CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. —
The Suzanne Birt-skipped rink is looking to make the most of experience and momentum at this year’s Scotties Tournament of Hearts Canadian women’s curling championship.
Birt, third Marie Christianson, second Meaghan Hughes, lead Michelle McQuaid and coach Mitch O’Shea will wear the P.E.I. colours at Canada’s premier women’s curling event for the third year in a row. Kathy O’Rourke is in her first season with the rink as the fifth player.
The 2021 Scotties will take place in Calgary, Feb. 19-28.
“We have been working hard all year, so we are looking forward to getting back there,” said the 39-year-old Birt, who has skipped 11 provincial women’s champions since 2003. “It’s been a challenging year for a lot of people. We are looking forward to competing again.”
Team Birt, which curls out of the Cornwall and Montague clubs, earned P.E.I.’s berth at the Scotties by defeating Montague’s Darlene London rink 3-0 to win the best-of-five provincial final series in O’Leary.
The Birt rink knew before the first rock of the P.E.I. women’s curling championship that they were headed to Calgary regardless.
If they won, they would represent P.E.I., but if Team London came out as provincial champions, the Birt rink had secured one of three wild-card spots for the national Scotties. The Canadian Team Ranking System (CTRS) points standings determined the wild-card teams.
Off to Calgary
Team Birt travelled to Calgary on Monday, where they will enter a bubble in advance of P.E.I.’s first two games on Feb. 20.
This Birt rink has proven it can compete against Canada’s best. It advanced to the championship round the last two years after posting identical 5-2 (won-lost) records in pool play. In 2019, Birt finished with an overall record of 6-5 in Sydney, N.S., and went 5-6 in 2020 in Moose Jaw, Sask.
“We have played together now for a few years,” said McQuaid, 29. “Every experience you get helps, and you bring that forward to the next Scotties.”
Hughes, 35, said every trip to a national championship is a learning experience. She is hoping the Birt rink can draw on that in Calgary.
O’Rourke, 56, skipped P.E.I. to a silver-medal performance at the 2010 Scotties Tournament of Hearts in Sault Ste. Marie, Ont.
“They are doing a lot of things right, so (my role is) to be there as a support person more than anything”.
“When they get in those tight games, if I can add something to it, I am happy to do that.”
Christianson is thrilled to be back with her teammates. She said the team had to be creative in its preparation after the Atlantic bubble burst.
Click for the full story from Jason Simmonds in The Guardian