Kerry Galusha and Jamie Koe will have a chance to compete in curling nationals after emerging victorious during territorial playdowns in Hay River.
The Hay River Curling Club hosted 11 teams for five days of competition ending Sunday.
Similar playdowns have been taking place across Canada to determine who will represent each province and territory during the 2016 Scotties Tournament of Hearts and Tim Horton’s Brier.
By claiming this weekend’s women’s draw, Galusha and her team advance to a Scotties pre-qualifier, which gets underway February 18th in Grande Prairie, Alberta.
There, they’ll compete against British Columbia, Nunavut and the Yukon for a chance to advance to the main draw, which starts February 20th.
Team NWT just missed out on an opportunity to compete in last year’s tournament after losing to Northern Ontario in the pre-qualifier final.
On the men’s side, Koe and his rink will compete in a pre-qualifier for the Brier against Nova Scotia, Nunavut and the Yukon.
This year’s men’s national curling championship will be held in Ottawa, Ontario, with pre-qualifier action getting underway March 3rd and the main draw two days after that.
Team NWT will look for a better start to this year’s championship, after going winless in 11 tries at the 2015 Brier.
Winners in both events will represent Canada during world curling championships later this spring.
Kerry Galusha wins NWT Scotties Final, will play Pre-Qualifier vs BC, Yukon and Nunavut in Grande Prairie! #curling https://t.co/GjBfiLMB3o
— CurlingZone (@CurlingZone) January 31, 2016
Jamie Koe wins NWT #Curling Title, off to #Brier in Ottawa to play Pre-Qualifier vs Nova Scotia, Yukon, Nunavut. https://t.co/ZGQOkTd5hB
— CurlingZone (@CurlingZone) January 31, 2016
The boys win! Off to the #prebrier event in #ottawa #soyourtellingmethereisachance
— Jamie Koe (@JKnwt) January 31, 2016