Position: Skip
Throws: Right
Current Team: Team Manuel are the champions of the 2016 Nova Scotia Men's Junior Provincial which was held on January 31, 2015. They defeated Chester’s Adam Cocks 8-4 in the final. The team includes, Matthew Manuel (skip), Nick Zachernuk (mate), Ryan Abraham (second) and Alec Cameron (lead). The team will move on to represent Nova Scotia at the 2016 Canadian Junior Championship in Statford, Ontario starting on January 23, 2016.
Years Curled: 12
Hometown: Halifax, Nova Scotia
Curling Highlights: 2015 Canadian Junior National in Corner Brook, 2015 Canada Winter Games
Matthew Manuel, Nick Zachernuk, Ryan Abraham, Alec Cameron and Stu Cameron (coach).
Mayflower: How did you first become interested in the sport?
Answer: When I was younger I used to sit behind the glass and watch my parents play at the club, and I was always eager to get out and try it myself.
Mayflower: When did you know you wanted to play at an elite level?
After watching the 2011 Canada games qualifier our team decided that we should stick together and play for the 2015 Canada games. We set that goal, and I knew then I wanted to work hard to achieve
Mayflower: Who has been the most influential in your curling career?
Our teams coach Stu Cameron has been a huge key to all our teams’ success. He has taught myself a lot about all aspects of the game, and has helped me get where I am today.
Mayflower: What curler inspired you the most growing up?
I loved watching Kevin Martin. He really knew how to call a great game, play to his teammates strengths, and he could always draw to the lid when the game was on the line.
Mayflower: Where did we see your team this fall?
We played a lot this fall, but to name a few we were at the Lakeshore men’s Cashspiel, the Ottawa Valley Junior Superspiel, the Oakisland Junior Cashspiel, and the U-21 Nova Scotia Junior Provincial.
Mayflower: Tell me about winning the NS Junior Men’s Provincial?
Winning the junior provincial is the goal we set for ourselves at the beginning of the season and its super special to defend the title. Winning a second one is even more special then the first.
Mayflower: How did you meet this goal?
A lot of practice leading up to the provincial got us feeling ready for the event. We performed extremely well all week long and stayed calm under the pressure.
Mayflower: What is your goal for the 2015-2016 curling season?
Now that we have won the provincial we are looking to go to Junior Nationals and improve on our record from last year. After this I will be playing with the Dalhousie curling team at the Atlantic University curling championships in February with the hopes of qualifying for the CIS University National to be held in Kelowna at the end of March.
Submitted by,
Jocelyn Adams,
Communications Chair, 2015-2016 Board of Directors
