Stephenville man most decorated N.L. under-21 curler — behind Brad Gushue
Ryan McNeil Lamswood a name to watch in local curling
Ryan McNeil Lamswood has won the provincial junior curling championship five times — second only to Newfoundland and Labrador's most decorated curler, Brad Gushue.
McNeil Lamswood's latest title came last week in Corner Brook at the under-21 championships with the Bruce team.
"My team does such a great job of staying level headed and making sure that everybody stays levelheaded on the team," McNeil Lamswood said, who is a third.
"We're all on the same page and we know that if we're good enough, that if we get down by a little bit that we will come back and grind our way back into a game."
With his win today, <a href="https://twitter.com/mclammer19?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@mclammer19</a> has 5 NL Junior Championships - one behind a guy named <a href="https://twitter.com/BradGushue?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@BradGushue</a>! <a href="https://t.co/NIeG2urA5F">pic.twitter.com/NIeG2urA5F</a>
—@CB_EconomistAt age 13, McNeil Lamswood first competed in the junior curling provincial tournament, but didn't win a single game.
Since then, the now 20-year-old from Stephenville has won five under-21 titles. Olympian Brad Gushue won six.
"It's pretty crazy that I've been mentioned in the same vein," he said.
"But it's also because of the great teams I'm on, really. I would have never even been close to what he'd done if it weren't for such great teammates I've had."
Coach Dennis Bruce said the team works well together and has great camaraderie.
"Ryan, in past years, changed positions so we could bring another person in," Bruce said.
"There is no ego on this team, and that's a large part of why they're successful."
The team will now compete at the national U21 championships, which take place in Langley, B.C., in January.
With files from Troy Turner