The week has not gone exactly according to plan for Alison Duddy of Quesnel and her Team BC teammates at the Canadian Wheelchair Curling championships in Edmonton.
But Team BC turned their game around for the final two draws to finish with a record of 6-3, good enough for fourth place and a pass into the playoffs.
With a record of 4-3 going into the final two draws, Duddy’s hopes of a national gold medal seemed dim, filled with tie-breakers at best.
Friday was do or die for the Team BC led by skip Gary Cormack.
“We had to win both games to ensure a berth in the playoffs,” Duddy said.
Team BC started the day off on the right foot with a convincing 13-3 win over Ontario thanks to three 3-point ends and a 4-point end. The teams shook hands after six ends.
In the final draw, Team BC scored three in the fifth end, stole two in the sixth end and one in the seventh end to take a 7-5 lead against Northern Ontario and held on for a 7-6 win.
“Even though we were down 5-1 in the fourth end, we had been controlling every end,” Duddy said of the win against Northern Ontario.
“With a few strategy adjustments, we pulled out the win.”
Saturday Team BC hits the rink for the 3 vs. 4 playoff game where they will face Team Manitoba who finished with a record of 7-2.
In round-robin action, Manitoba defeated Team BC handily, 8-1.
“We are hoping for revenge,” Duddy said of the playoff match.
“We have elevated our game so it should be a good one.
It’s been a long year for Duddy, waiting for her shot at payback, an opportunity to atone for last year’s loss in the gold-medal match at the Canadian Wheelchair Championships in Kelowna, B.C.
“I wanted to go back to nationals really bad,” Duddy said.
“Last year we got the silver and I want the redemption of the gold this year.”
Duddy continues on her quest for redemption Saturday evening when she and her Team BC teammates hit the ice at 5:30 p.m.
Alberta faces Nova Scotia in the 1 vs. 2 playoff game.
To follow the action visit www.curling.ca/championships/wheelchair/draw-schedule/
