View from the hack — Freeman, McCannell gearing up for Sun Life challenge
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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 14/11/2019 (2398 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
Thirty-two junior curling teams from Saskatchewan, Alberta, Ontario, the United States and all over Manitoba descend on the Brandon Curling Club this weekend for the ninth annual Sun Life Financial Junior Challenge.
Virden’s Brooks Freeman is entering this year’s tournament with a brand-new team and is excited to get out on the ice, starting with tonight’s 9 o’clock opening draw against Jake Holt of Bismark, N.D.
“Sun Life is a really great event, I look forward to it every year,” Freeman said. “It’s a really fun event, hopefully get to play teams from out of province, from the U.S and Saskatchewan.”
The 20-year-old’s team includes third Nolan Hadway from Dauphin, second Colton Harris from Birtle and his younger brother, Jace, as the lead.
“We’ve been trying to get the hang of things still, we’re trying to get used to each other,” Brooks said. “We didn’t know each other super well before but we were all looking for teams.”
Of course, growing up with his lead helps a bit, and Brooks said his brother has been doing well for the team. Jace, 15, has skipped his own squads at some youth bonspiels but this is the first year he’s taking the sport seriously.
“It’s nice we’re always playing at the same time we don’t have to worry about him being one place and me being another every weekend,” Brooks said.
Brooks’s coach also happens to be his dad, Graham, who he curls with in the Taylor Jackson Financial Westman Super League of Curling.
Team Freeman is trying to defend its title after returning to the league last year.
“He knows what he’s doing, I hear it whenever I do something wrong, which is good, because you learn from doing wrong,” Brooks said. “He has taught me everything I know about the game.”
On the women’s side, Hallie McCannell has assembled a new team as well, also featuring a sibling at lead in her sister Hannah.
Second Rebecca Sahulka from Winnipegosis and third Stacy Sime from Dauphin makes up the rest of her rink.
McCannell, who originally hails from Saskatchewan but now calls the Wheat City home, is just excited to get to curl with her full team. So far this season someone has always been missing.
“We’re looking forward to actually curling together, all four of us,” the 20-year-old said. “The dynamic has been really good so far.”
McCannell’s rink was assembled after a couple players aged out last season leaving a two player-gap in her roster. That’s where Sahulka and Sime come in, who were also looking for a team to play on.
“It’s pretty fun, we get along well,” McCannell said.
Team McCannell is undefeated so far in the UCT No. 448 Westman Junior Super League.
“Can’t complain about that,” said McCannell, who opens with the first of her three pool-play games tonight against Serena Gray-Withers.
Allan Lawn, their coach, recently won a berth to the 2020 Manitoba Senior Men’s Championship at the Thistle Senior Men’s Bonspiel in Winnipeg last weekend. Graham Freeman also curls with Lawn on that rink.
Other local teams to watch include the Dauphin-based Team Anya Jackson, which includes third Sawyer Elliott, second Josie Sallows and lead Paige Kabel.
Brandon’s Victoria Beaudry and her St. Vital Curling Club-based team are in the women’s field, while Brandon’s Brayden Payette is playing as the second on one of the best junior men’s rinks in the province: Winnipeg-based Team Jacques Gauthier.
The round robin wraps up Saturday morning, with playoffs beginning that evening and both finals set for Sunday at 3 p.m. For the full draw, see Page B4.
EXTRA ENDS: The Binscarth Curling Club is hosting the Open Mixed Fall Classic Cash Bonspiel Nov. 23-25. Entry fee is $120 per team and can be sent to Ken at 204-532-2118, Lyle at 204-432-2004 or Mark at 204-532-2048. Entries close Nov. 21. … The Rivers Curling Club is hosting their men’s bonspiel Nov. 25 to Dec. 1. Entry fee is $160 per rink, contact Alan MacDonald at 204-328-7903 … Riverview Curling Club is hosting an Off-Ice Curling Bonspiel Dec. 6-8. Entry fee is $180 per rink, a meal is included and is on Saturday. For more information call Doug at 204-724-9312, Norm at 204-724-0766 or Curtis at 204-574-7203.
» rstelter@brandonsun.com
» Twitter: @steltsy94