The Kootenay curling scene is in the spotlight across the province this week.

Two Senior teams from the Kootenays became the first to qualify for the 2020 BC Senior Curling Championships in Vernon.

The winning Senior Women’s team from playdowns at Castlegar Curling Club this past weekend was Team Nichol from Castlegar, Trail and Nelson. Team Nichol (pictured) is made up of skip Heather Nichol, third Jana Bidwell, second Marnie Matthews and lead Joyce Maloff. The winning men’s team was Team Buchy from Kimberley, Castlegar and Sparwood. Team Buchy is made up of skip Tom Buchy, third Deane Horning, second Dave Toffolo, and lead Darren Will. The remaining Senior playdowns take place this weekend (Jan. 17-19) at Smithers, Powell River, Tunnel Town and McArthur Island Curling Club (Kamloops). The Vernon provincials go ahead from Feb. 18-23.

Meanwhile, Tom Buchy’s daughter Kaila Buchy will be thust into the national spotlight when the Kimberley curler skips Team BC at the 2020 New Holland Canadian Junior Curling Championships in Langley. The event starts Saturday and wraps up on Jan. 26, with the winning team going to worlds in Russia.

And yet more Kootenay curling action is still to come. The 2020 BC Men’s Curling Championship, presented by Nufloors – Penticton, and the 2020 Scotties BC Women’s Curling Championship, presented by Best Western is coming to Cranbrook.

The combined event takes places from Jan. 28 to Feb. 2 at Western Financial Place.

Cranbrook’s Team Medford will be the home-crowd favourites. The team made up of Chris Medford, Steve Tersmette, Mitch Young, Jeff Langin and Josh Kennelly will be looking to unseat defending champion Jim Cotter, who is looking for his ninth trip to the Brier.

Another Kootenays team that will be in the mix will be Team Salviulo, who are playing with a revised lineup. Nando Salviulo, Jamie Ingram, Cody Bartlett and Kevin Maffioli will be representing Castlegar Curling Club.

For event and ticket information please visit https://www.curlbc.ca/cranbrook-2020/.