The two-week wait is over for the Skylar Ackerman rink as they prepare to open the 2018 Canadian Under-18 Women’s Curling Championship on Monday.

The local team captured the provincial championship at the end of March with a perfect run through the competition to secure their spot at their first national championship this week in St. Andrews, N.B.

“We’re so excited, we hope we can represent Saskatchewan well,” said Ackerman last week before leaving for the Maritime province.

Team Ackerman features 16-year-old Skylar Ackerman at skip, 16-year-old Madison Johnson at third, the second is 14-year-old Chantel Hoag and 16-year-old Samantha McLaren is the lead.

The team put together an incredible run at provincials in Swift Current last month, winning seven straight games to walk away with their first title.

“We played really well at provincials and if we can keep that same momentum rolling, we’ll have a lot of success,” said Ackerman.

Heading into their first national championship, the young team plans on using their close relationships to find the success that they’re looking for on the pebbled ice.

“We’re best friends on and off the ice, we just have a lot of fun and we communication really well together,” said Ackerman. “We know how to bring each other up when we’re down and we know the right things to say to each other.”

While this is the team’s first trip to nationals, they have a number of provincial championship appearances under their belt already. They also put together a strong run at the Saskatchewan Winter Games earlier this year, coming away with a silver medal for Team South West.

With that experience, Ackerman said they’ll be focused on keeping their nerves in check when they hit the ice at nationals.

“We just need to keeping talking and not let the pressure get to us or the high stakes games and such a big event overcome us,” said Ackerman. “I’m trying not to get to nervous, but it’s hard not, I’m very excited.

“This is our first green jackets, this is what we’ve all wanted since we were little kids and we can’t wait to wear it proudly.”

On Monday last week, Curl Moose Jaw hosted a send-off party for Team Ackerman. It was something that the team has attended many times to send-off other teams to big championships, but Ackerman said it was fun to be on the other end this time around.

“The club has done a great job and we really appreciate all the support that they’ve given us,” she said.

At that send-off dinner, fellow local curler Marie Wright was on hand fresh off her national championship win at the Wheelchair Curling National Championship.

Ackerman said watching what Wright has done over the past month at the Paralympics and nationals has inspired them going into their own national championship.

“They did so well and we hope that we can cap off another win for Saskatchewan and bring home another banner,” she said.

Team Saskatchewan will hit the ice against British Columbia for their opening game on Monday afternoon at 3 p.m. Sask time.