(by Jason Simmonds)

Robyn MacPhee knows what it’s like to curl in a Canadian championship in her home province.

It’s a feeling MacPhee will experience again this weekend, when the Scotties Tournament of Hearts opens at the Charlottetown Civic Centre.

“It’s always exciting to head to the Scotties,” said MacPhee. “Especially when it’s on P.E.I., it makes it even more thrilling.”

MacPhee plays second stone for Suzanne Birt’s rink, which includes third stone Shelly Bradley, lead Leslie MacDougall, fifth player Tricia Affleck and coach Paul Power. The rink is based out of the Charlottetown Curling Club.

“It’s a great team,” said MacPhee. “We all get along really well, and everybody plays their position really well. We’ve just really jelled together.”

MacPhee is also hoping history repeats itself. The last time she curled in a national championship on P.E.I., it was a victorious experience in 2002. She was third stone for Birt’s rink that won its second Canadian junior championship in a row, before a jam-packed Cahill Stadium in Summerside.

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Jason Simmonds/Journal Pioneer

Photo: Robyn MacPhee is the second stone for Team P.E.I. at the Scotties Tournament of Hearts in Charlottetown from Feb. 19 to 27.