Good showing for Team Robertson in junior bonspiel

By Brady Grove, Times Reporter

Local junior curlers Team Robertson made it to the A event final during last weekend’s junior bonspiel, but they eventually lost out to the more experienced Okotoks Team Darichuk.
Team Darichuk beat Team Robertson 10-5 at the Strathmore and District Curling Club (SDCC) U15/U18 Competitive Bonspiel on Feb. 23 to win the A event final.
Team Darichuk put Team Robertson down quickly, leading 5-0 after two ends. Kade Robertson, 13, skip of Team Robertson, made a tight shot through a battalion of guards from both sides to make it 5-2 after three ends. The clubs traded points all the way to the end, with the visitors keeping the locals away from the lead.
The Strathmore bonspiel featured 12 teams competing, including five local teams representing the home town on the ice. According to SDCC junior coordinator and Team Robertson coach Jana Robertson, it’s a good opportunity for the local clubs to test their strategies and skills against opponents they don’t normally face.
“Our local teams only curl each other every week, (so) it’s nice to have some different people and different competition because it raises the skill level,” she said.
Team Robertson had a rocky start to the bonspiel, dropping their first game 8-2 against Team Waite. They stormed back with a vengeance in Game 2, beating Team Northwood 10-3 and edging out Team Yurko 5-4. The local club’s success continued in the playoffs against Team Lacey which they defeated 8-3 to earn a trip to the final.
Kade Robertson said the team got better as they went along. Teammates included third Jesse Rossiter, 13, and lead Liam Braniff, also 13, while second Aiden West is the lone 14-year-old with the team.
Up next for Team Robertson is the Curlers Corner Bantam District Qualifier B in Okotoks March 1-3.