The 2020 NWT Curling Club Championships saw Mark Robertson skip his rink from the Inuvik Curling Club to victory, only to see it all go down the drain thanks to Covid-19.

The 2021 NWT Curling Club Championships this past March saw Mark Robertson skip his rink from the Inuvik Curling Club to victory and this time, he and the crew will get to go.

Robertson and his rink of Nick Saturnino, Michael Fraser and Glen Tingmiak will be the Team NWT menSA国际影视传媒檚 representative at the Everest Canadian Curling Club Championships in Ottawa, which get underway this coming Monday, Nov. 28. ItSA国际影视传媒檚 the national championship for curlers at the club level, meaning none of the big guns from Canadian curling will be competing.

Robertson said knowing that everyone playing is at the club level is a nice feeling but that doesnSA国际影视传媒檛 mean it wonSA国际影视传媒檛 be top-shelf curling.

SA国际影视传媒淵ou wonSA国际影视传媒檛 face the teams that travel to play in the big-money bonspiels but this event has a knack of seeing some pretty strong teams, especially from the bigger provinces,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淪ome teams who may think about playing in the Brier playdowns keep themselves out of that in the hopes of qualifying for something like this. (There are ) no giants of the game but still some pretty stiff competition.SA国际影视传媒�

Robertson and company qualified for the national event by beating fellow Inuvik skip Mel Sittichinli in Yellowknife, 8-5. Under normal rules, the winner from the year before wouldnSA国际影视传媒檛 be eligible to enter the following yearSA国际影视传媒檚 qualifier but because there was no national championship due to the Covid-19 cancellation, Robertson was allowed back in by NWT Curling to try and win the spot back.

He did just that and will get to go for the second time, the first time coming back in 2015.

SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 better late than never,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淚SA国际影视传媒檓 happy weSA国际影视传媒檒l get a crack at it.SA国际影视传媒�

A total of 14 rinks will be in action, split into two pools of seven for round-robin pool play. Following that, the top four teams will enter into a double-knockout playoff to determine the champion. For pool play, the NWT will be up against Northern Ontario SA国际影视传媒� the team they open up against on Monday evening SA国际影视传媒� B.C., Nova Scotia, Manitoba, New Brunswick and Newfoundland and Labrador.

Robertson said heSA国际影视传媒檚 going into it one game at a time with no hopes about who he thinks the rink can beat.

SA国际影视传媒淲hen the pools come out, you hope it breaks your way,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淲eSA国际影视传媒檙e just going to go head on with whatSA国际影视传媒檚 in front of us.SA国际影视传媒�

As for a final result, Robertson said there isnSA国际影视传媒檛 any set goal only that heSA国际影视传媒檚 hoping to put a tick or two in the win column.

SA国际影视传媒淭he ladies rink (Sarah Stroeder of Yellowknife) did quite well a couple of years ago,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淚 canSA国际影视传媒檛 recall the men having much success but weSA国际影视传媒檙e going to enjoy ourselves and do the territory and Inuvik proud. If we can leave with a win or two under our belts, ISA国际影视传媒檓 sure weSA国际影视传媒檇 be happy with that.SA国际影视传媒�