Canada Games trials wrap local curling season

Evan Boutet’s Heather team and Ainslee Card of West St. Paul will represent Manitoba in the men’s and women’s divisions of the Canada Games in Quebec City, Que., next February after winning the Canada Games trials on April 19 at the Pembina Curling Club.

Boutet’s team of third Bryce Buchel, second Tiernan Bertrand-Meadows, lead Quinn Lagacé, coach Blaine Malo and assistant coach Deb Popovic took men’s side honours by going 6-0 in round-robin play, which earned them a bye to the final, where they defeated Tyler Graham’s Gimli rink 7-3.

Buchel and Lagacé were members of the Boutet-skipped teams that won CurlManitoba U18 and U20 championships this season. Lagacé also won the Canada Games mixed doubles trials.

In the women’s division, Ainslee Card and her team of third Eva Le Heiget, second Amy Buchalter, lead Skye Spulnick, coach Kelsey Meger, and assistant coach Bryan Buchalter needed a steal on an extra end to defeat Ste. Anne’s Ally Fleming 6-5 in the final.