Another area curler will be headed to nationals, as Strathmore raised Derek Clark will be joining Carbon’s Rebecca Pattison on ice at the M&M Meats national junior men’s championship from January 29 to February 6.
“It’s going to be a tough week, but I think if we play as well as we did in provincials we’ll do well,” says Clark, who was born in Drumheller and is the grandson of Jim and Clara Clark, who formerly farmed in the Rosebud area and now reside in the valley.
The team posted a 6-1 first-place round robin record, beating an opposing Calgary rink to win the provincial title.
Clark has been curling for 12 years, and doing competitive curling for the last seven.
He won the 17 and under provincials when he was 15, and two years ago went to junior nationals in Salmon Arm.
“We’d really like to do well this time around,” says Clark about his last year of junior play. Next year he’ll have to move into the men’s division.
“It’s a lot harder to get out of Alberta, because you’re playing names like Kevin Martin.”
“I think we’re looking forward to moving up to men’s, and for the last few years I’ve been playing with the same guys. It’ll be hard but I’m ready.”
Clark is currently enrolled in Mount Royal University’s nursing program, and hopes to continue into medical school afterwards. Juggling his curling and classes is tough, he says.
“It all depends where we’re at with school and how much we can commit. It’s a struggle. I don’t think I’ll have much time for anything after this year,” he laughs.
“We all feel if we play as well as we have in the last few tournaments, we’ll definitely be up there. It’s the best competition in the country, so you don’t know what you’re up against.”
Almost everyone attending the championship has been there before, says Clark. Every team has a good chance to take the championship.
“Canada is one of the greatest curling countries in the world, so you can’t expect to have an easy game at nationals.”
“As the week goes on, you see who’s going to be on a roll for a week. You can’t tell before you go.”
For now, school is priority for the team, but Clark assures the nerves will probably set in before they lace up.
“We’re just excited to get our first game under our belts and see where we’re at.”
The finals will be broadcast on TSN on February 6.
