REGINA -- Martensville’s Dylan Derksen came into the Curl Sask U20 Men’s Provincial Championship as one of pre-tournament favourites, and he’d more than live up to the hype.
Derksen and his rink of third Logan Sawicki, second Tyler Derksen and lead Gavin Martens went undefeated through the six team event in Regina, defeating Saskatoon’s Rogan Snow 9-4 in the championship final on Sunday afternoon.
Derksen did almost all the damage he needed in the second end, with a four-spot giving his rink a quick 4-1 lead. The teams then exchanged single points the next two ends before Derksen stole one in the fifth to go up 6-2. Rogan was able to get back within three heading into the ninth, but a Derksen deuce would lead to the teams shaking hands.
Derksen came into the event hot off an impressive showing in the SaskTel Tankard a couple weeks earlier, where he posted a 4-4 record and came within a win of a playoff spot.
He proceeded to post a 5-0 record through the U20 round robin and then defeated Snow 7-6 in the Page Playoff 1-2 game to book his spot in the final.
Snow and his Sutherland foursome of third Nathan Roy, second Brandon Henbury, lead Josh Lussier and alternate Cole Hilderman rebounded by defeating Moose Jaw’s Dayne Heisler, third Blake Montgomery, second Laine Burnham and lead Jacob Parker in the semifinal, but it was anything but easy.
Deuces in the fourth and sixth ends gave Snow a 5-4 lead before a steal in the seventh would give his foursome a crucial extra point. Heisler scored two in the eighth to tie the game 6-6, and after blanking the ninth, Snow would get his one to advance to the final.
Snow’s only losses on the week were to Derksen, including the final game of the round robin.
Heisler posted a 3-2 record and won his final round robin game to earn his playoff spot.
Derksen now advances to the Curl Canada U20 Men’s National Championship in Summerside, P.E.I. from Mar. 22-30.
