Hammarskjold boys clinch curling playoff spot; Fort Frances girls need win to advance

Thunder Bay’s Hammarskjold High School and its boys curling team clinched a playoff spot yesterday at the all-Ontario championships in Thunder Bay.

They won their third straight game with a 7-5 win over All-Saints High School from Kanata.

Warren Stroud’s foursome had to battle back twice from 2-point deficits before taking the lead in the 6th end, and holding on for the victory in the final end.

The Hammarskjold boys play their final qualifying game against West Niagara on Friday afternoon.

In other boys’ action involving northwestern Ontario schools, Thunder Bay’s St. Patrick’s High School lost to Milton’s St. Francis Xavier in Thursday’s late draw, 8-5, to fall to 1-2 in their pool.

Kenora’s St. Thomas Aquinas lost their 3rd straight game, conceding a 12-3 loss after six ends to St. Patrick’s Catholic High School from Sarnia.

In the girls division, Fort Frances inched closer to a playoff spot with an 8-7 win in an extra end over Mississauga’s Erindale Secondary School.

Aili Chabot’s team had to battle back from 5-0 and 7-5 deficits before a steal in the 8th end forced the extra end.

The win leaves them with a record of 2-1 and tied for second in their pool with Orillia.

The two teams meet on Friday morning with a berth to the quarter-finals on the line.

Hammarskjold’s girls’ team fell to 1-2 after an 8-4 loss to Canterbury High School from Ottawa.

Skip Maija Kuluski got her team out to a 4-0 start after 2 ends before giving up 8 straight.