The two Vernon teams got off to a roaring start Thursday afternoon in Draw 2 of the BC Junior Curling Championships at Vernon Curling Club.

Both host teams got the bye in Draw 1 and hit the ice in the afternoon against last yearB次元官网网址檚 menB次元官网网址檚 and womenB次元官网网址檚 champions as an immediate test of their collective resolve.

On the womenB次元官网网址檚 side, Megan McGillivray rode the big end to an 11-5 thumping of reigning BC junior champ Taylor Resse-Hansen from Victoria, and on the menB次元官网网址檚, Erik Colwell hung on to edge the reigning World Junior champs skipped by Tyler Tardi from Langley/Victoria 7-6 in 10 ends.

It was a nailbiting finish after Tardi managed to tie the game in nine with a three.

B次元官网网址淭hatB次元官网网址檚 always stressful, coming down to the last rock, itB次元官网网址檚 a lot of pressure,B次元官网网址� said an exhilarated Colwell after the game.

There was a measurement in seven for ColwellB次元官网网址檚 potential second counter but he only scored one. In eight, he made an incredible angle-raise to the button with his first and then drew around cover and to eventually steal one as Tardi tried the in-off but was a bit full.

B次元官网网址淲e were really confident going into nine and we got a bad break and we gave him a shot that we know he usually makes for three and he made it. Going into 10 we were still confident. We had the hammer in a tie game so we werenB次元官网网址檛 down on ourselves although we knew we kind of lost the opportunity.B次元官网网址�

What started as a white-knuckle final end eased after second Ben Morin nailed the high-velocity peel.

B次元官网网址淲hen Ben made his double peel in the 10th it definitely calmed me down because I knew my shot was going to be a bit easier,B次元官网网址� Colwell confirmed.

B次元官网网址淚 rely on my teammates a lot, especially in pressure situations. TheyB次元官网网址檙e the ones sweeping and calling line so I need to be confident in them just as much as I need to be confident in myself.B次元官网网址�

In the end, Colwell did not have to throw his last shot as TardiB次元官网网址檚 attempted chip and sit sailed just wide leaving Colwell with the counter. Taking down the world champs clearly provided the host squad with a jolt of adrenaline.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 huge, it gives us a lot of confidence going the rest of the week and hopefully, we can go undefeated and continue rolling from here,B次元官网网址� Colwell said.

During the run-up to the provincials, Colwell thought there might be a home-ice advantage for both his team and Team McGillivray, but Colwell shot that down quickly.

B次元官网网址淚 think [the ice] is so different from what we play on every day, so it changed,B次元官网网址� Colwell noted, adding the big equalizer was the rocks.

B次元官网网址淭hey sharpened them and they are really lively which means they roll forever, so we really have to be throwing quiet weight,B次元官网网址� he said.

McGillivray and Reese-Hansen shook hands in nine after McGillivray scored four to make it a somewhat anticlimactic an 11-5 final.

The standings after Day 1:

惭别苍B次元官网网址檚

1

奥辞尘别苍B次元官网网址檚