SAULT STE. MARIE, February 9….Ontario advanced to the men’s final while Saskatchewan will compete for the women’s crown at the M&M Meat Shops Canadian Juniors, after exciting semi-final action Saturday night at Soo Curlers Association.

Ontario (Travis Fanset of St. Thomas) won a well-curled, defensive game against last year’s runner-up, Prince Edward Island (Brett Gallant of Charlottetown), 4-3, with a last rock hit which moved an opposition counter enough for the win.

It was a game which included three consecutive blank ends (four overall) in the fourth, fifth and sixth, yet featured some excellent shot-making on both sides. 

It was the second victory of the day for Ontario, which had eliminated Saskatchewan, 7-2 in the afternoon tiebreaker for third place.    

Ontario now faces Quebec (William Dion of Drummondville) in the final Sunday at 1:30 pm ET.  Quebec finished first with a 10-2 round robin record, one win better than Ontario’s 9-3 mark.  However, Ontario beat Quebec, 7-4 in Draw 3.   

Ontario has won eight junior men’s titles since 1950, the latest in 1999 by John Morris.   Quebec has only two wins, in 1980 by Denis Marchand and in 1992 by Michel Ferland.

Saskatchewan (Stephanie McVicar of Saskatoon) continued to roll, winning its third game of the day, 8-7 over Nova Scotia (Danielle Parsons of Halifax).   Unlike the men’s semi-final, the women’s was a shootout, with scoring in every end.

It came down to a hit and stay for McVicar with her last rock in the 10th end, as Saskatchewan counted a deuce for the victory. Earlier in the day, Saskatchewan had first eliminated Alberta, 8-7, then Northern Ontario, 6-5.

Saskatchewan will meet first place Manitoba (Kaitlyn Lawes of Winnipeg) in Sunday’s final at 12 Noon,   Manitoba finished first with a 10-2 mark and also defeated Saskatchewan, 7-4 in Draw 4.

Saskatchewan leads all provinces with 10 junior women’s crowns, the last in 2006 by Mandy Selzer, while Manitoba has won the title seven times since 1971, the last by Kelly Scott (nee MacKenzie) in 1995.

Both finals at Soo Curlers Association will be televised live across Canada on CBC-TV.  The women’s final will start at 12 noon, with the men’s final beginning at 1:30 pm ET. 

The winners will then represent Canada at the world junior curling championships, March 1-9 in Östersund, Sweden.   Canada has won a leading 16 world junior men’s titles since 1975 and eight women’s crowns since 1988.

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