NL

Team of teens scores N.L. berth at Canadian Junior Curling Championships

One of the youngest teams heading to this years Canadian Junior Curling Championships in Shawinigan, Que., is coming out of the Re/Max Centre in St. John's.

High school students make up Team Glynn heading to the under-21 event

Skip Mackenzie Glynn, right, is joined by, from left, Katie Follett, Sarah Chaytor and Camille Burt. (Jeremy Eaton/CBC)

One of the youngest teams heading to the 2018 Canadian Junior Curling Championships in Shawinigan, Que., is coming out of the Re/Max Centre in St. John's. 

The national event has been a launching pad for the career of almost every successful curler this country has produced and this year Newfoundland and Labrador is sending a team of teenagers. 

Lead by skip Mackenzie Glynn, 17, third Katie Follett, 17, second Sarah Chaytor, 15, and lead Camille Burt, 17, the team will make its under-21 junior championship debut when they play the Northwest Territories on Saturday. 

Team Glynn practices at the Re/Max Centre in St. John's. (Jeremy Eaton/CBC)

"I don't feel there is a lot of pressure, it's just we are going up there and we are hoping to do well," Glynn said.

"We are not going up there thinking we have to win. We take it one game at a time and see where that gets us."

Just like mom

Chaytor is bringing her mom, Danette Kirby Chaytor, who competed in the same event in 1992.

"Of course she put me in curling when I was little and I just loved it and stuck with it and here I am, following in her footsteps, I guess," said Chaytor.

Sarah Chaytor's mother, who competed as Danette Kirby on the 1992 Newfoundland and Labrador team, is bringing her jacket to the 2018 junior nationals in Quebec. (Danette Kirby Chaytor)

Team Glynn beat four other, older teams in December at the qualifier in Gander. They weren't the favourites going in but they didn't let that stop them. Now, with the national championships days away the ladies aren't letting their young age control their fate. 

"It's really exciting. It really is a good experience," Burt said.

"We are going to turn all of this into motivation to do good and to represent the province really well."

Team Glynn sets sights on Canadian Junior Curling Championship

7 years ago
Duration 2:22
The teenaged team to represent N.L.

The Canadian Junior Curling Championships runs Jan. 13-21.

Newfoundland and Labrador will also be represented by a men's team from the Corner Brook Curling club, featuring Daniel Bruce, Ryan McNeil Lamswood, Andrew Bruce and Nathan King.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Jeremy Eaton is a reporter and videojournalist with CBC Newfoundland and Labrador.