After a perfect performance in pool play, one loss by one point kept Cloverdale curler Tyler Tardi from playing for a gold medal at the Canada Winter Games in Prince George.
Tardi, skip of Team BC, lost 6-5 to Manitoba in a semifinal match Thursday night after a perfect 5-0 (won-lost) record had him first in Pool B. He rebounded Friday morning to thump Saskatchewan 11-2 for a bronze medal.
Against Manitoba, Team BC trailed 6-2 after seven ends. They scored twice in the ninth to get to within a pair, and were sitting two with Manitoba throwing the final rock. The Manitoba skip removed one B.C. rock, hanging on for the win.
Tardi and Team BC wasted little time wrapping up the bronze medal Friday. They opened by scoring two, then stole one in each of the second and third ends. After Saskatchewan scored their first point of the game, Tardi responded with five in the sixth end for a 9-1 cushion.
“It’s a huge honour to win a medal in my home province.” Tardi told the Prince George Citizen. “We did our province proud and that’s all we can ask for.”
Six Surrey athletes will compete during the second week of the Canada Winter Games. Pin Kuan Ho, who has placed in the top four at the last five junior national championships, will seek a medal in badminton.
Michael Rasmussen, 15, will play forward for Team BC in the men’s hockey tournament. He was signed last month by the Tri-City Americans of the Western Hockey League.
Other local athletes in Prince George this week are Stephanie Divin (figure skating), Shayna Goodwin (snowboard), Michele Garceau (squash) and Seray Sefayi (synchronized swimming).