Veteran skip leading Alberta rink in Summerside this week
(by Jason Simmonds)
SUMMERSIDE – Shannon Kleibrink knows what to expect.
Kleibrink and her Alberta rink from the Okotoks Curling Club begin round-robin play in the 2017 Home Hardware Road to the Roar Pre-Trials curling competition at Eastlink Arena against Theresa Breen of Halifax, N.S., at noon on Tuesday.
“We’re excited,” said the 49-year-old Kleibrink, who has experience in both the Road to the Roar and the Tim Hortons Roar of the Rings Olympic qualifying event. “We’ve been waiting for this for a year, and glad to get here and see it’s such an amazing venue. The ice is great, and we’re looking forward to tomorrow (Tuesday).”
Shannon Kleibrink prepares to make a shot during a team practice at Eastlink Arena on Monday afternoon. Kleibrink’s rink begins play in the 2017 Road to the Roar Pre-Trials curling event in Summerside on Tuesday. Jason Simmonds/Journal Pioneer
Kleibrink, who enters as the No. 8 seed, has past experiences to draw on. She went 1-3 in the 2013 Road to the Roar Pre-Trials, won the 2005 Roar of the Rings and went on to win a bronze medal at the 2006 Winter Olympics in Pinerolo, Italy. Kleibrink also finished second at Canada’s Olympic qualifying event in 2009 and 1997.
“You don’t want to look too far down the road,” said Kleibrink. “Take one game at a time. The ice conditions can change, so you want to go out there with an open mind every game.”
First time
This week marks Kleibrink’s first time curling in Summerside. She has played in national softball tournaments on P.E.I., and also curled in the mixed nationals in Charlottetown.