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SAULT STE. MARIE, Ont. — Tanner Horgan took some bumps along the way in his Pinty’s Grand Slam of Curling debut this week, but the 18-year-old junior star ended it off on a high note.

Horgan took two points in the eighth to tie and stole a pair in the extra end to upset Saskatoon’s Steve Laycock 6-4 during Draw 9 action Thursday at the Boost National.

The Canadian junior silver medallist from Sudbury, Ont. — who received the sponsor’s exemption to compete in the event — said it wasn’t exactly the way he’d hope to win as Laycock’s last in the extra picked, but he credited his team for keeping it tight all game and setting the stage for the stunning victory in front of friends and family including his older sisters Tracy Fleury and Jenn Wylie from Team Fleury.

“We played really well to put ourselves into that position so we felt really good about the game,” Horgan said. “We were even with them. We had moments where we played better than them and worse than them so we definitely competed with them all game. We put ourselves in that position and we pulled out the win.”

The team of Horgan, his younger brother Jacob Horgan, Nicholas Bissonnette and Maxime Blais entered the event just looking to learn and expected to pick up pointers from their mistakes. Horgan was blanked 8-0 against Edmonton’s Brendan Bottcher earlier Thursday, but the win over Laycock made him feel like he could hang at this level.

“We got bombed really bad this morning by Bottcher,” Horgan said. “It was a little bit of a low point this morning but to come back and get this just makes the whole experience so much better. It makes us feel like we belong.”

Horgan played world No. 1 Brad Gushue of St. John’s, N.L., and Olympic gold medallist (and hometown favourite) Brad Jacobs during his first pair of games. While both were convincing wins for the veterans, Horgan wasn’t fazed at all being on arena ice and under the TV lights while facing curlers he grew up watching.

“We surprised ourselves a little bit in that respect,” Horgan said. “I didn’t even feel like we were nervous coming out. It might have been because we have played on a big stage before like the junior national final. You’re out there in an arena, on your own, the crowd isn’t as big and whatnot but no, I don’t think we were awestruck at all.”

Horgan called the whole week the opportunity of his short lifetime, exceeding his expectations, and he hopes to return to the Pinty’s Grand Slam of Curling series.

“I’m sure I probably will some day,” he said. “This has just been an amazing experience. We’ve learned so much, didn’t know exactly what it was going to be coming in but way better than expected. It’s just been good all around.”