The rinks that will represent Saskatchewan at the 2014 Canadian Junior Men's and Women's Curling Championships have been decided.
Tyler Hartung's Langenburg rink and Kristen Streifel's Saskatoon Nutana rink won their respective provincial championships Dec. 31 at the Northland Power Curling Centre.
In the women's final, Streifel defeated defending provincial champion Jessica Hanson 8-7 in extra ends.
Hanson took the early advantage, going up 3-1 after scoring two in the third end. The two rinks traded points until the seventh end. Streifel stole three to lead 6-4 with three ends left to play.
"I think that was a huge momentum shift," said skip Streifel. "We had been trailing the entire game. We were trying to catch up and keeping it really close. We didn't let them get too far ahead."
Streifel added a point in the eighth to go ahead by three, but Hanson fought back. Hanson's rink scored two in the ninth and stole a point in the 10th to force extra ends.
In the 11th end, Streifel had the hammer and had two close to the button. Hanson needed a perfect tap to get her last rock into scoring position, but was unable to make the shot.
"We were just looking for any type shot that we would have if she made that perfect tap," said Streifel of her mindset as Hanson's rock slid slowly down the sheet. "My mind was definitely still in the game and just focusing on that next rock."
Streifel won the provincial championship in 2012 and looks forward to representing Saskatchewan again.
"I don't think there is any better feeling than wearing that green and white and knowing that you're representing such a great province where there's so many good curlers," said Streifel.
After beating defending champion Brady Scharback in the semifinal, Chad Lang's Saskatoon Nutana rink squared off against Hartung in the final. Hartung held on to beat Lang 9-7.
The teams exchanged twos in the first two ends, but Hartung took control in the third. His rink put up four in the third end, giving his team a 6-2 lead.
"It was actually one of our worst ends of the game," said skip Hartung of the third end.
Lang started to chip away at the lead, earning a point in the fourth and fifth end. He cut the score to 8-7 following scoring two in the ninth. Hartung gave his opponent credit for his play during the game.
"Chad made incredible shots to force us down to one and battled all the way through until the last shot."
The Hartung rink put the game away in the 10th, scoring a single to win the provincial championship. Hartung said it's an incredible feeling to be representing his province at the upcoming national championship.
"This is my eighth provincial and my last one. It's been well worth the wait. I can't wait to represent Saskatchewan and give it all we've got."
Cole Tenetuik, from the Battlefords and curling out of Moose Jaw, lost 7-4 in the page playoffs to Lang's rink.
Hartung and Streifel will travel to Liverpool, N.S. to take part in the 2014 Canadian Junior Men's and Women's Curling Championship Jan. 18-26.
