 8-7 on a steal of one in the extra end by Vlada Rumiantseva of Russia.

Marks, 20, is competing in her third nationals and her Canadian debut was 2017 as skip curling with Papley, Scott and Brittany Brezinski for the fifth-place Alberta rink at the inaugural U18 Optimist championship in Moncton, N.B.

Upcoming for Marks, an Ecole Secondaire Sainte Marguerite d’Youville graduate, and her rinkmates is the Canada West championship, Jan. 31 to Feb. 2 at the Saville Centre for a berth at the Curling Canada/U SPORTS Canadian University Championship, March 11 to 15 at Portage la Prairie, Man.

Men’s playdowns

The Boston Pizza Cup men’s playdowns are underway at the Ottewell with 14 teams vying for three provincial berths.

Among the contenders is Jamie King of St. Albert as the skip for third Michael Jantzen, second Sean Morris and lead Todd Brick.

King, a provincial finalist in 2003 and 2005, was inducted into the St. Albert Curing Club wall of fame in 2018.

The St. Albert junior rink of skip Nathan Molberg, third Jacob Rahn, second Braden Pelech and lead Morgan Bilassy are also competing in the triple-knockout event.

The foursome finished third at the recent U21 provincials in Lloydminster.

Draw times and results are available at curlingalberta.ca.

Provincials are Feb. 5 to 9 at Westlock.

Provincial qualifiers

The St. Albert rink skipped by Krysta Hilker qualified for the Alberta Scotties Tournament of Hearts starting Wednesday in Okotoks.

Hilker, third Karynn Flory, second Sydney Lewko and lead Heather Steele defeated Emily Clark of Westlock 7-1 in eight ends in Sunday’s C final at the 11-team playdowns at Jasper Place.

Hilker stole five points, including a deuce in five to lead 5-1.

Hilker finished 5-2 and the second loss was 8-5 to Nicky Kaufman of the Shamrock in the B final.

A steal of one in six and a deuce in seven by Kaufman made it 6-4. Hilker rebounded with one in eight that was matched by Kaufman in nine. The insurance point was a steal of one in 10.

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