They came, curled, conquered and in the process, dethroned a three-time queen.
Amber Holland’s Team Saskatchewan rink upset pre-tourney favourites Jennifer Jones’ Team Canada 8-7 before a crowd of 2,828 at the Charlottetown Civic Centre Sunday.
The win kept Jones, winner of the three last Scotties, from joining the ranks of Nova Scotia’s Colleen Jones, the only team to ring up four straight wins of the tournament.
Bolstered by scores of green fanatic fans who made the trek from Saskatchewan and a decidedly pro-Holland crowd, the new champs battled back from 3-0 and 6-3 deficits for a thrilling victory.
But Holland wasn’t the only winner to coming out of the tournament, which brought top-notch curling to Charlottetown for Islanders and fans of all 12 competing teams to enjoy.
Phyllis Stretch was one of many Islanders who took in some of the matches.
“They (the crowd) were wild. It was really, the house was just a rockin,” said Stretch, while waiting for Sunday’s championship game.
Being at the Scotties when the tournament was hosted by Charlottetown in 1999, Stretch said this year’s event was just as memorable.
“Watching them (the curlers) on TV, you see the game shot by shot. But to really see them on the ice, it’s great.”
Kelly Murphy of the Canadian Curling Association has spent the past 11 months building up the event by finding sponsors and brewing enthusiasm among Islanders.
With the week now at an end, Murphy declared the tournament a success.
“There were lots of good times and good curling. Everyone rocked,” she said.