Just moments after missing a berth to the all-Ontarios later this month in Ottawa, the Muskie girls’ curling rink shook off the disappointment and went back on the ice here yesterday afternoon to earn the NWOSSAA silver medal.
The black-and-gold wound up tied for second place at 3-2 after losing 7-3 to St. Patrick’s in the final draw of the round-robin in the 1 p.m. draw.
St. Patrick’s finished in first place with a perfect 5-0 record.
Port Arthur Collegiate Institute had a chance to finish in second place outright at 4-1 but also lost their final round-robin match yesterday afternoon—falling 7-6 to Lake Superior High School in an extra end.
Fort High and PACI then played a four-end tie-breaker to determine second place, which the Muskies won easily 7-0 in just three ends.
The Muskie rink included Jenna Enge (skip), Kate Bondett, Meaghan Moate, and Brittany Czekaj.
“They were competitive and I think they played very well,” said coach Dave Bondett. “We knew today [Tuesday] was going to be a tough day.
“St. Patrick’s skip—I don’t think she missed a single shot, so they did very well,” he added.
Despite having to settle for silver, Bondett said the Muskies reached their goal regardless.
“Our goal at the beginning of the year was to get here and we’re here, and that’s what matters. There’s nothing to be ashamed of,” he stressed.
Enge, though disappointed, felt much the same way.
“I think it was just execution,” she remarked. “We were very nervous at the start [against St. Patrick’s] and our adrenaline sort of took over.”
Enge added their inexperience as a rink may have contributed, as well.
“It’s my first year as a skip and Brittany’s first year curling,” she noted. “But we played our best—the best we could. I don’t have any regrets.
“We’ll be back next year,” she pledged.
In fact, three-quarters of the rink will be back for another shot at NWOSSAA gold—and a trip to the all-Ontarios.
Only Kate Bondett is graduating this year, with plans to attend Carleton University in Ottawa this fall to study mass communications.
“It’s a little upsetting that it was my last game,” admitted Bondett.
“It was just good to see how much everyone improved over the year. It was a good experience,” she added.
The Muskies had been in the driver’s seat heading into Tuesday morning’s draw, sitting at 3-0 after the first day of action Monday.
But the black-and-gold suffered a tough 7-6 loss to PACI that set the stage for the must-win situation against St. Patrick’s that afternoon.
Port Arthur had led 5-3 after five ends this morning but Fort High bounced back with a three-ender in the sixth.
After the Thunder Bay crew tied the score with a single in the seventh, it all came down to the last rock for the Muskies. Unfortunately, Enge’s final draw went through the house, giving PACI a steal of one for the victory.
The Muskies had opened play Monday morning with an 8-5 win over the Kenora Broncos after stealing the last two ends.
The black-and-gold then dumped Lake Superior 10-1 in just five ends Monday afternoon before beating Geraldton 9-1—also in five ends—that night.
Lake Superior High School ended up in fourth place at 2-3, followed by the Broncos and Geraldton (1-4).
In boys’ action, meanwhile, the Rainy River Owls ended up in a three-way tie for third after the round-robin at 2-3.
But they wound up in fourth place overall after Dryden won the tie-breaker shootout for third. Lake Superior High School, the other team in the tie-breaker, ended up in fifth.
Sir Winston Churchill captured the provincial berth after going 5-0 during the round-robin. St. Ignatius was second at 4-1, with Marathon High School in last place (0-5).
The Muskie boys’ rink had failed to qualify for the NWOSSAA playdowns after finishing third at the NorWOSSA championship last month.
Fort Frances Times
Local News from Across the Rainy River District
