(by Jason Simmonds)
WINNIPEG – One of the most successful women’s curling skips over the last decade is coming to Summerside.
Jennifer Jones, with one world championship and eight medal performances, including four gold, two silver and two bronze, in nine appearances at the Canadian Scotties Tournament of Hearts to her credit, will compete in the Grand Slam of Curling Players’ Championship at EastLink Arena from April 17 to 22.
“We’re very excited,” said Jones, who has also won six career Grand Slam titles, the most by a female skip. “The Players’ Championship is one of the best events to play in, and obviously P.E.I. is a fantastic place to be. We can’t wait to get there.”
This will be the second trip to P.E.I. in three years for Team Jones following a silver-medal performance at the 2011 Scotties Tournament of Hearts in Charlottetown.
“We just love the Maritimes, and the hospitality is always fantastic,” added Jones. “I expect nothing less, and I know it’s going to be a lot of fun.”
The Jennifer Jones rink will be one of the eight women’s teams competing in the Capital One Grand Slam of Curling Players’ Championship in Summerside from April 17-22. From left: Jones, third stone Kaitlyn Lawes, second stone Jill Officer and lead Dawn Askin.
Second year
This is the second year the current Jones’ rink has curled together. Third stone Kaitlyn Lawes and the veteran front end of Dawn Askin and Jill Officer round out Team Jones.
Lawes is the team’s newest member as she replaced longtime third Cathy Overton-Clapham after the 2009-10 season.
Askin is in her fifth year with Jones while Officer, who missed part of this season to have a baby, has been the skip’s second stone for 11 of the past 12 years.