The Zone 6 girls curling team playing this week in the B.C. Winter Games in Penticton have honed their on-ice chops at the Juan de Fuca Curling Club and elsewhere around the Island.

The combined West Shore-Sooke fivesome is led by skip Cassandra Blenkin, 15, the eldest member of the rink. But this is the Langford residentB次元官网网址檚 first trip to the B.C. Winter Games.

B次元官网网址淭his is a really new experience for me.B次元官网网址� She added, however, B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 striving for a medal.B次元官网网址�

Three of the five played together last year, including at the regional juvenile playdowns in Mill Bay, a competition that provided a valuable competitive opportunity.

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 looking forward to competing against high-level teams,B次元官网网址� said one of those players, 13-year-old third Sophie Bissette of View Royal, of the Games. B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e going to learn a lot.B次元官网网址�

She brings knowledge gained from working with the Victoria Curling Club junior academy, as well as playing bonspiels and league play with her Games teammates.

The front end for this rink is where the Sooke contingent comes in, and theyB次元官网网址檙e ready to play important roles.

Second Loganne Bell, 14, a Grade 9 student at Royal Bay and the third returning rink member, said the group has been working a lot on their line B次元官网网址� that is, hitting the broom with their shots. She said theyB次元官网网址檝e shown great improvement as a team in that regard since the beginning of the season.

Kayla Wilson, 14, holds down the lead position, helped by younger sister Sasha, 12. Kayla likes the way the group has gelled, a situation that seems to start at the top.

B次元官网网址淪heB次元官网网址檚 a really good team player,B次元官网网址� she said of Blenkin. B次元官网网址淪he always knows what to say when you mess up.B次元官网网址�

Sasha, who expects to get into at least one game at lead, will serve a key role along with coach Julie Atcheson, charting statistics, watching how the ice is running and serving almost as an assistant coach.

Atcheson pointed out that success may take a different form for this enthusiastic group.

B次元官网网址淥ur team is not based on winning, itB次元官网网址檚 based on having fun and learning something,B次元官网网址� she said, adding they take every game end by end. B次元官网网址淚t breaks it down and it makes it less stressful for everybody out there. They will do fine, I have no qualms about (that).B次元官网网址�

editor@goldstreamgazette.com