GRANDE PRAIRIE, Alta. – Jennifer Jones made her last-rock draw a successful one to beat Kerri Einarson of Manitoba 8-7 to win the bronze medal game Sunday at the Scotties Tournament of Hearts.
“It’s nice to finish on a win,” said Jones, who had been seeking her second straight Scotties title and sixth overall. “It’s nice to make the last shot to win.”
That shot earned Team Canada $26,900 and 34.621 CTRS (Canadian Team Ranking System) points for the win while Einarson’s team gets $16,900 and 24.439 points.
For the veteran Jones team that includes third Kaitlyn Lawes, second Jill Officer, lead Dawn McEwen, alternate Jennifer Clark-Rouire and coach Wendy Morgan, the win was a nice bounceback from their 7-5 loss to Krista McCarville of Northern Ontario in Saturday’s semifinal.
Jones said her team leaves Grande Prairie knowing it played well and can now refocus on the future.
“It is all about the Olympics,” she said. “We bounced back from a coupe of early losses and really played well as a team so it’s coming together. We’re tried to change a few things this year and I really think the changes will make us stronger in the long run. It’s all about two years from now.”
It may have been a disappointing end to a fairly successful week for the youthful Manitoba team, but Einarson was pleased with her team’s Scotties debut.
“There’s so many great memories. It was such a great experience to be out here,” she said. “I can’t wait to be back. Once you get a taste you want to always come back, so we’ll definitely be back.”
Manitoba skip Kerri Einarson watches her shot during the bronze-medal game on Sunday. (Photo, Curling Canada/Andrew Klaver)
After giving up two in the first end, Manitoba got back on even terms with a single in two and a steal of one in the third. Jones, who had a made a solid hit-and-stick for her deuce in one, rubbed a guard in the third trying for a raise double that could have given her three. Instead Manitoba got the steal and a 2-2 tie.
After giving up two in the fourth, Einarson rebounded with three in the fifth and a 5-4 lead at the break. Manitoba had two counters hidden behind guards, forcing Jones to try a hit-and-roll off her own stone in the eight foot. She only rubbed the rock and rolled out, leading Einarson a draw for three.
They traded singles in seven and eight and Jones got a pair in eight on a last-rock draw for a 7-6 lead. Manitoba pulled even in nine on a straight hit-and-stick, setting the stage for the final 16 rocks.
The gold medal game between Chelsea Carey of Alberta and Krista McCarville of Northern Ontario goes today at 9:30 p.m. AT.
TSN (RDS2 in French), the exclusive television network for Curling Canada’s Season of Champions, will provide complete coverage of the 2016 Scotties Tournament of Hearts.