(CCA) After a banner curling season, Team Canada’s Jennifer Jones and her team came up short with a disappointing performance at the Olympic Trials. While the opportunity to go for gold in Vancouver has been lost, the Jones team will bye into the Scotties Tournament of Hearts in Sault Ste. Marie, January 30 – February 7. Eleven other teams, representing all provinces and territories will try to wrestle the Canadian title away from the three-time Canadian and 2008 World curling champions.
The field is a mix of veterans and rookies which promises to make for an entertaining contest. For almost half of the curlers, this is their first trip to the Scotties but there is still plenty of experience and lots of well known names, as well.
Team BC’s Kelly Scott competed at the Olympic Trials and are Canadian and World champions. They defeated Olympic bronze medalist, Kelley Law, 8-4 in the final game of their provincials.
Team Alberta is the only all-rookie team in the Soo. Val Sweeting and her team upset highly favoured Shannon Kleibrink with a 9-7 extra end victory.
The rink was on fire – literally – at the Saskatchewan provincial championships. With the fire alarms sounding during Friday’s first draw, over 60 firefighters from Kindersley and surrounding towns, fought to save as much of the host Events Centre as they could. The Arena was lost to the fire but the Eston Curling Club stepped up and the championship resumed on Saturday. Amber Holland and her young team from the Kronau Curling Club are representing their province.
In Ontario, Krista McCarville’s team from nearby Thunder Bay continues to dominate, winning their fourth visit to the Canadian championship in five years.
The veteran Quebec team skipped by Eve Bélisle defeated two-time defending champion Marie-France Larouche 6-5 in the final game to win another trip to the Scotties.
In Nova Scotia, Nancy McConnery successfully defended her provincial title defeating former Canadian and World champion, Mary-Anne Arsenault in the final game for the second year in a row.
Team PEI has veteran Kathy O’Rourke calling the game with rookie Erin Carmody throwing last stones.
Andrea Kelly’s team from Fredericton successfully defended her New Brunswick championship title with a flawless record.
In Newfoundland/Labrador, there has been a changing of the guard with Shelley Nichols winning in an extra end over Heather Strong, reigning five- time champion and a former teammate.
This will be the Territories Sharon Cormier’s first trip to the Scotties as a skip with daughter Megan throwing second stones.
Click for full team rosters, biographies and official draw (PDF format).