Hot start for B.C.!

Team B.C., from left, Gerry Austgarden, Ina Forrest, coach Sharon Morrison, Rick Robinson and Glen McDonald. (Photo, Curling Canada/Jean Doyon)

Team British Columbia setting strong early pace in Moose Jaw

The 2023 Canadian Wheelchair Curling Championship is starting to heat up in Moose Jaw, Sask!

Team B.C. skip Gerry Austgarden picked up his third straight win on Tuesday in Moose Jaw, Sask. Team Austgarden scored five in the fifth end en route to a 9-5 win over Team Ontario #2, skipped by Paul Grose (Ilderton, Ont.).

Keeping pace with Team B.C. in Pool A is Team Northern Ontario, skipped by Douglas Dean. The Thunder Bay team also improved to 3-0 with a 10-5 victory over Don Kuchelyma’s Team Alberta #2 from Edmonton.

In the other Pool A game, Gilbert Dash’s Team Saskatchewan, from Moose Jaw, improved to 2-1 by defeating Team New Brunswick, skipped by Mike Fitzgerald, 7-3.

In Pool B play, 2019 Canadian champ Jack Smart and his Alberta #1 team from Calgary kept its perfect record alive (3-0) with an 8-2 win over Quebec’s Team Benoit Lessard, whose team took its first loss.

Also in the Pool B hunt is Team Ontario #1 (Schomberg), skipped by Jon Thurston, who was an 8-2 winner over Team Saskatchewan #2, skipped by Rod Pederson. Ontario #1 improved to 2-1 with the victory.

In the other Pool B game Tuesday afternoon, Team Newfoundland/Labrador, skipped by Cecilia Carroll, scored four in the eighth end for a 9-6 win over Team Nova Scotia, skipped by Laughie Rutt.

In late games on Monday night, Saskatchewan #2 shaded Newfoundland/Labrador 6-5; B.C. toppled New Brunswick 6-2; Quebec doubled Ontario #2 8-4; Saskatchewan #1 was a 17-1 winner over Alberta #2; Alberta #1 beat Nova Scotia 8-3; and Northern Ontario defeated Ontario #2 8-5.

The 2023 Wheelchair Nationals continue Wednesday in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan with draws at 2:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. (all time CST). 

Live scoring and standings for the 2023 Canadian Wheelchair Curling Championships are available at curling.ca/scoreboard.

Streaming of this event can be found at plus.curling.ca