A Cochrane U18 curler has added a national medal to her trophy case with Team Alberta's success at the Canadian U18 women's championship, Apr. 9-14, in St. Andrews, N.B.

Hannah Airey, 16, was lead in Team Alberta's bronze medal performance that saw them lose only two of their 11 games, one of which went into an extra end.

They bounced back after losing a close opening game to Nova Scotia, 4-3, and went undefeated for the balance of the round robin to finished first in their pool. They became one of only three teams who came out of the round with 5-1 record, with Ontario and New Brunswick doing the same in the other pool.

Team Alberta lost their opening game of the double knockout round to British Columbia, 10-8, but again responded by defeating Northern Ontario and New Brunswick to advance to the medals round. A 6-5 loss to Saskatchewan in an extra end placed them in the bronze medal final where they defeated Ontario, 5-3.

Team Alberta was down by one but had the hammer in the final end against Ontario in the bronze matchup and in the end, didn't have to throw their final rock.

"It was a really close game up until that last end," says Airey.  "We set up the last end really well, and it went all our way."

Nova Scotia went on to win gold and Saskatchewan, silver.

The competition was tough and is the best curling Airey has seen in her young career and says any of the top four teams could have won.

"There were definitely teams that weren't as strong, but we played almost all the best teams and I'd say it was definitely the best curling I've had," says Airey. "Alberta has really strong curling in general so It wasn't super different, but it was definitely better."

She's thrilled to be returning with a medal.

"It was amazing, especially for our first trip to nationals. Being in the playoffs is really good, let alone getting a medal."

That closes the season and successful run for Team Bakker, skipped by Ryleigh Bakker, who earned the right to represent the province at the Alberta championship in March. There's a change in their lineup next season with two players aging out. Bakker and Airey remain and are being joined by their spare from the nationals, Elysa Crough, and Madison Senft. The new team members curled together this past season.

One of the biggest questions facing both Bakker and Airey was whether they would follow the older players to play at the junior level.

"We went back and forth between moving up with them or staying at our level of play, but in the end, we decided to stay at our level because you get a lot more experience competing against your own age group."

The team reunites for their first camp in mid-August and competition starts in September as they aspire to get another crack at the Canadian championship.

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