Summerside’s Erin Carmody excited to represent Nova Scotia in Scotties Tournament of Hearts (Journal)

Erin Carmody is well aware of a special opportunity she has earned.

The 30-year-old Summerside native is a member of the Jill Brothers rink that will represent Nova Scotia at the 2019 Scotties Tournament of Hearts at Centre 200 in Sydney, N.S., from Feb. 16 to 24.

Summerside native and third stone Erin Carmody, right, and skip Jill Brothers discuss strategy during the recent Nova Scotia women’s curling championship in Dartmouth. The Brothers rink will represent the province in the national Scotties Tournament of Hearts in Sydney, N.S., from Feb. 16 to 24. – Curling Photos

“I’m absolutely excited (for the Scotties),” Carmody told the Journal Pioneer in a phone interview from Halifax. “It feels somewhat surreal right now.

“I know the fans in Sydney are going to be fantastic. I’ve already had a couple of folks reach out to me letting me know how excited they are for us to be there. It’s an amazing experience to represent your province in your home province.”

MVP in 2010

This, however, will not be Carmody’s first appearance at the Canadian women’s curling championship. In 2010, Carmody was named the recipient of the Sandra Schmirler Award as most valuable player throwing skip rocks for the Kathy O’Rourke-skipped P.E.I. rink. O’Rourke threw second stones while Geri-Lynn Ramsay played third and Tricia MacGregor was lead. P.E.I. went 8-3 (won-lost) in the round robin and advanced to the final, where they dropped a heart-breaking 8-7 extra-end decision to Team Canada’s Jennifer Jones.

“This time around I will be able to draw on a lot of those previous experiences throughout the week,” said Carmody. “The second time around you will put everything in perspective, too, so you may not put as much pressure on yourself.

Facebook post

So, how did Carmody end up playing with Brothers?

“One of my teammates decided to retire from curling so she could start a family,” answered Brothers. “Facebook pops up and Erin Carmody had a post, ‘I can’t wait to start school at Mount Saint Vincent.’

“I’m like, ‘Erin is moving to Nova Scotia?’

“So we are like, ‘OK, let’s call Erin.’”

It’s been a perfect match.

Brothers said she and Carmody, who is working towards a master’s degree in nutrition, have similar philosophies in calling the game.

Third stone

Carmody, who skipped early in her career – winning three consecutive P.E.I. junior titles from 2007 to 2009 while curling out of the Silver Fox in Summerside – has been playing third stone since 2011.

“I’ve really, really grown to love third. You get to do a little bit of everything. You get to sweep, you get to hold the broom in the house and then you get to throw.”

Click for the full story in today’s Journal Pioneer

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