Several curlers that practice, train and compete on New Westminster's pebbled ice are in the nation's capital this week in hopes of bringing home national gold.
Erin Fitzgibbon's team from Royal City Curling Club is one of two from B.C. in Ottawa for the women's side of the 2024 Canadian Under-18 Championships.
As well, club member Harrison Hrynew is on the one men's team donning the blue and white for the tournament starting Sunday, Feb. 4.
Both teams qualified for nationals after winning gold at the B.C. U18s in Victoria at the end of December.
Team Fitzgibbon won the girls final by a score of 9-4. The athletes, coached by Len Chong, include Fitzgibbon at skip, Morgan Bowles at third, Ashley Fenton at second, Bryelle Wong at lead and alternate Ella Wong.
Hrynew, as the lead, helped his team captained by skip Kaiden Beck of Salmon Arm to a double-down 12-6 victory on the boys side.
The Royal City members are looking to reach the 2024 podium after finishing eighth and seventh respectively at last year's U18 nationals in Timmins, Ont.
The national U18 championships, which consist of 42 teams in total (21 women and 21 men) take place Feb. 4 to 10 at the RA Centre in Ottawa.
Fitzgibbon's Team BC schedule is as follows (in Pacific time):
- Feb. 4 @ 11 a.m. vs. Yukon
- Feb. 5 @ 6:30 a.m. vs. Québec #2
- Feb. 6 @ 11 a.m. vs. Prince Edward Island
- Feb. 7 @ 6:30 a.m. vs. Ontario
- Feb. 7 @ 3:30 p.m. vs. Northern Ontario #2
- Feb. 8 @ 9:30 a.m. vs. Alberta #2
Hrynew's Team BC schedule is as follows (in Pacific time):
- Feb. 4 @ 6:30 a.m. vs. Ontario
- Feb. 4 @ 4:30 p.m. vs. Newfoundland and Labrador
- Feb. 5 @ 11 a.m. vs. Northwest Territories
- Feb. 6 @ 6:30 a.m. vs. Alberta
- Feb. 7 @ 11 a.m. vs. Manitoba #2
- Feb. 8 @ 5:30 a.m. vs. Saskatchewan #2
- with a file from Mario Bartel, Tri-City News
