The defending provincial champions are hoping a victory in Okotoks is a harbinger of things to come.
Black Diamond’s Team Libbus took home the A-title Sunday to cap an undefeated weekend at the Okotoks Curling Club’s U15/U18 bonspiel the site of the U18 provincial championships in four months time.
Team Libbus — featuring skip Jacob Libbus, third Liam Purcell, second Pacen Anderson, lead Nicholas Warkman and fifth Cailen Knopp — signalled its intent with a pair of dominant performances to start the competition.
Following an 11-1 victory over Team Waite the Oilfields Curling Club outfit dispatched Tayler Ellis 11-0 in just four ends to move onto the A-semifinal.
Cochrane’s Subasthika Thangadurai offered much more of a challenge in the next match.
Libbus used a three ender in the seventh to win out 6-1 and punch a ticket to the championship round.
One of the province’s top female squads stood in their way in the A-final.
Calgary’s Team Ryleigh Bakker, featuring Okotokian Rhiley Quinn throwing second stones, entered the final on the heels of convincing victories.
The back-and-forth tilt was decided in the late going as Libbus picked up a deuce in the fifth to reign supreme by a 5-3 score.
Team Libbus will look to get back on the Okotoks ice to defend its title at the U18 provincials in March.
They weren’t the only local rink to take home a title.
Okotoks Curling Club’s Team Johnston finished their spiel on a high note in outlasting Medicine Hat’s Sam Nygard 7-3 in the C-final.
Team Johnston with Garrett Johnston at skip, Gio Wright at third and Aaron Brown at second used a four-ender in the first to take control of the final. They finished the tournament with a 1-2 record.
Thangadurai edged Josh Kroker 6-3 to take the B event.
In the U15 ranks, Calgary’s Ben Kiist held off Colton Burkard 5-4 in the seesaw A-event championship. The B-event went to the Spencer Tourigny rink.
Next up on the Alberta Junior Curling Tour docket is the Lacombe U15/U18 spiel held Nov. 24-26.
For more information go to albertajuniorcurlingtour.com
