SHERWOOD PARK, Alta. — Karlee Burgess is just 17 years old but is all set to make her Pinty’s Grand Slam of Curling series debut at the Humpty’s Champions Cup.
Burgess throws second stones for Team Mary Fay from Chester, N.S., who qualified for the Pinty’s Grand Slam of Curling event by winning the world junior women’s curling championship earlier this year in Denmark.
“It’s pretty incredible,” Burgess said. “Being 17 years old and getting to be able to participate in this feels pretty cool.”
Shortly after winning the world juniors, Fay and Burgess were back overseas joining Tyler Tardi and Sterling Middleton for Canada’s mixed team at the 2016 Youth Olympics in Lillehammer, Norway. Once again, Burgess returned home with the gold.
“It’s been a pretty busy year but getting to wear (the maple leaf) twice in one year is something that not a lot of people get a chance to do so I’m very fortunate to have the chance that I actually did that,” Burgess said. “It’s a pretty amazing year and I’ll never forget it for sure.
“It’s pretty crazy but it was fun though so it was all worth it.”
Fay couldn’t make it to the Humpty’s Champions Cup due to exams as vice skip Kristin Clarke moved up to skip and Sarah Daniels from B.C. has come on board as a spare at third. Janique LeBlanc is staying put at lead.
Daniels served as the team’s fifth player for the world juniors and was a no-brainer choice when Team Fay needed a sub.
“We took Sarah to the worlds and she was a phenomenal fifth so we knew right away that’s what we were going to do because she’s so nice and she did so much for us when we were at worlds,” Burgess said. “We wanted to give her the chance to play with us and invited her here.”
Burgess admitted it’s going to be a little different playing without Fay though as it’s something that hasn’t happened in a while.
“I don’t remember the last time I hadn’t played with Mary for a game so it’s definitely going to be a little different and we’ll get used to it for sure,” Burgess said. “We’re just excited to play here and have the chance to be here. It’s going to be a good week.”
The Humpty’s Champions Cup starts Tuesday night at the Sherwood Park Arena Sports Centre with TV coverage beginning Thursday.
NOTES: The Humpty’s Champions Cup is the seventh and final event of the 2015-16 Pinty’s Grand Slam of Curling season. … The event is the second of two new tournaments added to the schedule this year along with the Tour Challenge, which kicked off the season in September. … Teams had to win an event over the course of the season in order to qualify for the Humpty’s Champions Cup. … The Pinty’s Grand Slam of Curling returns for the 2016-17 season starting with the Masters, Oct. 25-30, in Okotoks, Alta.