Hannah Airey is heading to New Brunswick next month to compete in the U18 national curling championship as a member team that has earned the name "Team Alberta."

The 16-year-old St. Timothy High student is lead on the Bakker rink that swept its way to the nationals in the Alberta championship hosted by Okotoks, Mar. 1 to 4. They competed against seven other teams from throughout Alberta to earn the chance to be crowned Canadian champions.

Previous to this they won one of the three spots available from the U18 Southern final in February.

Fourteen teams are competing for the national title in St. Andrew's, NB, Apr. 9 to 14. Team Alberta aims to be one of the four coming out of their seven-team pool to make the first playoff round. From there, the four winners advance to the championship round.

Hannah Airey sweeps in a rock with second Rhiley Quinn and skip Ryleigh Bakker to the left and Hannah Phillips with her back to the camera. The team soon heads to New Brunswick to represent Alberta at the nationals.They 

They open against Nova Scotia on Apr. 9 before facing Manitoba, Northern Ontario, Newfoundland, Quebec and the host team.

It has been a solid season of play for Team Bakker that splits its time between the Calgary Curling Club and the Okotoks club. Prior to this, they topped the standings of the U18 women Alberta Junior Curling Tour from their play in multiple bonspiels throughout the season.

Team Bakker has been together for two seasons and other team members are skip Ryleigh Bakker, third Hannah Phillips, second Rhiley Quinn and coach Allison Earl.

They've played in the Alberta U18 (previously known as juvenile) final both seasons, explains Airey, and this year was a rematch against last year's winner, the Abby Marks rink.

The team enjoys tough competition and are accustomed to the pressure of playing at a higher level. Heading into the nationals, they already have the additional experience of competing underage in two Alberta junior championships.

"Last year we made it into the U18 final and that was a lot of pressure. We had to come back in the second half of the game. We played pretty well but didn't win, but it still was the final so it that was awesome."

Airey's team was on the ice four to five times a week during league play, but now it will cut back to a couple of times a week leading up to the nationals.

"We don't want to do too much. Rest is a big part of it and we don't want to make too many changes because clearly, it has worked out for us."

After trying on a few other recreational activities, she realized curling was her sport and it is one that runs in her family.

"I didn't really have a sport I enjoyed. I tried baseball and I tried dance and nothing really stuck. Then I tried curling and I ended up liking it, so I guess basically it's a family influence."

Airey's coming into her eighth season in the sport and has tried other positions but has been a lead for the last four years because it plays into her strengths.

"Normally, I set up the end for the girls so if I mess up then they're chasing the rest of the end, so being the lead is pretty important. But being the lead, I'm a little bias, too" she laughs.