A local curling team will represent Ontario at the Canadian Masters Curling Championships this year in Saint John, New Brunswick.
The team's skip, Al Hutchinson says his team consists of lead Don Shane of Hanover, 2nd Daryl Shane of Kitchener, and 3rd Kevin Daniel of Wasaga Beach. Hutchinson says the team as it is now is a new line-up, but they're all very familiar with each other.
"Over the years we've played together off and on through different competitions, some men's and senior's stuff. But this year we decided to get together and so far, it's been a good fit," said Hutchinson.
Hutchinson and his team mates will head to Saint John, New Brunswick in a couple of weeks with the tournament kicking off on March 30th and ending April 5th. The team plays out of the Bluewater Curling Club in Owen Sound. Hutchinson says his team had to come through a regional qualifying tournament before heading to the provincial finals in Midland.
"We finished at 6-1 and first in our group of teams, so we got an automatic bye to the final, and we were fortunate enough to win the final and get on our way to the Canadian finals in New Brunswick."
With the tournament being held in New Brunswick, Hutchinson says as of right now, there hasn't been any word from the organizing committee regarding concerns over COVID-19 and possible cancellations.
"I assume it's full steam ahead, and hopefully, we'll keep our fingers crossed that nothing materializes out of that, and we get to go and play and have a fun week and compete against some other great teams."
The Women's World Hockey Championships were recently cancelled in Halifax and Truro, Nova Scotia due to concerns over the virus. As of right now, though, Hutchinson and his team are set to compete.