Alberta Accelerating!

Alberta #1’s Peter Hlushak speeds past Ontario #2 to earn quarterfinal berth at 2024 Canadian Under-18 Curling Championships

Some of the athletes competing at the 2024 Canadian Under-18 Curling Championships aren’t even old enough to have their driver’s licenses, but that didn’t stop Team Alberta #1 skip Peter Hlushak from steering his Edmonton based rink to an impressive playoff win on Thursday afternoon. 

It was a pedal-to-the-metal performance from the Crestwood Curling Club collective, rounded out by vice-skip Lucas Sawiak, second Noah Mason-Wood, lead Parker Harris, alternate Rhett Whittmire and coach Reg Reinhardt, who punched their ticket to a quarterfinal berth with a 6-5 win over Team Ontario #2’s Owen Nicholls (3-4; Ottawa). 

“Feels really good,” said Hlushak after the win. “It was a really close game and we just managed to edge them out.” 

It’s a match that could have gone either way but hinged largely on the sixth end where Team Alberta #1, trailing 3-2, stepped on the clutch and found a higher gear to score three points and expand to a 5-3 lead. Team Ontario #2 looked to freeze its way out trouble on two staggered Alberta stones in the back of the house behind a corner guard, but the Ontario offering stayed on the high side of the pile, showing Team Alberta #1 an open bump for three.  

“I was definitely pretty excited after that one,” said Hlushak of the big end. “It felt really good.” 

Team Ontario #2 would not go quietly, however, scoring two in the seventh to tie the match on a miracle-thin takeout that will be in contention for shot of the week. Team Alberta #1 would carry the hammer into the eighth end and make good on the opportunity, needing only an open hit to secure the 6-5 win. 

“That was a great team win,” Hlushak said. “I think it gives us confidence that we can close out tight games going into the rest of the week and gives us momentum in these playoffs.” 

The win sets the table for a quarterfinal showdown against Newfoundland and Labrador #1’s Simon Perry (5-1; St. John’s) on Friday morning at 8:30 a.m. (all times Eastern). 

In other upcoming male quarterfinal action, Ontario #1’s Tyler McTavish (5-2; Waterloo) will face Saskatchewan #1’s Dylan Derksen (5-1; Martensville) while Québec #1’s Raphaël Tremblay (5-2; Grand-Mère) takes on New Brunswick #1’s Sahil Dalrymple (5-1; Oromocto), and Nova Scotia #1’s Zachary Atherton (6-1; Chester/Halifax) squares up versus Alberta #2’s Jaxon Hiebert (5-1; Sherwood Park).  

In forthcoming female quarterfinal action, set for 12:30 p.m. on Friday, Québec #1’s Jolianne Fortin (5-2; Saguenay) faces off against Ontario #1’s Dominique Vivier (6-0; Ottawa). Alberta #1’s Emma DeSchiffart (4-2; Lacombe) meets Manitoba #1’s Shaela Hayward (5-2; Carman) while British Columbia #1’s Erin Fitzgibbon (5-2; New Westminster) will battle Nova Scotia #1’s Rebecca Regan (6-0; Lower Sackville) and Alberta #2’s Abby Whitbread (5-2; Lacombe) will duel Ontario #2’s Ava Acres (5-1; Ottawa). 

Live scoring and standings for the 2024 Canadian U-18 Curling Championships are available at curling.ca/scoreboard.   

Live-streaming coverage of selected games at the 2024 Canadian Under-18 Curling Championships will be available on Curling Canada +, Curling Canada’s streaming platform. You can access the broadcast schedule by CLICKING HERE.