Moose Jaw’s Skylar Ackerman is on the verge of qualifying for the playoff round at the junior women’s provincial curling championship currently underway in Saskatoon.
Ackerman, 18, and her Saskatoon Nutana rink of third Emily Haupstein, second Taylor Stremick and lead Abbey Johnson improved to 4-1 in the eight-team round robin tournament with a 7-2 win over Yorkton’s Jessica Farquharson on Monday morning.
Things were interesting in the early going, as Farquharson used a deuce in the second end to take a 2-1 lead and Ackerman would blank the next two frames before putting the hammer to perfect use in the fifth, scoring three to take a 4-2 edge.
Ackerman would steal two in the seventh and then add another steal of one in the eighth to bring the game to an early end.
Ackerman opened the event with an 8-3 loss to Regina’s Krystal Englot, but it’s been clear sailing since as she rolled to an 8-2 win over Saskatoon Sutherland’s Madison Kleiter, 8-4 win over Saskatoon Sutherland’s Savanna Taylor and downed Saskatoon Granite’s Amy Remeshylo 7-5.
Ackerman’s 4-1 record is good enough for second place behind unbeaten Ashley Thevenot from Saskatoon Sutherland (5-0). Next up is Regina Callie’s Kyla Thies (1-4) on Monday evening before what could be a first-place showdown against Thevenot on Tuesday morning.
The top four teams after the round robin advance to a Page playoff beginning Tuesday, with the gold medal game set for Wednesday at the Saskatoon Sutherland.
