Team BC curlers continued their competition into the final full day of round robin play on Thursday at Pidherney Curling Centre.
In the morning session, both teams squared off with Newfoundland and Labrador in Draw 10 of the tournament. The women’s team of Gracelyn Richards (Courtenay), Keelie Duncan (Comox), Chanelle Meeres (Courtenay), and Bryn Woloshyn (Royston) played a very tight game against the team from the east coast. At the halfway point of the game, the score was only 1–1 with two blank ends. In the second half, however, Team BC stole a single point in three consecutive ends to take a 4–1 lead and ultimately, the game.
The team of Hayato Sato (Coquitlam), Joshua Miki (Port Coquitlam), Dawson Ballard (Surrey), and Troy Chong (Burnaby) also won their morning session matchup against Newfoundland and Labrador. It was a battle between two teams with 6–1 records. Team BC got off to a quick start, taking two points in the first end. After tight second and third ends, Team BC took another two points in the fourth end to take a 4–1 lead into the half. The team kept on the pressure, and stole a single point in the seventh end to seal a 6–2 victory.
In a neat moment after the men’s win, the team had the opportunity to meet two-time Brier champion Pat Simmons. Coach Bryan Miki (Port Coquitlam) is also a former Brier champion and won the 2000 World Men’s Curling Championship with the Greg McAulay team.
In the evening session, both teams competed against New Brunswick. The women’s team kept it close, with the score at 2–2 after four ends. However, New Brunswick picked up five points in the next three ends before Team BC conceded the game in the seventh end with the score 7–3. The women needed a win to stay in playoff contention, but the loss means their Games will end tomorrow against Alberta. The men’s team played a very tight game, with the score at 3–2 after six ends. It was a nail biter, but Team BC stole a single point in each of the next two ends to take the game 5–2. The men’s team goes into their game tomorrow with Alberta with a chance to get a bye to the semifinal with a win.
Going into the final day of round robin competition on Friday, the Team BC women sit with a record of 3–6, while the Team BC men are 8–1. The teams will play Alberta in Draw 12 at 9:00 am. Playoffs begin in the afternoon, with the Quarterfinal draws at 2:00 pm and the Semifinal draws at 7:00 pm.