The inaugural Marc Kennedy Classic U18 Junior Bonspiel, presented by Sarasota Homes & Realty, sweeps into action at 9 a.m. Friday at the St. Albert and Jasper Place curling clubs.
Forty rinks from Fort St. John to Okotoks are competing in the 91-game draw, featuring eight pools of five teams apiece.
St. Albert and Jasper Place are hosting 22 games apiece Friday and the rest of the bonspiel will be played at the Taché Street location.
The bonspiel consists of 10 competitive and eight intermediate male rinks, eight competitive and five intermediate female rinks, one competitive and three intermediate mixed rinks and five recreation rinks.
The curlers range in age from 10 to 17.
Representing the St. Albert club is Oake in competitive, Berg, Schnirer and Graham in intermediate and Bakos, Lozinsky and Weir in recreational.
The quarter-finals are Saturday at 4 p.m. and the semifinals are Sunday at 9 a.m. with the finals at noon.
Saturday night is the banquet and dance, plus the Hot Shots event, with the top 12 curlers from predetermined shots advancing to the final.
The women’s, men’s and mixed playoffs are wrapping up soon at the St. Albert Curling Club.
The women’s Manager’s Cup final is tonight at 6:30 p.m., the President’s Cup and Manager’s Cup mixed finals are Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. and the men’s and women’s President’s Cup and men’s Manager’s Cup finals are Wednesday at 6:30 p.m.
The President’s Cup winners advance to the Edmonton and area Tournament of Champions next month at the Edmonton Garrison curling club.
Last year’s President Cup champions were Lauren Jenkyns for the women, Dale Briske for the men, and Doug McLennan in mixed.
The St. Albert Storm kicks off the midget spring league season in the Capital District Minor Football Association on Saturday in Spruce Grove.
Game time against the Edmonton Mustangs is 10 a.m. at Fuhr Sports Park.
The Storm’s lone home game is April 15 against the Lloydminster Red Dogs at 6 p.m. at Riel Recreation Park.
The Storm will also play the Battle River Shock, Millwoods Grizzlies, Edmonton Chargers and Edmonton Mustangs before the playoffs start May 7.
The midget division in the CDMFA was formed in 2005 for Grade 9, 10 and 11 players.
Last year the Storm placed fifth in the six-team division one standings and finished 1-5 overall as the consolation playoff finalists.
