Freeman beats McDonald, advances to U21 semis

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This article was published 30/03/2024 (857 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Jace Freeman and his teammates from Virden have advanced to the semifinals of the Canadian U21 men’s curling championship in Fort McMurray, Alta.

And they did it at the expense of another Manitoba squad.

Freeman downed Winnipeg’s Jordon McDonald 6-5 this afternoon in a rematch of the Manitoba U21 men’s final in late February.

McDonald had finished 7-1 and in second place in Pool A of the 18-team national championship, while Freeman posted a 6-2 record in Pool B to finish third. They crossed over and Freeman — with third Ryan Ostrowsky, second Nick Senff and lead Luke Robins — prevailed, scoring a single in the 10th end after McDonald posted a big three-ender in the ninth to knot the game 5-5.

Freeman now has a meeting with Kenan Wipf of Calgary tonight at 8 p.m. The final is slated for Sunday at noon.

In the U21 women’s championship also in Fort McMurray, Manitoba champion Shaela Hayward of Carman is still in the hunt for her second national title of the season.

Hayward will play Claire Booth of Calary at 8 p.m. tonight for a chance to play in Sunday’s medal round.

Hayward already owns the 2024 Canadian U18 crown after winning Ottawa in early February.

Zoey Terrick’s Winnipeg squad also competed in Fort McMurray but did not make the playoffs.