聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 A men鈥檚 curling team with local connections is competing at the SaskTel Tankard being hosted in Estevan: Jan. 31 鈥� Feb. 4.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Andrea McEwen of Carlyle is coaching Team Stewart, which is skipped by Brayden Stewart of Maryfield. Brody Blackwell of Assiniboia is the lead, brothers from Lloydminster Evan Latos is second and Jared Latos is third, while Oxbow鈥檚 Shane Kitz is the team鈥檚 alternate.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淚鈥檝e been coaching them juniors for the last three years and this is the first year the opportunity to compete at more men鈥檚 events developed,鈥� McEwen explained. 鈥淭hey had lost out in the semi-finals at juniors, so we decided to try our hats at the Northerns with no expectations. Out of that they were one of the teams to qualify to compete at the Tankards and they will be the youngest competitors there.鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淚t鈥檚 a huge accomplishment for these guys.鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 The team formed through university connections and McEwen was brought into the fold through her relationship with the Kitz family.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 The winner of the Tankard goes on to represent Saskatchewan at the Tim Hortons Brier.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淚t鈥檚 a far off goal, but it is a goal,鈥� McEwen said. 鈥淭hey鈥檝e played in various events and will be coming up against familiar teams; they had a close game against Steve Laycock鈥檚 team.鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淭hey鈥檙e excited. They grew up watching these guys and now they have the opportunity to play on arena ice and to be a part of it with these guys is pretty special.鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 McEwen is also excited that curling is in the family as her brother is currently competing in the Manitoba provincials.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淭hey鈥檝e had a fabulous year so far and now they get to go out there with the big boys,鈥� McEwen said smiling.
