Team Duncan gaining valuable experience at Autumn Gold Classic
Keelie Duncan and her rink curl out of the University of Calgary.
The Autumn Gold Classic is the first big women's event they've competed in and the 19-year-old skip admits there were some nerves heading into their first game.
"A little bit, probably more on my side," she said.
"The girls and I, we just collectively work together and try and bring each other up and we try not to worry too much about the nerves."
Valuable experience
Team Duncan didn't win their first game -- Team Ueno out of Japan beat them 9-3.
But it's not really about wins and losses at the Classic -- it's more about gaining valuable experience.
"We're still juniors, so the stepping stone to women's is next year," Duncan said.
"Our expectation is to do well and perform well and if that doesn't necessarily show up on the scoreboard, that's OK. If we're happy with the way we played, then I'm totally happy with that."
Big-name coach
Jocelyn Peterman, 2016 Scotties Tournament of Hearts champion and Olympian, is also competing in the Autumn Gold Classic with Team Lawes.
Peterman is also one of Team Duncan's coaches at the University of Calgary.
Peterman has this advice for the team heading into the tournament:
"An event like this is kind of fun," she said.
"You kind of get to see where you stack up and maybe learn a few things and maybe even confidence-wise, see how close you actually are. It's a good learning experience."
Wants to be just like her coach
Duncan has been curling since she was five years old and wants to take it further.
She says she'd love to have as good a career as her coach.
"Jocelyn is a huge inspiration to me and my game," Duncan said.
"She skipped when she was junior, so I really hope that I can do what she has done, like being able to go to the Olympics. She's just a huge inspiration to me."
Bright future
Peterman thinks Duncan can go far in the sport.
"They see what we do at the top level and I think they have that drive," she said.
"The main thing is if you're willing to learn and be coached and have that motivation to get to that next level. I think all of the people we have on both of our teams have that."
Peterman's husband, curler Brett Gallant, is also one of the coaches at the University of Calgary.
The Autumn Gold Classic runs through to Monday.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'It’s a dream come true': Holt, Liberal cabinet sworn-in to office
Susan Holt, the province's first female premier, and 18 cabinet ministers took the oath of office in the chamber of the legislative assembly.
Alberta Premier Smith gets 91 per cent support in leadership review
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith received a dominating 91.5 per cent vote of support from her United Conservative Party members in a scheduled leadership review vote on Saturday.
Live from New York: Harris making surprise 'Saturday Night Live' appearance with election looming
U.S. Vice-President Kamala Harris has made an unannounced trip to New York to appear on an episode of 'Saturday Night Live,' briefly stepping away from the battleground states she’s been campaigning in with just three days to go before the election.
Multiple RTDNA wins for CTV News, including 2 for W5
CTV News won four national news awards and a local news award from RTDNA Canada, the organization announced Saturday night at a gala event in Toronto.
2 people charged in Toronto incident that left police horse and officer injured were out on bail, police say
The driver of a pickup truck who allegedly struck a police horse and rammed several cruisers on Queen Street West on Friday afternoon was out on bail at the time of the incident, Toronto police say.
Here's what you can buy for $729,000 in 8 Ottawa neighbourhoods
CTVNewsOttawa.ca looks at what you can buy for the average Ottawa home price of $729,000 in eight Ottawa neighbourhoods.
Calgary police issue warning after receiving over 150 calls relating to personal fireworks
Calgary police issued a media statement Saturday reminding residents about the rules regarding personal fireworks after receiving over 150 complaints.
Florida's convicted killer clown released from prison for the murder of her husband's then-wife
A woman who pleaded guilty to dressing as a clown and in 1990 murdering the wife of a man she later married was released from prison on Saturday.
Vancouver quietly proclaimed Chip Wilson Day as billionaire installed sign calling B.C. NDP 'communist'
On the same day Chip Wilson erected a controversial sign at his Vancouver mansion, the city was quietly honouring the billionaire and his wife.