Newfoundland and Labrador’s team Mackenzie Mitchell of the RE/MAX Centre in St. John’s were not successful in their Draw 15 Championship Pool match-up versus New Brunswick’s Melodie Forsythe (4-3; Moncton). They were defeated by a score of 6-5 and now fall to a 4-3 record. 

But leaving the ice surface after the game, they carried the same glint in their eyes and pep in their step as they had before the competition had even begun. 

“We’re happy to be here, really,” said Katie Follett, third for the Newfoundland and Labrador rink. “Obviously it’s not fun coming off a loss. We weren’t sharp early in the first two ends and got behind. That came back to bite us a little bit.”

Mitchell’s rink of third Katie Follett, second Sarah Chaytor, lead Claire Hartlen, and coach Mark Noseworthy aren’t letting a bump in the road stymie their progress or their celebration of a Championship Round berth. 

“You win some, you lose some”, said skip Mackenzie Mitchell. “We still get to play tomorrow.”

Lead Claire Hartlen echoed that approach to the loss: “You’re going to have a rough game eventually during the week. It’s impossible to avoid. That was ours and we’re just looking to win out now.”

Hartlen may have an answer to why their game had gone sour in Draw 15. In this year’s Newfoundland and Labrador Scotties Provincials round robin, she lost one of her lucky gloves. 

“I had that glove for four years – I even sewed it back up and cared for it. It’s special. I still haven’t found it and I’m still looking for it. I’m still rotted about it.” said Hartlen.

“Rotted” being a distinctly Newfoundland term for being upset or cross. 

Despite the loss, the team plans to regroup with a game discussion over their favourite meal: spinach dip. 

“I have a love in my heart deep down for spinach dip,” said skip Mackenzie Mitchell. “Wherever we go, we’ll find the best spinach dip.”

Second Sarah Chaytor agrees that the meal, or “spin dip” as the team prefers to call it, has helped them bond as a unit. 

“We’ll go to a new restaurant and judge whether or not the spinach dip will be worth a repeat visit. Everyone participates.” said Chaytor. 

Going forward, the Newfoundland and Labrador foursome know what it will take to be victories at these 2020 New Holland Canadian Junior Championships. 

“You’ve got to beat the best to be the best,” said third Katie Follett.

In other women’s Championship Round action, Québec’s Noémie Gauthier

(4-3; Kenogami) defeated Saskatchewan’s Ashley Thevenot (4-3; Saskatoon) 9-3. 

In women’s seeding pool action, Prince Edward Island’s Lauren Ferguson (1-6; Cornwall) we’re sunk by British Columbia’s Kaila Buchy (4-4; Kimberly) 11-7. Nunavut’s Saidie Pinksen (2-6; Iqaluit) defeated Yukon’s Bayly Scoffin (0-7; Whitehorse) 11-6.

In men’s Championship Round play, British Columbia 1’s Hayato Sato (4-3; New Westminster) defeated Nova Scotia’s Graeme Weagle (4-3; Chester) 6-5 while Alberta’s Ryan Jacques (4-3; Edmonton) needed an extra end to defeat Manitoba 1’s Brett Walter (4-3; Winnipeg) 9-8.

In men’s seeding pool play, New Brunswick’s Liam Marin (1-7; Saint John) found the win column defeating the Northwest Territories’ Sawer Kaeser (0-7; Fort Smith) 13-3. British Columbia 2’s Johnson Tao (4-4; Richmond) defeated Quebec’s Greg Cheal (1-6; Lennoxville) 7-4.

Action resumes Jan. 23 at the 2020 New Holland Canadian Junior Championships live from the George Preston Recreation Centre at 9 a.m. PT. 

Additional Online Reports:

Men — Click here

Women — Click here

For event information, visit www.curling.ca/2020juniors.

This story will be posted in French as soon as possible at https://www.curling.ca/2020juniors/?lang=fr

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For further information, contact:

Al Cameron

Director, Communication and Media Relations

Curling Canada

Cell: 403-463-5500

acameron@curling.ca