(by David Stewart) Geri-Lynn Ramsay and Erin Carmody say moving to Calgary is one of the hardest decisions they’ve ever had to make.
Ramsay and Carmody were members of the Kathy O’Rourke curling team that won the silver medal at the 2010 Scotties Tournament of Hearts.
The team, which included lead Tricia Affleck, stuck together this year in hopes of getting back to the Scotties last month in Charlottetown. However, the team lost in the provincials to Suzanne Birt’s foursome, leaving the future of the O’Rourke team very much up in the air.
Ramsay was the first one who chose to leave after her boyfriend, Ryan, got a job in Calgary.
“When I first found out Ryan was applying out there and then got his job I was debating moving out and then coming back for the curling season to P.E.I.,’’ Ramsay said in an email interview.
Ramsay then pitched the idea about moving out to Calgary to Carmody for the next couple of years.
Carmody said she was initially reluctant to the idea but jumped at the opportunity.
Ramsay began emailing Paul Webster, a coach with Team Alberta, about the prospects of moving to Alberta and what players were available.
“He called me five minutes after that to tell me (his wife) Crystal’s team split that day.’’
Crystal Webster was an alternate with the Shannon Kleibrink Alberta team that competed in the Scotties last month.
Soon enough, Ramsay and Carmody decided to team up with Webster.
“It was an extremely difficult decision to leave the Island,’’ Carmody said. “Our team (O’Rourke) got along so well over the past couple of years and we had a lot of fun together. I had to weigh out all the pros and cons for staying here on the Island and moving to Alberta.’’
Carmody wants to go back to school. She graduated from UPEI last year.
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Members of the P.E.I. team, from left, Kathy O’Rourke, Geri-Lynn Ramsay, Erin Carmody and Tricia Affleck look dejected after receiving their silver medals following their 8-7 loss to Team Canada in the final of the 2010 Scotties Tournament of Hearts