Ackerman and her Saskatoon Nutana rink of third Emily Haupstein, second Taylor Stremick and lead Abbey Johnson went down to the final shot of the final end of the gold medal game before dropping a 7-5 decision to Saskatoon Sutherland’s Ashley Thevenot to cap off an impressive week for the 18-year-old Moose Jaw Ford Curling Centre product.
Ackerman rolled through the round robin with a 6-1 record, including a 5-4 win over Thevenot to close out the preliminary portion of the event.
Unfortunately for the local skip, she wouldn’t be able to replicate that success.
Thevenot would win the Page Playoff 1-2 game 6-4 with a steal of two in the 10th, after which Ackerman rebounded to roll past Regina’s Krystal Englot 11-6 in the semifinal to set up a rematch for gold.
Skylar Ackerman was named the top skip of the Curl Sask provincial junior women’s curling championship, with Travis Brown taking home the top coach honour.There, the two teams were tied 4-4 through six ends before Ackerman scored one in the eighth to take a 5-4 lead.
Thevenot got that right back and then some with a deuce in the ninth, setting up another tense 10th end. Ackerman needed a tough draw to the four foot with her last shot of the contest, but rubbed on a rock at the top of the eighth to give Thevenot the steal and the win.
Ackerman did end up bringing home some hardware nonetheless – she was named the tournament’s top skip, while coach Travis Brown took home the top coach honour.
