INUVIK - Karly King Simpson's team went into last weekend's territorial curling championships in Hay River looking to qualify for a world class curling tournament, and that's exactly what happened.

But it wasn't smooth sailing through the Dec. 11 to 13 event, despite a second-place finish for Carina McKay-Saturnino, Rayna Vittrekwa, Shannon Baetz and Karly King Simpson.

Karly King Simpson's team got a warm victory welcome from family at the airport upon returning from territorial curling championships in Hay River on Monday. From left, coach Nick Saturnino, Karly King Simpson, Carina McKay-Saturnino, Shannon Baetz and Rayna Vittrekwa. - Andrew Rankin/NNSL photo

The determined foursome of 11 and 12-year-old athletes overcame a few tough losses against the tournament-winning Hay River squad in order to achieve their goal. Their record was two and two, including two wins against the Yellowknife squad which handed Hay River its only defeat of the tournament.

With their second place finish, the Inuvik girls qualified for the 2010 Optimist International Under 18 Curling Championships in Regina. The tournament, which will be held in April, will boast 12 teams from Canada, the northern United States and two teams from Asia.

The girls blew Yellowknife out 13-3 in their last game which decided second place. But the first game remained close until the 10th end when the girls notched two more points securing the victory.

"I'm proud of our team," said Carina McKay-Saturnino.

King Simpson agreed and said she felt extra pleasure in beating Yellowknife.

"We wanted to beat the Yellowknife team because the skip wasn't that nice to her teammates," she said, with a laugh.

The squad has a few other events to prepare for before the big one in April, including the Arctic Winter Games trials at the end of January.

While they'll be facing many players much older than their team in the Under 18 Curling Championships, they said they're not putting any undue stress on themselves, adding they'll do their best and whatever happens, happens.

Coach Nick Saturnino said he was proud of the way the girls conducted themselves in Hay River and is confident they'll do well in Regina.

"There were ups and downs but they came through in the final game when they had to," he said. "They earned the right to go to the under 18s. I'm sure they will do well there."