Johnston rink earns Canadians berth

 The skip from Aylmer and her London Curling Club rink place second

 at the U18 girls provincial championship qualifying for Nationals

Skip Charlotte Johnston, left, Brooklyn Ideson, coach Tony Francolini, Scotia Maltman and Julia Markle, will be Ontario 2 at the U18 girls National curling championship. (photo / Charlotte Johnston)

     April 7, 2022

By Rob J. Ross 

AYLMER, Ont. - Charlotte Johnston will be representing Ontario at the Canadian U18 girls' curling championship.

Johnston skips the London Curling club rink, of Brooklyn Ideson, Scotia Maltman, Julia Markle and coach Tony Francolini, that placed second at Curl Ontario's U18 women's championship, in Kingston, March 30-April 3.

The Aylmer native who is a Grade 12 student at Parkside Collegiate Institute and her teammates will be Ontario 2, at Nationals, May 1-7, at the Oakville curling club.

"The whole time we were communicating really well and playing well. We finished the round robin in first place with a record of six and one," Johnston said.

"Going into the final we felt good, but knew that it would be a close game. That game came down to the last rock in an extra end. Unfortunately we were on the wrong side of the inch, and we had to regroup and go back out to play for the second spot at nationals."

Skip Charlotte Johnston, left, with her team, at the U18 provincial championships. (photo / courtesy Charlotte Johnston)

The Johnston rink lost the final, 6-5, to Emma Acres, out of the RCMP club, from Ottawa, but responded with a 7-4 victory, against Katrina Frlan, of the Huntley club, in Carp, for their spot.

"This is our first trip to nationals," Johnston said. "We don't know anything about any of the teams we're playing against, which will be new for us. We're hoping to make playoffs, but our number one goal is to enjoy the experience."

In 2019, Johnston skipped the Parkside Stampeders to a TVRA South-East girls title, defeating the Central Elgin Titans, 7-5, in the final, at the St. Thomas Curling Club.