2010 Scotties Tournament of Heart Feb 3 Heart Chart

Issue 5 – Wednesday, February 3, 2010 • An Official Publication of the Canadian Curling Association.

McCarville-ous!

■ Tourney favourites bounce back

Ontario hosts demolish Islanders in battle of first-place squads

Page 2

■ Dubious record for Bluenosers Page 5

■ Teams are ‘taking the fifths’ Page 7 Krista McCarville’s squad now tops the charts at 6-and-1, after bombing P.E.I. 9-3 on Tuesday night.

Sponsor of the day

Page 2

HeartChart

Ontario shifts into cruise control McCarville rink motors into top spot Larry Wood HeartChart Editor

O

ntario provincial champion Krista McCarville of Thunder Bay roared into the lead at the Scotties Tournament of Hearts on Tuesday, winning her fifth and sixth matches while remaining the lone team with only one blemish on the record.

McCarville, who won 11 in a row for the Ontario title last month with third Tara George, second Ashley Miharija and lead Kari MacLean, broke up a first-place tie on Tuesday night with a 9-3 victory over Kathy O’Rourke of Prince Edward Island.

Earlier, McCarville executed a double-kill to score four against Shelley Nichols of St. John’s in the third end, then stole two in

the fourth for a 6-1 lead and eventual 8-5 decision.

With four rounds remaining, McCarville has the champions of Manitoba, the Territories and Nova Scotia, and defending champion Jennifer Jones of Winnipeg, who won twice on Tuesday, remaining to play in the 12team round robin preliminary.

The top four teams advance to playoffs on Friday and Saturday with the championship final set for 2:30 p.m. ET Sunday.

McCarville posted a second-end deuce after a blank opening end against the Island team featuring 21-year-old Erin Carmody on last rocks. Then Ontario stole one in the third, yielded a single in the fourth and countered with another single in fifth for a 4-1 lead after McCarville was inches short on a difficult out-turn draw to a corner of the button for another point.

But Ontario stole two more in the sixth exchange and it was clear sailing.

“I think we’re going a long way to proving to

Above, skip Shelley Nichols, second from left, hams it up with her Newfoundland mates.

Left, Canada’s Cathy Overton-Clapham directs sweeping efforts while B.C.’s Sasha Carter watches intently. Far left, it was that kind of day for skip Valerie Sweeting and her teammates from Wild Rose Country.

people and the other teams here that we’re a really good team,” said McCarville afterward. “They can see that we’ve really picked up our game from last year.

“I’m really picking up on the ice and I’m really feeling good and confident and I think that’s the key for my team to see me feeling this way. It really builds on their confidence as well.”

McCarville makes no bones over the fact that she and her team are on a mission.

“I’m dying to wear the Maple Leaf, no doubt about it,” she said. “From the second game in Prince George (Olympic pre-Trials), I had a little talk with Rick (coach Lang) and he gave me a pep

talk and we’ve been cruising ever since. We’re operating at an advantage over a lot of these teams because of all the arena ice we’ve

played on this year. I think there’s no question about that . . . I really believe it.”

O’Rourke’s unit fell back to 5-and-2, alongside the

two-time champion Jones heading into today’s penultimate pair of matches.

“I think we’re just disappointed we didn’t have a better game,” said O’Rourke.

“Erin just didn’t have the feel for it tonight. She’s been our little girl who pulled out a lot of games for us by putting the rock on the pin when we needed it. And that’s how we’ve been playing for most of the week and when it’s not there it doesn’t work for you very well.”

O’Rourke was full of praise for the opposing skip.

“Krista is phenomenal,” she said. “Every time we had anything going she’d come through a hole or make a double.”

Please see CONTROL, Page 10

Wednesday, February 3, 2010

Page 3

FACES OF THE GAMES: Clockwise from below, Kathy O’Rourke and GeriLynn Ramsay of P.E.I., New Brunswick’s Denise Nowlan, Saskatchewan’s Amber Holland and New Brunswick’s Andrea Kelly are caught in action Tuesday.

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Page 4

HeartChart

HeartStop Lounge will quicken a fan’s heartbeat

JIM CRONIN

HeartChart Columnist

T

he Essar Centre isn’t the only place “rocking” during the 2010 Scotties Tournament of Hearts underway in Sault Ste. Marie. Curlers and non-curlers alike are having a rockin’ good time at the HeartStop Lounge located in the Soo Curlers rink on Anita Boulevard, the entertainment venue for the Scotties tournament.

Convenient shuttle service between the Essar Centre and the HeartStop lounge has made for an easy commute before and after the curling action.

And to ensure you don’t miss any of the curling games, the entertainment

lounge has giant television screens carrying all of the live action.

Lori Ballstadt, volunteer vice-chair responsible for the HeartStop, says although the lounge was set up to entertain the curling crowd during the Scotties, the general public is welcome and encouraged to come out and enjoy the facility.

“We are open at eight o’clock in the morning for breakfast and have full bar service from 11 a.m. until one o’clock the following morning. We really encourage Sault residents to drop by and enjoy the HeartStop.

It’s a great entertainment spot,” says Ballstadt.

Customers at the HeartStop lounge can enjoy soup and sandwich and pasta dishes for lunch and dinner specials each night.

The HeartStop lounge is offering a wide variety of entertainment, including live local and out-of-town bands, a disc jockey service, and even a comedy night.

It’s also the location for autograph sessions, where you can meet your favourite

women curlers and have them sign your Scotties program.

HeartStop is also the place where you can enjoy the “Up Close and Personal” interviews each evening with members of the various provincial curling teams.

The interviews are conducted by Stu Brown, the Scotties emcee on the main stage at the HeartStop, and allow patrons a closeup glimpse into the personal lives of Canada’s top women curlers.

Shuttle services run continuously between the Essar Centre and the HeartStop lounge from nine in the morning until 12:45 a.m., utilizing a large Tim Hortons bus as well as chartered city buses.

Ballstadt says the bus service is also a strong encouragement to local residents and visitors attending the Canadian women’s curling championship not to drink and drive during the Scotties festivities.

Please see CRONIN, Page 10

Healthy and Vibrant Communities We are pleased to support the 2010 Scotties Tournament of Hearts in promoting sports and recreational opportunities in Sault Ste. Marie.

Call us to discuss ideas for your community.

Des communautés saines et dynamiques Nous sommes heureux d'appuyer le Tournoi des Coeurs Scotties de 2010 qui participera à la promotion des activités de sports et loisirs à Sault Ste. Marie.

Appelez-nous pour discuter de vos idées au sujet de votre communauté.

1.800.263.2887 www.trilliumfoundation.org

Wednesday, February 3, 2010

Page 5

Tourney isn’t the bee’s knees for McConnery LARRY WOOD HeartChart Editor

I

t took Nancy McConnery five tries to establish a record at the Scotties Tournament Of Hearts. Dubious it may be, but a record nevertheless.

When the Nova Scotia skip derricked herself from the teehead and retired to the bench after five ends of Tuesday morning’s struggle with Prince Edward Island, it constituted a first for the Scotties.

Skips have demoted themselves at previous tournaments — Julie Skinner and Marilyn Bodogh

come to mind — but never in mid-game, and never to the bench with the alternate replacing them.

“Well,” said McConnery, who’ll celebrate her 47th birthday later this month, with a chuckle, “I always wanted to get a record one way or another.”

Turns out she called it quits for the morning for more than one reason. But, primarily, because repaired menisci in her knees haven’t yet ceased to be bothersome.

“I had surgery in both knees last year — tears in the menisci — and I guess they were starting to bother me a little bit,” she allowed.

“So I figured, well, my hit weight is a little light, I’m not really doing it, why not take a break and come back stronger tonight, a little refreshed, give my brain a rest, get a little ice on the hinges?

“My draw weight was fine, I had it in my hip pocket, but my hit weight, uh-uh. Every

time I had a chance to draw I should have been drawing.

But I guess I wasn’t able to push out enough on hits. So I thought, ‘Give it a rest, put Kelly (fifth MacIntosh) in.’ ” “I didn’t feel bad about coming out, we were down 6-1 and things couldn’t have gotten any worse.”

McConnery was scored at 70 per cent through five ends. With her vice-skip Jennifer Crouse scoring 59 per cent through the last four (no skip rocks were tossed in the 10th), the Bluenosers outscored the Islanders 3-1.

Make sense?

Never mind. Most curling statistics don’t.

McConnery retired after 22 years as a massage therapist at the end of 2009 and suspects “that’s why my knees got bad to begin with, being on my feet all day for 22 years — it’s hard on the joints after time.”

Please see WOOD, Page 12

Sault Ste. Marie O N TA R I O

Tourism SSM and the City of SSM proudly welcome all athletes, family and fans to the 2010 Scotties Tournament of Hearts.

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C A N A D A

Page 6

HeartChart

GETTING TO KNOW YOU

Alberta: Skip: Valerie Sweeting Home: Maryfield, Sask., Vegreville, Alta.

Began curling at age: 10 Delivery: Left Occupation/title: Service delivery agent Employer: Case Processing Centre (CPC), Vegreville (Citizenship and Immigration) Date of birth: July 9, 1987 Place of birth: Redvers, Sask.

Marital status: Single Spouse/partner: None Children: None First vehicle: 1990 Olds Cutlass Supreme Current vehicle: 2004 Chevy Trailblazer Favourite food: Grilled cheese sandwiches and tomato soup Favourite drink: Vodka, 7-Up, splash of cranberry juice c Celebrity dream man: Vic Rauter Most annoying celebrity: Wanda of Corner Gas All-time favourite movie: Big Daddy Last movie she loved: The Replacements Last movie she hated: Seven Pounds Tattooed? Yes, one Never leaves home without: Putting on clothes!

Competed in: 04 Optimist Juvenile Internationals (Alberta); 06 University Nationals; 07 National Juniors

Third: Megan Einarson Home: Edmonton Began curling at age: 12 Delivery: Right Occupation/title: Repair centre administration assistant Employer: Dresser-Rand Date of birth: Feb. 24, 1986

Grilled cheese, game faces, textbook workouts, big-screen Squeakquels and Ben Hebert worship

Place of birth: Regina Marital status: Single Spouse/partner: Andrew Anderson Children: None First vehicle: Chevrolet Cobalt Current vehicle: Chevrolet Cobalt Favourite food: Chinese Favourite drink: Pilsner Celebrity dream man: Sid the Kid Most annoying celebrity: None All-time favourite movie: Christmas Vacation Last movie she loved: A Christmas Storyy Last movie she hated: None Tattooed? Yes, two Never leaves home without: Her game face.

Competed in: 06, 07 Junior Provincials runnerup

Second: Whitney More Home: Red Deer Began curling at age: 7

Delivery: Right Occupation/title: BSc nursing student, Red Deer College Employer: None Date of birth: June 3, 1988 Place of birth: Red Deer Marital status: Single Spouse/partner: Ducky More (Dustin Eckstrand) Children: None First vehicle: 1990 Toyota Camry Current vehicle: 2002 Honda Civic Favourite food: Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups p Favourite drink: The Captain . . . Morgan Celebrity dream man: Patrick Dempsey on Grey’s Anatomy Most annoying celebrity: Katherine Heigl on Grey’s Anatomy All-time favourite movie: Zoolander and Rain Man Last movie she loved: The Blind Side

Last movie she hated: Saw III . . . hasn’t seen another Saw movie since Tattooed? None Never leaves home without: Her weightlifting program, a.k.a. her nursing textbooks Competed in: 05 Junior Provincials, 09 Mixed Provincials

Lead: Lindsay Makichuk Home: Lloydminster Began curling at age: 6 Delivery: Left Occupation/title: Student Employer: Lakeland College Date of birth: Feb. 4, 1988 Place of birth: Calgary

Marital status: Dating Spouse/partner: Neil Bratrud Children: None First vehicle: Plymouth Sundance . . . from the ’70s Current vehicle: Pontiac Sunfire Favourite food: Steak and potatoes Favourite drink: Smoothies Celebrity dream man: Eric Bana Most annoying celebrity: Keanu Reeves . . . plays the same character in everyy movie All-time favourite movie: The Sandlot or Rent Last movie she loved: The Blind Side Last movie she hated: No Country For Old Men Tattooed? Nope Never leaves home without: Forgetting something back in the house Competed in: 08, 09, Junior provincials,

04 AB Winter Games, 06-09 ACAC provincials.

Fifth: Leslie Rogers Home: Shewood Park Began curling at age: 8 Delivery: Right Occupation/title: Assistant manager Employer: HSBC Finance Date of birth: July 31, 1980 Place of birth: Regina Marital status: Single Spouse/partner: None Children: None First-ever vehicle: 1998 Jeep TJ Current vehicle: 2001 Olds Alero Favourite food: Lasagna Favourite drink: Coors Light Celebrity dream man: Ben Hebert Most annoying celebrity: Rosanne All-time favourite movie: The Dragon (The Bruce Lee Story) Last movie she loved: Alvin and The Chipmunks, The Squeakquel Last movie she hated: Doesn’t watch movies she hates Tattooed? Maybe Never leaves home without: Lipstick Competed in: 01 Junior Nationals

Coach: Carmen Einarson

Megan Einarson, left, and Valerie Sweeting

Home: Edmonton Occupation/title: Instrument technologist Employer: Self-employed Date of birth: Jan 6, 1955 Place of birth: Esterhazy, Sask.

Coached: Alberta Junior girls team runnerup (06, 07); played in various men’s and seniors zone playdowns in Regina and Edmonton

Wednesday, February 3, 2010

Page 7

It seems everybody’s ‘taking the fifths’ Larry Wood HeartChart Editor

I

t used to be that the alternate players at the Scotties Tournament Of Hearts showed up as curling’s version of drawers of water and hewers of wood.

In Canada, they were mostly ornamental. They carried the broom bags.

They poured the drinks.

They assembled the congratulatory e-mails. They ordered the pizza and signed the bill when the kid delivered the grub to the hotel.

Europeans looked upon alternates as a more useful commodity and began to incorporate the fifth man into the overall strategy of building a team.

The history of the alternate player goes back a couple of decades. Once upon a team, curling consisted

of four people — a skip, a third, a second and a lead — and only four people.

No substitutes. A team is a team. Period.

Then some genius decided it was time to add a fifth player to the mix, an alternate who would travel with teams and be available in case of injury. That was back in the mid-1980s or thereabouts. From there, fifths became commonplace.

Federations around the globe bought in and began picking up the additional 20 per-cent expense.

Now, everybody at the Scotties is “taking the fifths,” so to speak.

Eight of the 12 teams already had inserted the alternates into games following Tuesday morning’s draw.

This never happened before.

And, no, the teams weren’t incurring injuries in droves.

There’s another reason why

alternates-in-action is suddenly a hot commodity.

When the teams arrived for this Essar-Centre affair, they were informed the title sponsor had instituted a new policy of no longer awarding jewelry to either coaches or alternates of winning teams unless the alternates participated. In other words, the alternates have to play at least one end in two different games to be eligible for the silverware.

Hence, the wholesale switching and changing.

Team Canada’s Jennifer Clark-Rouire already had made her two mandatory appearances. So had Nova Scotia’s Kelly Macintosh.

Shannon Aleksic (B.C.), Shelly Bradley (P.E.I.), Les-

lie Rogers (Alberta), Kendra Georges (Manitoba), France Charette (Quebec) and Jodie deSolla (New Brunswick) were others who’d stepped in the hacks prior to Tuesday’s mid-day draw.

Fifth players became a slight issue at December’s Olympic Trials when officials announced that “fifths” being used at the Trials would not necessarily be Olympic “fifths.”

In other words, the suggestion was that some of the listed alternates at the Trials were deemed to be less than qualified to play at the Olympic Winter Games.

The issue died a quick death when officials remained mum on the subject once their supposed intentions became known.

Curling alternates have to be versatile in some corners of the planet. In Germany and Switzerland they have become part of the action, just like any other active team member. In fact, if you count the numbers in Swiss team conferences they will add up to six or seven, depending on how many tutors are kicking around at the time.

The Swiss routine differs, depending on the coach.

Two years ago, coach Roland Moser favoured liberal lineup juggling. More recently, the Swiss have gone with set lineups.

Says Ralph Stoeckli, the skip of the Swiss at the upcoming Olympics: “Most other countries don’t have as many good players as Canada so we try to get the best ones together. Some teams like to change the lineup, some don’t like it at

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all. Of course, from a communications standpoint, it’s easier with a set team.”

Most Canadian teams operate on the basis that it’s best to go with the team that got you there.

Brad Gushue of St. John’s was among the first Canadians to tinker with the “fifth” strategy when he brought in Russ Howard, then moved him into the lineup to replace Mike Adam at the 2005 Olympic Trials. The strategy resulted in Olympic gold.

At the Scotties, the motive is obvious. The jewelry has become an integral part of the tournament.

In Canada, the opinion remains split on whether curling should continue to embrace a four-person team with a valet along for the ride . . . or simply change the rules and make it a fiveperson game.

The Party Line • Your guide to what’s goin’ on

Page 8

your guide to what’s goin’ on

See Some Real Class Acts in the HeartStop Lounge!

The most talented young musicians from around the Soo will be here tonight for “on the stage training”. The bell rings at 10 pm to start the College Battle of the Bands!

Competitors for this energetic and entertaining talent showdown were selected by the Sault College Student Advisory Council after recent auditions.

Great prizes are up for grabs when the students play their hearts out – using state of the art equipment - for the right to be crowned the Best of the Class.

on stage Little Swing Thing • 10:30 pm Friday, February 5 – Superfreak Disco Band • 10:30 pm Saturday, February 6 – Rockstar Live • 10:00 pm

Picture Perfect Hit Us With Your Best Shots!

Picture Perfect is the “fan’s eye” view from the Soo. When you’re capturing your favourite memories from the Scotties, send them in… they may just show up in The Party Line.

Email pictures to: partylinepics@curling.ca

(Please note: Cameraphone images may not be of suitable quality to reproduce.)

Thursday, February 4 – Dirty

Take a

Free Ride

Monday, February, 1 Lou Richert - ticket number 2715 - won $1,380 Shuttle service is available daily between the Essar Centre and HeartStop Lounge at the Soo Curlers Association. The service is provided by Tim Hortons and the City of Sault Ste. Marie. Shuttles will depart every half hour to both venues. Departure points are the main parking lot near the front entrance of the Essar Centre and front door of the Soo Curlers Association.

Full schedules are posted at both departure points and online at seasonofchampions.ca

Wednesday, February 3, 2010

Page 9

It’s Simply up close

personal

HeartStop Lounge Menu

and

Homestyle Cooking

Extra! Extra! ... and Extra!

Available Daily 11 am – 8 pm Provided by Rico’s Catering

Daily Menu Pasta and Meatballs $6.00 Soup and Sandwich $6.00 Salads (Garden, Caesar or Greek) $4.00

Today – 5:30 pm

Extra-end qualifiers have been a recurring theme for Up Close and Personal guests at the HeartStop Lounge. First, it was Alberta’s Valerie Sweeting and Manitoba’s Jill Thurston, followed the next day by PEI’s Erin Carmody.

up close

Today’s Specials Served 6 pm - 8 pm

&personal

Well, we’re not done yet! Today you can meet another when the Shelley Nichols team from St. John’s Curling Club sits down to answer your questions.

Dinner Feature

Roast Pork Dinner Served with Garden Salad

$10.00

Vegetarian Option

Oriental Rice with Spring Roll $8.00

Nightly Menu

Available Daily 8 pm – 1 am Provided by Soo Curlers Restaurant Nacho Chips Chili & Bread Sticks Jumbo Hot Dog Chili Jumbo Dog Sausage On A Bun Hamburger Lemon Pepper Chicken Hoagie Roast Beef On A Bun Bbq Beef & Mozzarella On A Bun Mrs. B’s Pizza By The Slice Chicken Wings (8)

Nichols defeated Laura Strong – provincial champion for the past five years – in the 11th end to represent Newfoundland/Labrador in the 2010 Scotties. Nichols has made the trip to the nationals twice before… playing third for none other than Laura Strong.

Today

Come and meet your favourite curlers!

From today until Friday teams will be featured in the HeartStop Lounge.

1:00 pm MB – Jill Thurston 5:30 pm ONT – Krista McCarville

Thursday 2:00 pm QB – Eve Belisle

NL – Shelley Nichols 6:30 pm NWT/Y – Sharon Cormier Friday

6:30 pm Olympic

Team – Cheryl Bernard

Eight in…Eight to Go Eight qualifiers have been decided in the quest for the Cool Curling title. And another flight of competitors hit the tables today to compete for the right to advance to the playdowns.

When there’s a break in the action at the Essar Centre, drop in to the HeartStop and cheer on the players in the mini-version of the roaring game.

Twenty-four young curlers - representing clubs in Sault Ste. Marie and surrounding communities - were selected as Junior Stars through a random draw of applicants. The lucky Stars receive: a hat, event pin, jacket, photo with their assigned team, a tour of the TSN mobile and event tickets to their team’s draw for themselves and two chaperones.

Wednesday 6:30 pm feature Stars: Team British Columbia

Thomas McLean Katie Rutledge Team Northwest Territories/Yukon

Krista Matte Leah Hodgson

$5.00 $5.50 $4.00 $4.75 $5.00 $5.00 $5.00 $5.50 $5.50 $2.25 $8.00

Page 10

HeartChart

The HeartStop Lounge at the Soo Curlers rink.

Information on the HeartStop Lounge, including the shuttle bus service, is located at the Scotties Tournament of Hearts website (stoh.ca) and at the entertainment website (atthepatch.ca) Some 100 volunteers are involved in the entertainment centre, with jobs ranging from bartenders to cleanup crews who have the unenviable job of cleaning up after the bar closes at 1 a.m.

To turn a curling rink into an entertainment lounge is no easy task. The Scotties committee took over the rink Jan. 25 and began a hectic work schedule with dozens of volunteers armed with hammers, saws . . . and strong backs!

They loaded some 450 one-inch insulated fourby-eight sheets onto trucks at the Essar Centre and off-loaded them at Soo Curlers. The sheets are used to cover the ice at the Essar during concerts and

From Page 4

CRONIN: No ticket required other on-ice events and were used for the same purpose at the curling rink to cover up eight sheets of curling ice.

Dave Solomon, who oversaw the work, said work crews also had to erect a 24-by-24 foot stage for the various bands and other entertainment for the eight days and nights of the Scotties.“The stage came in sections that had to be fit together like a giant jigsaw puzzle. It was quite a task,” he says.

The conversion project also included the construction of a 32-foot bar with refrigeration units, and a special wooden shelter

for the two large heaters that pump out a combined 800,000 BTUs of warm air into the normally very chilly curling rink, creating a comfortable atmosphere within the lounge.

More than 400 chairs, along with 50 tables, were trucked in and set up once the final construction had been completed. After the conclusion of the Scotties on Sunday, volunteer work crews will be on hand at the Soo Curlers bright and early Monday morning to dismantle the HeartStop lounge and turn the facility back into a curling rink so local enthusiasts can get back on the ice on Tuesday.

And a final reminder . . . admission to the HeartStop lounge is free to the general public, so you are encouraged to come on over and meet some of the top women curlers in the world. You do not require a Scotties ticket for admission to the entertainment lounge.

“She played just like I knew she was going to play and when you’re playing someone like that and you aren’t putting your rocks in exactly the right places you going to be in deep trouble.”

Snarled at 4-and-3 were former champion Kelly Scott of B.C., Jill Thurston of Manitoba and Eve Belisle of Quebec.

In other late-shift tilts Tuesday, Belisle hung tough with a 6-5 squeaker over Sharon Cormier (2-5) of the Territories but Saskatchewan’s Amber Holland, who needed a win to remain with the three-loss pack, blew a 6-2 lead at the half and eventually bowed 8-7 to New Brunswick’s Andrea Kelly (3-4).

In one other game, Nancy McConnery of Nova Scotia toughened up and won her first game of the week, a stolen 7-6 duke over Shelley Nichols of Newfoundland/ Labrador who miscued on her last rock of the match.

Against the Newfies on Tuesday afternoon, McCarville was forced to the limit in spite of her early advantage.

“We struggled a bit with our peels,” she explained.

“We’d hoped to end it early but that’s why we had to play it out. But it doesn’t matter. Wins are wins and it doesn’t matter how long it takes.”

Nichols, conqueror of Team Canada on Monday, never was able to play her favourite high, hard shots as she struggled to battle from behind.

Elsewhere on the afternoon docket, Jones ands

From Page 2

CONTROL: No ticket required Co., completed a day’s comeback with a second straight win.

In the wake of a twoloss Monday, Jones hit for four in the second end and refused to relinquish control in a 10-7 conquest of B.C.’s Scott, a long-time foe. Still earlier, Jones hung on for a 9-7 win over Alberta’s youthful Valerie Sweeting of Edmonton.

“We play them (Scott) a lot but I wouldn’t say there really is a rivalry,” said Team Canada vice-skip Cathy Overton-Clapham, who is playing in her 11th Scotties.

“If we knew why we’ve been inconsistent, one day to the next, we’d figure out how to remedy it. One day we just don’t play well and we get mad at ourselves and come out the next day and perform.”

“It’s always a big game,” admitted Scott of collisions with the Jones team.

“We’re both Canadian and world champions so we want to see how we stack up against each other. You always feel good when you beat a team like that so we just hope to see them again this week.

“What are we now? I think we’re 2-and-2 this season.

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This game, they got a jump on us and we just couldn’t make it back.”

Thurston completed her day with a 7-4 win over the fading young Albertans while Holland seemingly got untracked with an 8-6 win over Belisle.

In other morning results, Scott defeated Thurston 7-5, Kelly knocked off Cormier 7-5 and O’Rourke stopped McConnery 7-4.

Jones landed body blows by stealing two in each of the third and fourth ends for a 5-2 lead against Alberta, but the real knockout punch was Canada’s three-ender in the seventh, which came just after Alberta had scored two to draw even at 5-5.

Sweeting misplayed a shot with her final brick of the seventh, which gave Jones a possible angle-raise takeout for four.

Her shooter didn’t stay in the rings, but she removed the Alberta stone to score a pivotal three points.

Scott, the 2007 world champion, knocked off her former junior skip Thurston in a game that came down to the Manitoba skip’s final stone of the 10th end.

Thurston attempted a takeout on Scott’s rock in the 12-foot rather than draw the eight-foot to force an extra end. But the Manitoba shooter rolled out of the rings giving the British Columbians the victory.

“A wide-open hit, right in the 12-foot? That’s low-hanging fruit. That’s pretty easy to do,” reasoned Thurston, when asked of her decision. “But whatever. It’s fine.”

Wednesday, February 3, 2010

Page 11

GETTING TO KNOW YOU

Saskatchewan: Skip: Amber Holland Home: Regina Began curling at age: 10 Delivery: Right Occupation/title: Executive director Employer: Saskatchewan Curling Association Date of birth: July 10, 1974 Place of birth: Yorkton Marital status: Common law Spouse/Partner: Ken Kluk Children: None First vehicle: Ford EXP Current vehicle: Mitsubishi Outlander Favourite food: Fruit (any kind) Favourite drink: White rum and Coke Celebrity dream man: Matthew McConaughey Most annoying celebrity: Will Ferrell All-time favourite movie: Top Gun Last

Ashton Kutcher crushes, Borat bashing, pizza, sushi, and . . . that hunk Rafael movie she loved: Transformers 2 Last movie she hated: Assassination Of Jesse James Tattooed? None . . . yet.

Never leaves home without: BlackBerry, credit cards and a good book Competed in: 1992 Junior Nationals, 1993 World Juniors, 1999 (fifth), 2006 (fifth) Scotties, 2001, 2005 (fifth) Olympic trials

Third: Kim Schneider Home: Kronau, Sask.

Began curling at age: 8 Delivery: Right Occupation/title: Recreation therapist, education assistant, nail

technician Employer: Santa Maria Senior Centre, Regina Lutheran Home, Ranch Ehrlo Date of birth: Aug. 21, 1984 Place of birth: Regina Marital status: Single Spouse/Partner: None Children: None First vehicle: Black Cavalier Current vehicle: Still the same old black Cavalier Favourite food: Chicken and Bandara pizza bread Favourite drink: Rum and Coke, fruit smoothies Celebrity dream man: Ashton Kutcher Most annoying celebrity: Jim Carrey All-time favourite movie: Ladder 49 Last movie she loved: The Hangover Last movie she hated: The Orphan Tattooed? Yes, three!

Never leaves home without: BlackBerry, money, a new outfit and choices of shoes Competed in: Players’ Championship

Second: Tammy Schneider

Lead: Heather Kalenchuk

Home: Kronau, Sask.

Began curling at age: 8 Delivery: Right Occupation/title: Office manager Employer: Saskatchewan Volleyball Association Date of birth: Nov. 12, 1982 Place of birth: Regina Marital status: Single Spouse/Partner: None Children: None First vehicle: 1989 Chevy Corsica Current vehicle: 2003 Honda Civic Favourite food: Pizza Favourite drink: Vodka, 7-Up and lime juice Celebrity dream man: Rafael Nadal Most annoying celebrity: Lindsay Lohan All-time favourite movie: Pretty Woman Last movie she loved: Fast And Furious Tattooed? None Never leaves home without: Keys, cellphone Competed in: World Junior (fifth) 2003

Home: Regina Began curling at age: 12 Delivery: Right Occupation/title: French immersion high school teacher Employer: Regina Catholic School System Date of birth: March 14, 1984 Place of birth: Edmonton Marital status: Married Spouse/Partner: Jared Kalenchuk Children: None First vehicle: 1988 Chrysler New Yorker Current vehicle: 2007 VW Golf Favourite food: Pizza Favouri Favourite drink: StrawFavouri berry daiquiri da Celebrity dream man: Celebrit Sidney Crosby C Most annoying an celebrity: Sacha Baron B Cohen Favouri Favourite movie: Elf Last movie mo she loved: Confess Confessions Of A Shopaholic Last movie mo she hated: Borat Tattooe Tattooed? None Never leaves le home without without: Lip chap, PeptoBismol; cellphone optional.

Compet Competed in: Three university n nationals

Fi Fifth: Jolene C Campbell Home Regina Home: Began curling at age: Nine Delivery: Right Delive From left, Kim Schneider, Tammy Schneider and Heather Kalenchuk.

Occupation/title: Supervisor, Employee Health and Safety Employer: Saskatchewan Government Insurance Date of birth: Aug. 12, 1981 Place of birth: Saskatoon Marital status: Married Spouse/Partner: Greg Campbell Children: None First vehicle: 87 VW Cabriolet Current vehicle: Pontiac Vibe Favourite food: Sushi Favourite drink: Rye and ginger ale Celebrity dream man: Tiger Woods Most annoying celebrity: Kathy Griffin All-time favourite movie: Usual Suspects Last movie she loved: The Hangover Last movie she hated: Gone Baby Gone Tattooed? Yes, two Never leaves home without: Curling (or golf) “stuff” Competed in: 2002 Junior Nationals, 2005 Mixed Nationals.

Coach: Merv Fonger Home: Moose Jaw Occupation/title: Retired teacher Employer: High-performance consultant, Saskatchewan Curling Association.

Date of birth: June 18, 1948 Place of birth: Moose Jaw Coached/played: Sixtime Canadian U championships,1999 Scotties,1983 World Junior, 1992, 1995, 1996 Junior Nationals

Page 12

HeartChart Now she works out of her home with her husband in transportation logistics, golfs all summer and curls all winter. “It’s a great deal,” she said. “Does it get any better than that?”

This is her fifth Scotties, her fourth as a skip, and she’s still looking to improve on a 5-and-6 record amassed in 2003 at Kitchener-Waterloo.

Heading into Tuesday night’s fracas with the women of The Rock, her Dartmouth team was 0-for-6. “That doesn’t bother us,” she said.

“There are 13 teams back in Nova Scotia that would have been just as happy to be here and be 0-and-6.

“Sure, we’re a little disappointed. We came into this event really strong and ready to go for it, but, again, we just seem to be on the wrong side of the inch. I’m not sure why it always seems to happen.

But the teams here are tops in each province and they’re all coming with their ‘A’ games and we’re just not quite ‘A.’ ” It isn’t easy, either, following an Nova Scotia act like the one Colleen Jones gave the Scotties a record 20 times.

“I don’t think anybody back home expects us to match that,” said McConnery. “They smile and urge us to do our best. They want you to do well. They know how tough it is coming into this and playing the best in the country. We don’t get much pressure from people in Nova Scotia.”

A massive difference, of course, is the range of experience or, more to the point, inexperience on arena ice. These Nova Scotians see it once a year, at the Scotties. Some of their opponents see it at their

From Page 5

WOOD: Just not quite ‘A’ provincials. Four teams here played in the arena at Olympic Trials and pre-Trials.

“There is a difference,” admitted McConnery. “The draws are curling four feet.

When you just up your weight a little bit you’re down to oneand-a-half feet. You would think it would be two feet, but it’s only one-and-a-half.

It’s picky that way. It also tends to be streaky. You throw up weight it runs straight.

And I’ve been caught in the middle.”

Nancy McConnery: Lack of arena play hurts.

No question, familiarity with the arena is an advantage.

“We have to re-learn this kind of ice every year when we come to the Scotties,” says McConnery, who plays 90 per cent of her games in downeast curling clubs on ice that

has Russ Howard shaking his head and frowning every time he thinks about it.

“I would believe what Russ Howard has to say,” quipped McConnery. “He’s a good man. He knows his stuff.

“We get to just three or four ‘spiels a year, all on club ice.

Some of these teams just curl every weekend, all winter.

We’ve been to a couple of men’s ‘spiels but it’s a lot different playing the men.”

Sponsorship opportunities are scarce for eastern teams.

So how is it possible for them to achieve any sort of equality in the competitive game?

“If all provincial championships were played in arenas it would add a little equality,” suggested McConnery.

“What would probably make it more feasible, particularly down east, would be to combine the men’s and women’s provincial championships each year, use the same arena venue and promote the event as such.

“It would open the season a bit. Right now, the men in Nova Scotia have nothing to play in from Christmas through until this week in their provincials. I’m sure they’d like to play a couple of weeks earlier and have more time to practise or maybe compete in a couple of ‘spiels.

“Just think. The combined provincials in the middle of January, in one arena, for a whole week! It would be awesome! I think it would be popular with the fans, too.”

Great idea. But a lot of provincial poobahs — and never mind the province — would have to rise from their chairs in the board rooms and roll up their sleeves to make it work.

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Page 13

Time out for trivia Larry Wood HeartChart Editor

QUESTION OF THE DAY: When the Canadian women’s curling championship was last played in Sault Ste. Marie, which province won the title?

2. Name the skip of the team.

3. Name three skips who have won two Canadian women’s championships while losing four games in each of them.

4. A total of 23 players have competed in the Scott Tournament of Hearts representing at least two provinces and/or territories. Name any (including fifths) who are competing

at the current Scotties and for which province/territory.

5. Name the other province/territory for which each played.

6. Name any other players who played for Ontario and one other province/ territory.

7. And the other province/ territory in each case?

8. Name any who have won the Canadian title, where and when. Hint: There are five.

9. One other player in the current Scotties has played for two province/ territories in national competition, one in junior, the other in this Scotties.

Name her and her current role.

10. Which province/territory did she play in junior,

where and when.

11. Where did that team finish?

12. Name the only player in Hearts history who has represented three provinces/territories and Team Canada.

13. Did she win a world title? If so, where and when?

14. Name the only other player who has represented three provinces/ territories at the Canadian women’s champion, the provinces/territories represented and the years.

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QofD: Manitoba 2. Cathy (Pidzarko) Shaw.

3. Heather Houston, Colleen Jones, Jennifer jones.

4. Shannon Aleksic, B.C.; Dawn Askin, Canada (Manitoba); Nancy McConnery (Nova Scotia), Dawn Moses (N.W.T.).

5. Saskatchewan, Ontario, New Brunswick, Yukon.

6. Diane Gushulak, Christine Bodogh Jugenson, Sherry Middaugh, Allison

Ross 7. B.C., Alberta-B.C., Saskatchewan, Quebec.

8. Askin 2008 at Regina, 2009 at Victoria; DebbieJones Walker, B.C.-Manitoba at 1985 at Winnipeg, 1995 at Calgary; Christine Bodogh Jurgenson, Ontario, 1986 at London; Cathy Pidzarko Shaw, Manitoba, 1978 at Sault Ste. Marie; Cathy Caudle Walter, Nova Scotia, 1983

at Prince George.

9. Tara Naugler, Territories third.

10. Nova Scotia second, 1997.

11. Win the national junior title.

12. Bodogh Jurgenson.

13. Won the world title at Kelowna in 1986.

14. Cathy (Pidzarko) Shaw – Manitoba 1978, Northwest Territories 1980, Alberta 1982, 1983.

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Page 14

HeartChart

SCOTTIES CUMULATIVE STATS Skips

Editor: Larry Wood

Associate Editor: Todd Kimberley

Photography: Andrew Klaver

Name Kelly Scott (B.C.) Krista McCarville (Ont.) Valerie Sweeting (Alta.)

Jennifer Jones (Canada) Jill Thurston (Man.) Amber Holland (Sask.)

Erin Carmody (P.E.I.) Sharon Cormier (NWT/YT) Andrea Kelly (N.B.) Eve Belisle (Que.) Shelley Nichols (N.L.) Nancy McConnery (N.S.)

Seconds % age 81 76 75 74 73 71 69 68 67 65 65 64

Name Sasha Carter (B.C.) Jill Officer (Canada) Jillian Babin (N.B.) Leslie Wilson (Man.) Ashley Miharija (Ont.) Tammy Schneider (Sask.)

Whitney More (Alta.)

Kathy O’Rourke (P.E.I.) Rhonda Rogers (N.L.) Martine Comeau (Que.) Megan Cormier (NWT/YT) Sheena Gilman (N.S.)

Thirds

% age 81 79 77 77 77 75 75 72 70 69 67 66

Leads

Name Cathy Overton-Clapham (Canada) Kristen Phillips (Man.) Stephanie LeDrew (N.L.) Jeanna Schraeder (B.C.) Denise Nowlan (N.B.) Tara George (Ont.) Geri-Lynn Ramsay (P.E.I.) Megan Einarson (Alta.)

Jennifer Crouse (N.S.) Brenda Nicholls (Que.) Tara Naugler (NWT/YT) Kim Schneider (Sask.)

% age 81 77 76 75 74 74 73 73 73 71 71 68

British Columbia (Scott) Canada (Jones) Manitoba (Thurston) Ontario (McCarville) Alberta (Sweeting) Saskatchewan (Holland)

% age 80 80 76 76 75 73

Name Dawn Askin (Canada) Jacquie Armstrong (B.C.) Jill Thomas (N.S.) Heather Kalenchuk (Sask.)

Tricia Affleck (P.E.I.) Colette Lemon (N.L.) Kari MacLean (Ont.) Raunora Westcott (Man.) Julie Rainville (Que.) Danielle Ellis (NWT/YT) Lindsay Makichuk (Alta.)

Lianne Sobey (N.B.)

% age 88 83 80 79 79 79 78 78 78 77 77 72

Teams

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New Brunswick (Kelly) P.E.I. (O’Rourke) Newfoundland/Labrador (Nichols) Nova Scotia (McConnery) Quebec (Belisle) Territories (Cormier)

% age 73 73 72 71 70 70

Wednesday, February 3, 2010

Page 15

SCOTTIES SCHEDULE AND RESULTS

Standings

Today’s Games

Team Ontario Canada P.E.I. B.C. Quebec Manitoba New Brunswick Saskatchewan Alberta Nfld/Labrador Territories Nova Scotia

Draw 12 (9:30 a.m.)

Saskatchewan vs. B.C. Quebec vs. Canada Nfld/Labrador vs. Alberta Ontario vs. Manitoba Draw 13 (2 p.m.)

N.B. vs. Nfld/Labrador Territories vs. Ontario N.S. vs. Saskatchewan P.E.I. vs. Quebec Draw 14 (6:30 p.m.)

Team Canada vs. P.E.I. Nova Scotia vs. B.C. Manitoba vs. Territories Alberta vs. New Brunswick

Draw 10 Results

Draw 9 Results P.E.I.* Nova Scotia %age P.E.I. Nova Scotia

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 T 1 0 0 2 3 0 1 0 0 x 7 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 1 1 x 4 Lead Second Third Skip Team 88/33 68 79 74 75 88 70 85/75 70/59 76

Alberta Manitoba* %age Alberta Manitoba

B.C.* Manitoba %age B.C. Manitoba

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 0 1 0 2 1 0 1 1 0 1 0 0 2 0 Lead Second Third 88 84 83 75 80 81

8 9 10 T 0 1 1 7 1 0 0 5 Skip Team 80 83 84 80

Territories New Brunswick* %age Territories New Brunswick

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 0 2 1 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 2 0 1 0 1 Lead Second Third 77 57 70 70 83 68

Alberta* Canada %age Alberta Canada

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 2 0 0 0 1 2 0 0 1 2 2 0 0 3 Lead Second Third 79 68 79 85 76 86

W 6 5 5 4 4 4 3 3 3 2 2 1

L 1 2 2 3 3 3 4 4 4 5 5 6

Draw 11 Results

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 0 0 2 1 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 1 2 1 Lead Second Third 64/75 84 56 81/100 69 68

8 9 10 T 0 1 x 4 1 0 x 7 Skip Team 63 67 64 71

Quebec* Territories %age Quebec Territories

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 1 1 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 2 0 1 0 1 Lead Second Third 80 79 81 96 75 74

8 9 10 T 2 0 0 6 0 1 0 5 Skip Team 79 80 59 76

Ontario* Nfld/Labrador %age Ontario Nfld/Labrador

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 0 0 4 2 0 1 1 0 1 0 0 2 0 0 Lead Second Third 64 70 71 82/54 76 78

8 9 10 T 0 0 x 8 1 1 x 5 Skip Team 78 71 68 74

New Brunswick Saskatchewan* %age New Brunswick Saskatchewan

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 0 0 2 0 0 2 1 3 0 0 1 2 0 0 Lead Second Third 63 79 84 66 74 69

8 9 10 T 2 0 1 8 0 1 0 7 Skip Team 79 76 56 66

9 10 11 T 0 1 0 5 0 0 2 7 Skip Team 65 67 75 74

B.C. Canada* %age B.C. Canada

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 1 0 1 0 2 1 0 0 4 0 2 0 0 2 Lead Second Third 85 84 65 94 96 89

8 9 10 T 0 2 0 7 1 0 1 10 Skip Team 79 78 75 89

Ontario P.E.I.* %age Ontario P.E.I.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 0 2 1 0 1 2 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 Lead Second Third 96 78 72 72 67 71

8 9 10 T 0 3 x 9 2 0 x 3 Skip Team 82 82 56 66

8 9 10 T 1 1 0 7 0 0 1 9 Skip Team 65 73 80 82

Quebec Saskatchewan* %age Quebec Saskatchewan

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 0 0 2 0 2 0 1 0 1 0 3 0 1 0 Lead Second Third 83 50 60 83 71 66

8 9 10 T 0 0 1 6 1 2 0 8 Skip Team 68 65 65 71

Nova Scotia Nfld/Labrador %age Nova Scotia Nfld/Labrador

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 0 0 0 3 1 0 1 1 1 1 0 0 2 0 Lead Second Third 79 59 73 81 66 74

8 9 10 T 0 1 1 7 1 0 0 6 Skip Team 59 67 57 70

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Page 16

HeartChart

ROAD TO THE SCOTTIES

McCarville cuts swath through Ontario

Larry Wood HeartChart Editor

K

rista McCarville’s well-travelled Thunder Bay team, fresh from plenty of action at both the Olympic pre-Trials in November and the Trials in December, was sharper that a shiny new razor blade at the Ontario Provincial Scotties at the crosstown Port Arthur Curling Club the week following New Year’s.

McCarville, directing Tara George, a Sault Ste. Marie native, Ashley Miharija and Kari MacLean, won her fourth Ontario title in five years with an astounding 11-game sweep of the 10team round-robin competition.

It was, truly, no contest as

McCarville persisted in monotonously knocking over the opposition like so many bowling pins.

At the completion of the

preliminaries, Sudbury’s Tracy Horgan stood second with a 7-2 record while Kathy Auld of Mississauga was 6-3 and teams of Car-

From left, Tara George, Ashley Miharija and Kari MacLean helped make an 11-game sweep of Ontario.

rie Lindner of Sarnia and Jacquie Harrison of Alliston were snarled at 5-4.

Harrison clobbered Lindner 8-2 in a tiebreaker, then whipped Auld 8-3 in the Page Three-Four fracas.

Horgan, meanwhile, bowed 6-5 to McCarville in Page One-Two affair that wasn’t as tight as the score might indicate, then bounced back in the semi-final to sideline Harrison 7-3.

In the final, Horgan slithered into a 3-2 lead at the half but managed only one point thereafter.

McCarville used hammer held over from a blank first end to score a pair by tapping up a stone to take the early lead in the second.

Horgan needed a critical double takeout to take a single point in the third end. McCarville had a shot

for two in the fourth butm playing a quiet tap through a port, wrecked on a guard resulting in a Horgan steal.

The Sudbury team stole another single in the fifth after McCarville missed two shots.

ONTARIO Unfazed, however, McCarville scored a leading deuce in the sixth, yielded a tying single in the seventh and, following a blank eighth, took a critical go-ahead deuce in the ninth with a final draw shot. The champs

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never were in trouble in the 10th end.

Following the post-Trials retirement of veteran lead Lorraine Lang, the team scooped up her daughter Sarah to handle the fifthplayer duties for the Scotties.

Sarah, of course, also is the daughter of team coach Rick Lang, a three-time Brier winner and two-time world champ.

Trailing behind McCarville’s 11-zip record, Horgan was 8-4, Harrison 7-5, Auld 6-4 and Lindner 5-5.

At 4-5 were former champion Jenn Hanna of Ottawa and Julie Hastings of Toronto. Lisa Farnell of Peterborough and Krista Mayrand of Cochrane finished 2-7 while Marlo Dahl of Thunder Bay racked up a single victory in nine games.