Young curlers pursue provincial glory at juniors in Brandon Doering eyes the big prize

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Shannon Birchard is looking to defend her title. (WINNIPEG FREE PRESS) Photo Store

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BORIS MINKEVICH / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS archives West Kildonan skip Kyle Doering captured a bronze at the junior nationals last year. He wants a return trip to improve on that finish. (WINNIPEG FREE PRESS) Photo Store

Inject Kyle Doering and his crew with a truth serum and they'll undoubtedly admit this:

Wearing Manitoba's colours at last year's Canadian Junior Curling Championships -- where they grabbed the bronze medal -- was an absolute blast.

Actually, the serum isn't really necessary...

"That was definitely one of the best experiences of my life," admitted Doering Wednesday. "I'd love to go back and I'm going to do everything I can to go back there again."

That mission begins today at the Brandon Curling Club with the opening of the provincials, the 2013 Canola Junior Championships. Doering, the defending Manitoba champion, is back representing the West Kildonan Curling Club with most of his team from a year ago still intact. (Connor Njegovan is the new third, coming over from last year's finalist Joey Witherspoon's rink).

Not surprisingly, Doering's crew is the No. 1 seed.

"We're fairly confident, but we're not overwhelmingly confident because there are so many good teams," said Doering. "We played Daniel Birchard (the No. 3 seed) last week and that didn't go so well so, we're not overly confident at all.

"We're just excited for the event. I just hope we throw our rocks well."

Matt Dunstone's rink, also from West Kildonan, is the second seed and on a roll heading into the provincials, having won a junior event in Brandon in November and the Christmas bonspiel over the holidays.

Doering's foursome, meanwhile, has spent a chunk of the season playing in men's events to up their level of competition, including two World Curling Tour events in Bemidji, Minn., and Morris, where they have compiled a 5-6 record.

"It's been a little tougher because the men's competition is very good," said Doering. "If you make one mistake, they're going to get points. Rock placement is absolutely critical. If you have a shot and it over-curls by an inch... it's got to be perfect. In juniors you can get away with a bit more."

But beginning today, Doering also knows he'll have a size-large target on his back. And what happens a year ago is worth diddly and squat when teams first slide out of the hack.

"Last year means absolutely nothing," he said. "It's a fresh slate now and it's pretty much anyone's ball game. Whoever goes into this weekend playing well is going to win.

"I hope my experience will help a lot, especially with the ability to cope with the pressure. I learned a lot over the events I've played in. The ability to stay cool will be important.

"We definitely want to go back to the nationals."

On the women's side, Shannon Birchard of St. Vital is the defending champion -- they captured a silver at the nationals -- and No. 2 seed. Her championship rink from last year has actually split and now forms two foursomes, with Selena Kaatz and Kristin MacCuish on new squad that enters the provincials as the top seed.

ed.tait@freepress.mb.ca Twitter: @WFPEdTait

THE SCHEDULE

When: Jan. 3-7, 2013

Where: Brandon Curling Club

The prize: The chance to represent Manitoba at the 2013 Canadian Junior Championships in Fort McMurray, Alta., Feb. 2-10.

The round robin: Games begin today with draws at 8:30 a.m., 12:15 p.m., 4 p.m. and 8 p.m.

Friday draws: 8:30 a.m., 12:15 p.m., 4 p.m., 7:45 p.m.

Saturday draws: 9 a.m., 12:45 p.m., 4:30 p.m., 8:15 p.m.

Sunday draws: 8:30 a.m., 12:15 p.m, tiebreakers: 4 p.m. Page playoff (1 vs. 1, 2 vs. 2) 7:45 p.m.

Monday, Jan. 7: Semifinal 9:30 a.m., Final: 1:30 p.m.

THE TEAMS

JUNIOR MEN

TOP FIVE SEEDS

1. Kyle Doering, West Kildonan

2. Matt Dunstone, West Kildonan

3. Daniel Birchard, Pembina

4. Cole Peters, West St. Paul

5. Tanner Lott, Springfield

THE REST OF THE FIELD

Sean Davidson, Portage

Curtis Kaatz, Springfield

Jordan Smith, East St. Paul

Carter Watkins, Swan River

Steffan Adamchuk, Swan River

Braden Calvert, Carberry

JT Ryan, Assiniboine Memorial

Randy Greig, Deer Lodge

Austin Mustard, Portage

Colin Kurz, Wildewood

Nathaniel Swanson, Heather

JUNIOR WOMEN

TOP FIVE SEEDS

1. Selena Kaatz, St. Vital

2. Shannon Birchard, St. Vital

3. Alyssa Vandepoele, Victoria

4. Beth Peterson, Victoria

5. Rachel Burtnyk, Assiniboine Memorial

THE REST OF THE FIELD

Carly Angers, Miami

Rebecca Lamb, Stonewall

Jesse Iles, The Pas

Kylin Alm, Dauphin

Raina Syrnyk, Gilbert Plains

Janelle Schwindt, Brandon

Jennifer Curle, Minnedosa

Abby Ackland, Victoria

Kristy Watling, Victoria

Kayla Curtis, La Salle

Christine MacKay, Wildewood

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition January 3, 2013 D3