Sarah Daniels will be looking to conclude her decorated junior curling career in style over the next month and it starts tomorrow in the provincial capital.
The 20-year-old skip from Delta will be the team to beat when the B.C. Junior Curling Championships get underway at the Victoria Curling Club. Daniels is not only the defending champion but also lost in the 2019 Canadian final to Alberta’s Selena Sturmay.
It marked the third time she finished second at nationals in her promising career. She also skipped her team to silver in 2016 after playing second for Kalia Van Osch’s rink in 2014 when she was just 14.
If her final year of eligibility isn’t enough incentive, a win in Victoria would sent Daniels to Langley for the the 2020 New Holland Canadian Junior Championships — Jan. 18-26 at the George Preston Recreation Centre. BC has not won the women’s national title since 2013.
Team Daniels secured their BC berth by topping the standings in the B.C. Junior Curling Tour. The rink also features Sarah Loken, Hannah Lindner and Jordan Henson.
Daniels won’t be the only local representation in Victoria.
Team Taylor from Tunnel Town/Royal City and Team Bowles from Delta Thistle/Victoria are also among the eight entries in the junior women’s division.
Team Taylor features skip Jensen Taylor and her sister Chelsea at lead, along with Tunnel Town’s Keira McCoy at second and Meredith Cole at third. Delta Thistle's Elizabeth Bowles’ rink also includes clubmate Hailey Dubois (second) and Victoria Curling Club's Kayla Wilson (third) and Sasha Wilson (lead).
On the junior men’s side, Tunnel Town’s Team Carpenter won the Lower Mainland “B” event to advance to provincials. The team includes Brayden Carpenter (skip), Connor Deane (third), Mack Ellis (second) and Troy Cowan (lead).
The junior women’s and men’s finals will take place next Thursday.
