INUVIK - Team McKay-Saturnino swept away the competition at the Neil Moher Junior Bonspiel held in Edmonton from Nov. 19 to 21.

Team McKay-Saturnino pauses for a team shot during Sunday's practice. From left, Hilary Charlie, Karly King Simpson and Carina McKay-Saturnino. Missing from photo: Rayna Vittrekwa - Andrew Rankin/NNSL photo

Not only that but the foursome - Carina McKay-Saturnino, Karly King Simpson, Rayna Vittrekwa and Hilary Charlie - went undefeated with a record of 3-0, which included downing two teams from Edmonton.

For McKay-Saturnino and King Simpson the highlight of the event was handedly beating an older, more experienced team of teenagers.

"It just reminded us that we're a pretty good team and that we're playing well," said McKay-Saturnino.

The three-division tournament, which attracted teams from across Alberta, was a sort of tune up for the upcoming territorials that the girls will be competing in at Fort Smith, from Dec. 30 to Jan. 2.

Besides Charlie, who joined the squad last year, the girls have been together for four years in which they've performed well on various stages. Last year they captured the Junior Curling Bonspiel in Whitehorse and came second at the territorials, where they qualified for the 2010 Optimist International Under-18 Curling Championships in Regina last April.

Competing with plenty of poise, the girls pride themselves on playing their game no matter who they're facing. They believe in each other, too.

"We all played well in Edmonton," said King Simpson. "(Our skip) Carina called really good games."

But the girls' success doesn't come without work. They practise at least three times a week, two hours at a time. At the beginning of the season the girls joined a curling clinic in Whitehorse to sharpen their skills.

They admit to having plenty of weaknesses but are more than willing to keep at it - working toward their main goal: the territorial title. Playing against teams from Yellowknife, Hay River and possibly one from Fort Smith, the girls hope to earn another shot at the Optimist.

Carina's father Nick Saturnino has been coaching the girls since the beginning and travelled with them to Edmonton. He said he was proud of their most recent accomplishment.

"I thought they did wonderfully," he said. "I know they are a very good team. They were focused and they played well."

Looking ahead to the territorials, he thinks they have an "awesome" shot. Either way they'll have plenty of fun trying.

"They're just a great group of girls," he said.

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