Experience, bloodlines key to Manitoba juniors’ success

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This article was published 20/01/2017 (3192 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Sara Oliver has just the right mix of sharpshooting ability and fire in her belly, but it’s her experience that could pay off big-time for Team Manitoba at the national junior women’s curling championship.

Oliver throws second stones for Laura Burtnyk’s Assiniboine Memorial foursome, which is set to play its championship opener in Victoria this afternoon. Manitoba battles the Northwest Territories, skipped by Zoey Walsh, in the first draw.

In junior men’s play, the J.T. Ryan team, also from Assiniboine Memorial, is representing Manitoba and opens against Greg Blyde of Newfoundland-Labrador this afternoon.

Oliver, 20, is making a return trip to the nationals. Burtnyk, third Hailey Ryan (J.T.’s older sister) and lead Rebecca Cormier are all first-timers.

Oliver was the lead on Abby Ackland’s team from the Fort Rouge club that competed at the 2016 Canadian championships, held in Stratford, Ont. The Ackland team had a tremendous week, bowing out in a tie-breaker to New Brunswick.

Previous exposure to the pomp and ceremony, pressure and emotion of a Canadian championship places Oliver in the crucial position of tour guide and emotional guru as her teammates face their first test on a national stage.

“I’m the veteran. I can show them the ropes,” she joked earlier this week.

“There’s a lot of emotion when you’re there. I don’t think I’ve ever cried that much before. Knowing you have a chance to win for your province means a lot. That was pretty overwhelming the first time.”

Clearly, she didn’t cave in under the weight of that pressure, posting a shooting accuracy rate of 84 per cent in Stratford to earn a nod as a first-team all-star.

Oliver’s now getting a second crack, and said she understands and appreciates striking a balance between striving to play her very best and soaking in the unforgettable opportunity.

“It was an incredible experience. I think I’ve learned to relax and enjoy the time there, taking it all in and not taking it for granted,” said the University of Manitoba student. “It’s amazing to represent Manitoba. I didn’t expect to do it once and it’s even better twice. We’re hoping to bring back the maple leaf with us.”

The field of 14 junior women’s teams (10 provinces, Northern Ontario, Northwest Territories, Yukon and Nunavut) are split into two seven-team pools. Teams play a round-robin within their pools today through Tuesday, after which time the top four in each pool advance to a championship round from Wednesday through Friday. Semifinals and the final are next weekend.

Burtnyk, 21, is the daughter of two-time Brier and 1995 world champion skip Kerry Burtnyk, while Hailey Ryan is the daughter of Jeff Ryan, who played third on the elder Burtnyk’s hall-of-fame ’95 foursome.

Laura Burtnyk said there’s no hiding from the fact the team will get plenty of attention and could have a target on its back.

“Anyone coming out of Manitoba is expected to do well. We come from a province that fields so many great teams. Obviously, with my father’s last name on my back and Hailey’s last name on her back, it definitely puts some added pressure to perform to people’s expectations of us, I guess,” she said.

“I think we all feel more ready than ever to just win it all. That’s the goal going there.”

Another famous curling name is also prominent at the championships at Archie Browning Sports Centre in Esquimalt, a suburb of Victoria. Saskatchewan third Sara England is the daughter of late Canadian curling legend Sandra Schmirler, who died of cancer in 2000 when Sara was just a toddler.

On the junior men’s side, Manitoba’s 19-year-old skip said his team is fired up for its debut at the national championship.

“I think getting off to a strong start is going to be pretty big,” said J.T. Ryan, who is backed by third Jacques Gauthier (son of three-time Canadian women’s champion Cathy Gauthier), second Graham McFarlane and lead Brendan Bilawka.

“Even just for morale, getting a couple of early wins out of the way is going to help us, and then you start getting on a roll, hopefully.

“I’m sure the first time I step onto the ice there’s going to be some nerves, just because you’re wearing the buffalo on your back. The trick for us is to treat it like another bonspiel and just try not to over-think things.”

J.T. is well aware Manitoba teams have dominated at the nationals the past four years — Matt Dunstone prevailed in 2013 and again in 2016, while Braden Calvert won back-to-back crowns in 2014 and ’15 — but isn’t worried about living up to the expectations of others.

“We’re a completely different team,” he said. “This a new thing for my whole team and we’re excited to get the chance to do it together.”

Yukon is not represented this year, so the junior men’s field is split into one seven-team and one six-team pool, with the format identical to the junior women’s draw.

The two eventual Canadian champions head to the world junior curling championships in Gangneung, South Korea, Feb. 16 to 26.

jason.bell@freepress.mb.caTwitter: @WFPJasonBell