With the 2012 Alberta Junior Provincial Curling Championships getting underway tomorrow afternoon in Medicine Hat, teams are aware that strong starts are critical to success in this event. This season's event appears to have the strongest field in years as not one team is the clear favourite.
Men's Preview:
PCA-A (Vavrek) - The Vavrek brothers are back again at the Junior Provincial Championships again and for sure will not be an easy defeat. Last season, the Vavrek brothers finished outside of the playoff picture, but little brother Daylan pursued Juvenile opportunities by skipping his rink to a Juvenile Men's provincial title and an international gold medal. Vavrek faces Kleibrink and Parcels opening day.
PCA-B (Steinke) - Likewise the Vavrek brothers, the Steinke brothers are back once again and have been the most successful Junior/Juvenile team to emerge from the Peace region since Charley Thomas back in 2006 & 2007 who went on to claim two back to back World Junior Championships. Brothers Jordan and Tristan picked up Brett Winfield this season after Sanjay Bowry departed to Victoria to pursue education. Steinke finished middle of the pack at last years Junior provincials after both brothers won the Juvenile Men's title in 2010 and Tristan with Vavrek in 2011. Steinke faces Parcels and Gousseau opening day.
NACA-A (Bottcher) - After Brad Thiessen aged out after last season's 3rd place finish, Brendan Bottcher and the Bucholz twins picked up Evan Asmussen to fill the third position. Bottcher qualifed in every AJCT event they entered this season and had mixed success on the WCT. Bottcher won spiels in Calgary and Lloydminster. This is Bottcher's 5th appearance at the Alberta Subway Juniors including a win in 2010. Last season Bottcher was eliminated by Scott Smith. Bottcher faces Gousseau and Smith opening day.
NACA-B (Gousseau) - Dylan Gousseau is a somewhat new face to Alberta curling but a veteran to national/international play. This season, Gousseau lost the final in Calgary to Bottcher and won in Gibbons. Gousseau [back in Manitoba] also won a Juvenile title back at the age of 14. Gousseau, still 18 years edged Shane Parcels in their B-Qualifier back in December to qualify for provincials. Likewise, teammates of Gousseau have had success of their own at the national level including Matt Brown and John Murray who is looking for his sixth straight national appearance. Gousseau faces Bottcher and Steinke to open the event.
NACA-C (Parcells) - Shane Parcels is no rookie to this event, this year teaming up with former teammate Carter Lautner. Together in 2010, Parcels and Lautner qualified for Junior provincials and lost back to back games to Steinke in the Juvenile final that season. Parcels looks to seek revenge against Steinke in the opening draw tomorrow afternoon at the Medicine Hat Curling Club. In tomorrows evening draw, Parcels faces Vavrek.
SACA-A (Webster) - This season marks Webster's third appearance at the Juniors but Webster is a rookie to skipping at this level. This season, Webster teamed up with former teammates from the 2009 Korean Exchange with Parker Konschuh, Jacob Ortt, and Mac Walton. Konschuh brings added provincial and national experience to the rink having won the province last year with Colin Hodgson. Webster qualified in every AJCT event this season with wins in Red Deer and Leduc. Webster opens up the event with matches against Smith and Kleibrink.
SACA-B (Smith) - Scott Smith arguably can be considered a favourite to make playoffs once again this year at the Juniors. Last year, Smith defeated Hodgson in the A qualifier and at provincials defeated Bottcher in the semi-final only to fall short to Colin Hodgson in the final. Over the summer, Smith picked up Taylor Ardiel to fill in the second position. Smith struggled early this season, but qualified in Red Deer, defeated Webster in Lethbridge to win, and lost the final to Webster in Leduc. Smith also traveled to Manitoba as part of an invitational event hosted by Manitoba Tourism. Smith opens the event tomorrow against Webster and Bottcher.
SACA-C (Kleibrink) - Kyler Kleibrink is a new face to this event but has been hot as of late where he needed to defeat Michael Roy (skip of 2011 Team Alberta at Canada Winter Games), and Josh Carroll to qualify out of the C event in Southerns. Kleibrink, son of Shannon, has also qualified for the 2012 Alberta Winter Games and is sure to be a dominant force in years to come. Kleibrink opens provincials tomorrow against Vavrek and Webster.
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