Northeast rinks go head-to-head

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This article was published 27/01/2017 (3461 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Two northeast Winnipeg rinks are vying for the KPAC varsity girls curling crown.

River East Collegiate’s rink finished the round-robin season undefeated, while Miles Macdonell Collegiate lost only once, to River East. The two rinks went head-to-head in a one-vs-two match in KPAC’s page playoff on Jan. 26 at the East St. Paul Curling Club (260 Hoddinott Rd.)

In a dramatic match, Miles Mac were able to get the best of River East, winning 6-5.

This season marked the third that River East’s rink — third Mackenzie Elias, second Taryn Warnock, lead Kaitlyn Wels, and skip Maria Albo — have been curling together.

“Our first year nobody knew us,” recalled Maria Albo, who throws third but collaborates with Mackenzie Elias, who throws last rock, to call the shots.

“But we surprised everyone and ended up making it to the finals against an older team (Miles Mac), which was a pretty big deal.”

The Kodiaks fell to Miles Mac in 2015. They made it to the KPAC finals again last season, but lost in the end to Selkirk. Albo, who is in Grade 12 while the rest of her teammates are in Grade 11, hopes they can pull off a KPAC championship this year.

“I’d really like to win, because it’s my last year,” Albo said. “Whatever happens I’ll be proud.”

“They’re great shooters, good shot callers,” coach Marty Grubert said. “They deliver pretty good stones and they’re confident in their game.”

Albo credits her team’s success to chemistry and communication.

“We’re all just good friends,” she said. “I think that’s one of the most important things, when you’re playing any sport.”

“We know each other well,” agreed Elias, who grew up curling out of East St. Paul and also curls competitively out of Elmwood. “I’ve known Taryn (Warnock) and Kaitlyn (Wels) since elementary.”

To make it to the finals, Albo said the Kodiaks will need have confidence in themselves and play to their strengths.

“In curling, anything can happen,” she said. I just think that if we stick to our game, worry about ourselves, hopefully we’ll be good.”

The rink out of Miles Macdonell — Annika Kjerulf, Jordan Hrynkiw, Katie Mckenzie, Katy Lukowich, Yarah Barbosa — is no less experienced than its River East rivals, despite having a Grade 9 skip in Katy Lukowich (daughter of curler Mark Lukowich).

“They know the game well, they’ve got experience curling,” coach Shaun Best said. “The team supports each other and that’s good see.”

“Our team work is really good,” said Annika Kjerulf, Miles Mac’s Grade 12 second. “Our communication is good. Even when we throw a bunch of horrible shots, it’s good to be supportive.”

Jordan Hrynkiw, Miles Mac’s Grade 12 lead, started curling in Grade 10, the year Miles Mac beat River East in the KPAC final.

“Curling sounded fun so I decided to give it a try,” Hrynkiw recalled with a laugh. “We had great people and a great coach, they taught me everything I needed to know.”

For their rink to win the KPAC championship again, Best said the girls will need to stay focused.
“They’ll need to make individual shots and stay focused and have fun.”

“We’ll have to make our shots,” agreed Kjerulf.

“If we focus we’ll do OK,” Hrynkiw added. “At the end of the day, it’s not dor or die.”

As the winner of the Jan. 26 match, Miles Mac earned a bye to the KPAC final on Feb. 9, while REC will take on the winner of Maples vs. Selkirk (results not available at press time) on Feb. 2 for another chance at advancing to the final.

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