Issue 7 – Friday, February 5, 2010 • An Official Publication of the Canadian Curling Association
Look who’s through! P.E.I. tops the bunch as five teams advance to Scotties playoff territory ■ The playoff ■ Tourney’s true ■ Penchant picture Page 2 heartbeat Page 5 for pink Page 16
Geri-Lynn Ramsay, left, Tricia Affleck and the rest of Team P.E.I. finished atop the round robin with an 8-3 record.
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Canadian Women’s Curling Championship • February 19-27, 2011 • Charlottetown Civic Centre
Page 2
HeartChart
Playoff bound: Five still alive in the Soo Larry Wood HeartChart Editor
K
athy O’Rourke and her Prince Edward Islanders are in a prime position to win their province’s first-ever Canadian women’s curling championship. But taking first place in the Scotties round robin at the Essar Centre, something the Island curlers accomplished Thursday, constitutes only the first step on the three-step route to the throne room. Starting today (7:30 p.m. ET) at Essar, O’Rourke, who throws second stones and directs traffic for 21-year-old back-enders Erin Carmody and GeriLynn Ramsay, can take a second step by repeating her round-robin win over defending champion Jennifer Jones of Winnipeg. Such a development would propel the Atlantic team directly to the championship final on Sunday at 2:30 p.m. ET. A loss, and the Isles would drop to a semi-final
Playoff Seedings 1. Prince Edward Island (8-3) 2. Canada (8-3) 3. British Columbia (7-4) 4. Manitoba (7-4) 5. Ontario (7-4)
date on Saturday at 7 p.m. O’Rourke and Co. sat out the final round Thursday night while Jones and Ontario’s Krista McCarville faced off in a battle of giants. Jones won it 6-5, thereby assuring herself of second place in the final standings and a place in the Page One-Two playoff today. Had McCarville won the key match, her team would have placed first, dropping the Islanders to second and leaving Jones in a three-way suddendeath playoff situation. British Columbia’s Kelly Scott and Manitoba’s Jill Thurston both won handily on the last draw, thereby joining McCarville with 7-and-4 records, one game behind the 8-and-3 marks turned in by O’Rourke and Jones. Scott won her second of
the day, 8-2 over Shelley Nichols (4-and-7) of Newfoundland/Labrador. The win left the former world champion placing third (by virtue of a pre-event draw challenge used to rank teams, in case round-robin results failed to provide separation) and drawing today off while McCarville and Thurston battle at 3 p.m. to decide an opponent for Saturday’s Page Three-Four playoff at 1 p.m. ET. Thurston whipped Quebec’s Eve Belisle 10-4 Thursday night on an adjacent ice sheet. The Jones team’s advance to the Page One-Two will be its first such appearance in the premier playoff tilt since 2005.
Please see PLAYOFFS, Page 12
Playoff Schedule Today 3 p.m. —Tiebreaker: Ontario vs. Manitoba 7:30 p.m. — Page One-Two Playoff: P.E.I. vs. Canada
Saturday 1 p.m. — Page ThreeFour Playoff: B.C. vs. Ontario-Manitoba winner 7 p.m. — Championship semifinal: Page One-Two loser vs. Page Three-Four winner
Top: No need to worry, Cathy! Team Canada, with third Cathy Overton-Clapham, defeated Ontario 6-5 on Thursday night for a date with P.E.I. in tonight’s Page One-Two playoff. At right, B.C.’s Jacquie Armstrong and Kelly Scott go directly to the Page Three-Four game.
Sunday 2:30 p.m. — Championship final: Page OneTwo winner vs. semifinal winner
Friday, February 5, 2010
Page 3
NEXT-YEAR COUNTRY: Clockwise from top, Sheena Gilman and Jill Thomas of Nova Scotia, Jillian Babin, Lianne Sobey and Denise Nowlan of New Brunswick, and Tara Naugler of the Territories will have to wait until Charlottetown 2011 for Scotties glory, after missing playoffs.
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Please visit www.amarula.com to learn more. Amarula is a rare find. Appreciate it accordingly.
Page 4
HeartChart
Sponsors help to spur success of 2010 Scotties JIM CRONIN
HeartChart Columnist
S
teel, lottery tickets and alcohol. Not words that you would normally associate with the sport of curling. However, the companies who manufacture these products are an important part of the 2010 Scotties Tournament of Hearts underway in Sault Ste. Marie. Local sponsorship is a key factor in the success of major sporting events such as the Scotties. The many Sault Ste. Marie businesses that have signed as sponsors of the 2010 Scotties provide cash and in-kind services that support the event’s operating budget. Kathryn Larsen, from the Cana-
dian Curling Association, says that without the local sponsorship it simply would not be possible to host the event. As soon as Sault Ste. Marie was awarded this year’s Scotties, Larsen began working closely with Sandra Randa, chair of the local organizing committee, to bring on board the local sponsors. “A lot of the ideas of who we should talk to from the business community came from Sandra and her committee,” says the CCA official. The first step was to bring on media partners who, in turn, could get the word out that the Scotties was coming to the Sault and promoting the event. Essar Steel was one of the first major businesses contacted by the Scotties team because of the company’s large workforce. Larsen also says many local companies proactively approached the event organizers seeking to be involved in the Scotties. “We certainly had companies come to us who said they were really excited about the event and were interested in opportunities for
sponsorship,” says Larsen. There are four levels of local sponsorship — bronze, silver, gold and diamond — and there is a limit on the number of sponsors in each category. For this year’s Scotties in Sault Ste. Marie the diamond sponsors are Destination Osoyoos and Amarula Cream, while the City of Sault Ste. Marie is involved as a community partner. The gold sponsors include Essar Steel, OLG, and Northern Credit Union. The local sponsors receive tickets to the Scotties, which allows them to see firsthand what they are getting for their cash or in-kind contributions. There are also customized items that include a sponsor’s lounge with food and drink, jackets and event pins, and advertising in the daily Scotties newspaper, the HeartChart. The companies are also featured in promotional materials for the Scotties such as posters and brochures, and on the Scotties website.
Please see CRONIN, Page 7
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
Friday, February 5, 2010
Page 5
Genial Wilson the heartbeat of this rockfest LARRY WOOD HeartChart Editor
Q
uick now, why does the now-legendary logo for the Scotties Tournament Of Hearts feature four hearts in a circle? Obviously, the four hearts signify the four members of a curling team in the Canadian women’s curling championship. Many insiders would argue, though, that a fifth Heart should be crammed in that ring. Should have been there since the tournament’s inception, in fact. And should be, at least, until the end of
this week’s clambake at the Essar Centre. The fifth heart would represent a gracious woman who hasn’t missed a Scotties since 1982 and played in two national rockfests before that, winning them both. Indeed, Colleen Jones of Halifax may hold most of the on-ice records in this tournament but Robin Wilson holds the most important one. In addition to her 29 straight appearances — 31 if you count her performances on ice with Lindsay Sparkes in 1976 and 1979 — Wilson is a stickout at this event for the most elementary of reasons: She invented the damn thing! True, the Canadian championship began back in 1960 with a two-team shootout, continued in 1961 with the champions of 10 teams involved and has endured to this day. But sponsorship was sporadic until Vancouver’s Wilson came along. Since 1982, when she
was named event co-ordinator, the championship has grown to be the best-known, also the classiest production, in the realm of national women’s amateur sport. This tournament became a mere blip in her imagination along about the time, three decades ago, she first visited the offices of Scott Paper, having been invited for an interview on the basis of a job application. Story goes the guy doing the interview expected someone of the opposite gender to show up. Wilson isn’t sure, to this very day, if she’d have been granted the interview if the interviewer had known his applicant was a woman. Never mind. She was hired . . . and Scott’s (now Kruger’s) connection to national women’s curling was born. Wilson and her sister, the late Dawn Knowles, conceived the four-heart logo.
Please see WOOD, Page 10
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.
CIMCO Refrigeration welcomes all participants and fans to the... With over 4,500 ice surfaces installed worldwide, CIMCO is proud to be recognized as the world leader in the design, engineering, manufacture, installation and servicing of artificial ice rink systems.
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C A N A D A
Page 6
HeartChart
GETTING TO KNOW YOU
Ontario: Skip: Krista McCarville Home: Thunder Bay. Began curling at age: 10 Delivery: Right Occupation/title: Teacher Employer: Thunder Bay Catholic District School Board DOB: Nov. 10, 1982 Place of birth: Thunder Bay Marital status: Married Spouse/partner: Mike McCarville Children: Daughter Isabella (4 months) First vehicle: Hyundai Accent Current vehicle: Hyundai Santa Fe Favourite food: Toast with peanut butter Favourite drink: Coors Lite Celebrity dream man: Wentworth Miller (Prison Break) Most annoying celebrity: Molly Burnett (Days Of Our Lives) All-time favourite movie: The Notebook Last movie she loved: Nothing lately has been that good Last movie she hated: Quarantine Tattooed? No Never leaves home without: Her purse that has everything she needs Competed in: 1998, 2000, 2001, 2002 Junior Nationals, 2006, 2007, 2009 Scotties, 2005 Mixed Nationals, 2003 University World Games in Italy.
Third: Tara George Home: Thunder Bay Began curling at age: 10 Delivery: Right Occupation/title: Casino shift manager Employer: Casino Thunder Bay, Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corp. DOB: Sept. 15, 1973 Place of birth: Sault Ste. Marie Marital status: Married Spouse/partner: Mike
Martinis, toast and peanut butter, dreams of Brady and Grady, and kickin’ it Old School
George Children: Mykaila 5, Carter 3 First vehicle: Mazda Current vehicle: Dodge Grand Caravan Favourite food: Prime rib Favourite drink: Sour key martini Last movie she loved: The Proposal Competed in: 1992 Junior Nationals, 2006, 2007, 2008 (fifth) 2009 Scotties
Second: Ashley Miharija Nickname: Smash. Home: Thunder Bay Began curling at age: ge: Eight Delivery: Right Occupation/title: Laboraaboratory technician Employer: Life Labs Date of birth: Jan. 21, 1, 1987 Place of birth: Thunder der Bay Marital status: Single e Spouse/Partner: Boyyfriend Brian Children: None First vehicle: Volkswagen wagen Beetle ssan Current vehicle: Nissan Xtrail and Sentra Favourite food: Salads ads Favourite drink: Red d wine Celebrity dream man: an: Johnny Depp ebrity: Most annoying celebrity: Lindsay Lohan All-time favourite movie: The Bodyguard Last movie she loved: ed: P.S. I Love You Last movie she hated: ed: Vanilla Sky Tattooed? No Never leaves home without: Her curling “stuff” f” Competed in: 2008 junior d, nationals, 2009 mixed, 2009 Scotties
Lead: Karii MacLean Home: Thunder Bay Began curling at age: e: 11 Delivery: Right Occupation/title: Client ent
facilitator Employer: Options Northwest DOB: Dec. 25, 1977 Place of birth: Thunder Bay Marital status: Relationship Spouse/partner: Dan Lavoie Children: None First vehicle: ’91 Acura Integra Current vehicle: 2008 Nissan Rogue Favourite food: Anything Italian Favourite drink: Beer Celebrity dream man: Grady Sizemore (Cleveland Indians) All time favourite movie: All-time Old School Last movie she loved: The Hangover
Tattooed? Nope Never leaves home without: Lip gloss Competed in: 1996, 1997, 1998 Junior Nationals, 2009 Scotties, 2006 Mixed Nationals
Fifth: Sarah Lang Home: Thunder Bay Began curling at age: 9 Delivery: Right Occupation/title: Student, Lakehead University (thirdyear social work) Employer: None Date of birth: Sept. 21, 1989 Place of birth: Thunder Bay Marital status: Single
Spouse/partner: None Children: None First vehicle: Still driving her parents’ cars; first was a Nissan Sentra Current vehicle: Parents’ Nissan Xtrail Favourite food: French fries and pasta Favourite drink: Milk Celebrity dream man: Tom Brady Most annoying celebrity: Britney Spears All-time favourite movie: Zoolander Last movie she loved: The Time Traveler’s Wife Last movie she hated: The Army Locker Tattooed? Two tattoos for deceased dog Pepsi. Never leaves home without: Cellphone Competed in: 08 Junior Nationals.
Coach: Rick Lang Home: Thunder Bay Occupation: Clinical investigator Employer: Office Of The Children’s Lawyer Date of birth: Dec. 12, 1953 Competed in: National Juniors: 1971; Brier: 1975, 76, 80, 81, 82, 85, 88, 91, 93, 95, (fifth) 00; Worlds: 75, 82, 85; National Mixed: 81; National Seniors: 04, 06; 08, 09 World Seniors 07. Coached: Scotties, 09.
From left, Kari MacLean, Ashley Miharija, Krista McCarville and Tara George.
Friday, February 5, 2010
Page 7
ROAD TO THE SCOTTIES
Kelly KOs Kelley for West Coast crown
Larry Wood HeartChart Editor
I
7-3 to former champion Kristy Lewis of Richmond in the second round and Law losing to Scott by virtue of a 9-7 extra-end theft in the fifth round.
t was Kelly and Kelley when the smoke cleared in the 10-team British Columbia provincial Scotties showdown at Penticton. Kelly Scott, the 2007 world champ and two-time Scotties champ, was faced with rebounding from a catastrophic 1-6 record at the Canadian Olympic Trials in December. Kelley Law, the 2000 Scotties and world champ and 2002 Olympic bronze medallist, was looking for her first provincial crown since 2007. In the finale, the younger Scott doubled up on the veteran Law 8-4 in the championship final. Both ran up 8-1 records in the roundrobin segment, Scott losing
Heading into the playoffs, Scott was riding a six-game winning streak but yielded five stolen points in the Page One-Two playoff to Vancouver’s Law who advanced to the final with a 9-3 decision. That catapulted Scott and
Organizing committee chair Sandra Randa.
There’s no question that the Sault Ste. Marie sponsors are pleased with their investment in the tournament. Liisa Woolley, marketing manager for Northern Credit Union, watched some of the games this week at the Essar Centre. She described it as an exciting, well-organized event, and says the volunteers were “fantastic!” From a marketing perspective she was pleased
BRITISH COLUMBIA
her Kelowna team of Jeanna Schraeder, Sasha Carter and Jacquie Armstrong, into the semifinal against defending champion Marla Mallett of New Westminster. Mallett had managed a shaky 5-4 round-robin log which barely qualified her for a berth in the Page ThreeFour tussle against thirdfinishing Kristen Fewster of Prince George who was 6-3. But Mallett, who topped the record list at the 2009 Scotties in Victoria before fading in the playoffs, dumped Fewster 7-3 in the Page tilt and kept Scott within sight in a rather sloppy semi that wound up with the Kelowna skip in possession of the hammer in a one-up situation playing the final end. Turned out Scott didn’t require the last rock for a 6-5 decision.
In the final, Law hit the board with two in the second but Scott bounced right back with three in the third, then stole two in the fourth and a single in the fifth for a 6-2 edge at the half. Law battled back with singles in the sixth and seventh but Scott duplicated that scoring in the eighth and ninth and handily dispensed with her familiar foe. So Scott advanced to another Scotties with a 10-2 provincial record while Law finished 9-2, Mallett 6-5 and Fewster 6-4. Finishing up the track were Cranbrook’s JerriPat Armstrong-Smith and Nanaimo’s Nicole Backe at 4-5, Lewis and Adina Tasaka of New Westminster at 3-6, Lori Olsen and Karla Thompson, both of Kamloops, at 2-7.
It’s OK to look, Sasha! The Kelly Scott crew, with Sasha Carter at second, won another B.C. title.
From Page 4
Leading up to the Scotties, Northern Credit Union ran two special promotions for its customers that allowed it to award Scotties tickets as prizes throughout its northern branches. Cliffe Printing of Sault Ste. Marie played an important sponsorship role in the creation of hundreds of signs and print materials that promoted the Scotties before and during the national tournament. Gino Cavallo from
Cliffe’s said his company jumped at the chance to be part of such a prestigious high profile event. “It’s not often that a local company has an opportunity to be a supporting partner in an event of this size,” says Cavallo. Randa gives kudos to all of the Sault Ste. Marie businesses that not only supported the Scotties financially through their sponsorships, but actively participated in the event.
CRONIN:
‘Fantastic!’ with the return on Northern’s investment. “The Scotties is a national event that was a great fit for our sponsorship and a great way to support the community,” she says.
A Proud Sponsor of the
Scotties Tournament of Hearts We’re so happy we made it to Sault Ste. Marie. Celebrating 5 Great Years in The Soo. Cross Country Automotive Services 475 Pim Street Sault Ste. Marie, ON P6B2V3 Canada www.crosscountry-auto.com
“We were so pleased that our sponsors took time out to attend many of the games and as well as sharing their corporate tickets with customers so they could also take in the great curling action,” says Randa. The 2010 Scotties in Sault Ste. Marie also received a big boost from the federal regional development organization in Ontario, FedNor, which provided a $75,000 contribution to the curling event.
The Party Line • Your guide to what’s goin’ on
Page 8
your guide to what’s goin’ on
Shuffle in to the HeartStop Lounge! Break out the polyester, platform shoes and your finest bling… the Superfreak Disco Band is hitting the stage in the HeartStop Lounge tonight at 10:30 pm. Over the past decade, the band has been thrilling audiences with their high energy, funky tunes and dynamic light show. With this cast of characters - Dangerous D, Animal, Q Tip and Ben Pierced – expect an outrageously entertaining performance!
on stage
Saturday, February 6 – Rockstar
Live
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
• 10:00 pm
Wednesday, February 3 Marion Rahrer - ticket number 8148 - won $1,445
Take a
Free Ride
(Please note: Cameraphone images may not be of suitable quality to reproduce.)
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
Friday, February 5, 2010
Page 9
It’s Simply up close
personal
and
On the Road to the Vancouver Olympics!
Today 6:30 pm
Olympic Team – Cheryl Bernard
Today – 6:00 pm
up close
In a dramatic last rock victory over Shannon Kleibrink at the Tim Hortons Roar of the Rings, Cheryl Bernard earned the right to wear Canada’s colours in Vancouver.
&personal
With the Olympic games just two weeks away, Bernard and her teammates are making a special visit to the HeartStop Lounge. It’s a golden opportunity for fans to gain an insight on their thoughts and feelings as they prepare for a place in history. Make sure you’re there for this exciting send-off to the greatest sports show on earth!
HeartStop Lounge Menu Homestyle Cooking 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’s Specials Served 6 pm - 8 pm
Dinner Feature
Ravioli Dinner Served with Garden Salad
$10.00
Vegetarian Option
Vegetarian Pizza
$2.50/slice
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)
$5.00 $5.50 $4.00 $4.75 $5.00 $5.00 $5.00 $5.50 $5.50 $2.25 $8.00
Cheryl Bernard, Susan O’Connor, Carolyn Darbyshire and Cori Bartel wear gold medals and Team Canada colours following their victory at the Tim Hortons Roar of the Rings.
Championship Schedule Set for Cool Curling
Now that round robin play is complete, the field is set for championship weekend in the HeartStop Lounge. The 16 qualifiers face off starting at 4:30 pm Saturday in the Cool Curling competition, followed by the quarter-finals. On Sunday, the semi-finals get underway at 12:30 pm – and the winners go straight to the championship final. Make sure you get your spot in the HeartStop! The curlers will be playing for first prize of $600, $300 for second and $150 for third. Photos contributed by: Neil MacEwan
Page 10 They sat up until the wee hours dreaming up the emblem. Many times Wilson has admitted, “it was a two wine-bottle job.” The first Tournament Of Hearts was held at Regina in 1982. Colleen Jones — who else? — won it. And the rest is history. Among other things, the Scotties has been known as one of the best-organized sports events anywhere. And the reason why is simple. Robin Wilson is among the most organized people in sport. Hence the Scotties runs like a finelytuned clock. Colleagues say she is “an amazing problem-solver.” Nothing fazes her. She’s on top of everything connected with the tournament — hotels, banquets, teams, officials, anything where timing is involved. She’s even aware of player’s birthdays and arranges appropriate gifts. She has a passion for what she does with an intensity few can match. If she’s stressed, or in the midst of solving a problem, you’ll never know it. Always, no matter what the moment, Robin Wilson comes complete with a smile for everyone. Another story goes that the Scotties was returning to a city in which it had held forth 10 years previously. Guy walks into the arena, shakes Robin’s hand, says, “You probably don’t remember me but . . .” At which point Robin not only calls him by name, tells him what he does for a living, what he likes for lunch, how
HeartChart he was connected to curling and the previous Scotties a decade before. The Wilson suite at the headquarters hotel is known as the War Rooms. She’s had red rooms with Oriental carpets, rooms completely decked out in leather, one as small as a closet. If you can’t find her running around a city with a member of the organizing committee, she’ll be at her computer working on twodays-from-now, cup of tea by her side. In the evening, out goes the tea and in comes either red wine or Glenfiddich on the rocks.
Robin Wilson. Her door is always open. No one ever is turned away. Until this year, her mother Helen was always on hand as “chaperone.” Along about 1:30 a.m., Helen would say to the assembled guests: “Robin will need her rest soon.” To which Robin would reply: “No worries, mom, I’m doing just fine.” So Helen would put the corks in the bottles and head into the bedroom and put on her pajamas. Then she’d
From Page 5
WOOD: An effervescent, affable personality return, thinking someone would take the hint. Instead, Robin would say: “Don’t you like mom’s peejays?” And the wine would be uncorked again. Yet another story tells you all you need to know about Robin Wilson and her knack for steering a smooth voyage. She and her coterie are busy working overtime on the seating arrangements for the final Scotties banquet in 1994 at Kitchener-Waterloo. They put the whole shebang in a computer and everything is fine until the afternoon of the final game when a power surge or some other unexplained glitch fouls up the computer. Now it’s a half-hour before the start of the predinner cocktails and Wilson departs the arena and heads for the war rooms to print out the seating chart, only to discover it’s hopelessly shuffled like a deck of cars and has to be completely re-drawn. The reception is a long way from the hotel. And everybody’s there, hoisting a few at the appointed hour, 60 minutes before the start of the banquet. That start time comes and goes and, no Robin, no seating chart. The bar stays
open for another hour. Scott Paper president Bob Stewart is looking for Robin. “What’s going on?” he is asking, approximately. At long last, Robin shows up, calm and cool, with the seating arrangement neatly printed out. Stewart approaches and asks: “What’s going on here? Who’s in charge?”
And Robin quietly looks at him, smiles, puts a hand on his arm, and says, very quietly: “You are, Bob.” There’s an adjunct to the story, too. Bob Stewart loved beets. He always demanded that beets be served as a vegetable at the banquet. But, this time, the beets were boiled to mush and the hotel cooks had to produce a fresh batch of veggies in a hurry. Robin Wilson’s connection with the Scotties sponsor ceases with the completion of the current edition. They gave her rousing, well-deserved sendoff earlier in the week at the Delta. Anyone who’s been around the event for any
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Betting is, though, that you haven’t seen the last of Robin Wilson at the Canadian women’s curling championship. The role may be altered, but not the affable, ebullient, effervescent personality. That will never change.
Scott’s (now Kruger’s) connection to this event dates back to 1982. Robin Wilson was named event co-ordinator that year, and the Scotties has since grown into the classiest women’s amateur sport production in Canada.
Steve & Kelly Rome
Proud sponsor of the 2010 Scotties Tournament of Hearts.
length of time will tell you future Scotties won’t be the same without her.
Proud Sponsors Of The...
Friday, February 5, 2010
Page 11
GETTING TO KNOW YOU
Canada: Skip: Jennifer Jones Home: East St. Paul, Man. Began curling at age: 11 Delivery: Right Occupation/title: Corporate lawyer Employer: Wellington West Capital Inc. Date of birth: July 7, 1974 Place of birth: Winnipeg Marital status: Married Spouse/Partner: Scott Children: None First-ever vehicle: Volkswagon Rabbit Current vehicle: Currently on order Favourite food: Ice cream Favourite drink: Chai tea Celebrity dream man: None Most annoying celebrity: None
All-time favourite movie: Anything with a happy ending Last movie she loved: The Hangover Last movie she hated: Anything without a happy ending Never leaves home without: iPod Competed in: 2002, 05, 06, 07, 08, 09 Scotties, 05, 08, 09 Worlds, 91, 93, 94 Canadian Juniors, 04, 06, 07, 08 Canada Cup, 07, 08 Continental Cup.
Third: Cathy Overton-Clapham Home: Winnipeg Began curling at age: 12 Delivery: Right Occupation: Business owner/mom Employer: Flatlanders
Happy endings, Ryan Reynolds crushes, Tim’s double-doubles and iPod dependencies Flooring Date of birth: July 19, 1969 Place of birth: Winnipeg Marital status: Married Spouse/Partner: Mike Children: Andrew 11, Mackenzie 7 First vehicle: Cavalier Current vehicle: Hyundai Vera Cruz Favourite food: Steak Favourite drink: Chai tea Celebrity dream man: Jim Young Most annoying celebrity: None All-time favourite movie: Anything with a happy ending Last movie she loved: The Hangover Last movie she hated: Anything without a happy ending Never leaves home without: BlackBerry/phone
Competed in: 1991, 95, 96, 99, 00, 05, 06, 07, 08, 09 10 Scotties, 1995, 05, 08, 09 Worlds, 07, 08 Continental Cup, 86. 89 Canadian Juniors, 90 World Juniors, 06, 07, 08 Canada Cup.
Second: Jill Officer Home: Winnipeg Began curling at age: 10 Delivery: Right Occupation/title: RBC Olympian Employer: RBC Date of birth: June 2, 1975 Place of birth: Winnipeg Marital status: Married Spouse/Partner: Devlin Children: None First vehicle: Cavalier
Current vehicle: Ford Fusion Favourite food: Wraps Favourite drink: None Celebrity dream man: Justin Timberlake, Ryan Reynolds Most annoying celebrity: Lindsay Lohan Last movie she loved: The Hangover Last movie she hated: Lord of the Rings Tattooed? No Never leaves home without: Water, BlackBerry Competed in: 2005, 06, 07, 08, 09 Scotties, 05, 08, 09 Worlds, 94 Canadian Junior, 04, 06, 07, 08 Canada Cup, 07, 08 Continental Cup.
Lea Dawn Lead: Askin Home: W Winnipeg Began curling c at age: 7 Delivery: Right Delivery Occupation/title: Case Occupat officer Employer: Federal GovEmploye ernment of Canada Date of o birth: July 3, 1980 Place of birth: Ottawa Marital status: ComMarit mon law l Spouse/Partner: Mike Spou McEwen McEwe Children: None. Childre vehicle: Cavalier First veh Current vehicle: Mazda 3 Favourite food: Too many Favourit to pick Favourite drink: Depends Favourit on mood Celebrity dream man: Hmmmm Most annoying an celebrity: Miley Cyrus Cy All-time favourite movie: Shining Through T Tattooed? Yes, two. Tattooed home withNever leaves le out: Sun Sunglasses Jill Officer, left, and Dawn Askin.
Competed in: 2005, 08, 09 Scotties, 08, 09 Worlds, 07, 08 Canada Cup, 07, 08 Continental Cup.
Fifth: Jennifer Clark-Rouire Home: Winnipeg Began curling at age: 14 Delivery: Right Occupation/title: Mother and business owner Employer: Storm Catering Date of birth: May 18, 1975 Place of birth: Winnipeg Marital status: Married Spouse/Partner: Mitch Children: Lucas, 2 1/2 First vehicle: Ford Festiva Current vehicle: Chevy Tracker XLT Favourite food: Chocolate Favourite drink: Tim Hortons coffee . . . large double-double! Celebrity dream man: Ryan Reynolds Most annoying celebrity: Paris Hilton All-time favourite movie: Star Wars Last book she loved: The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold Last book she hated: My Sister’s Keeper by Jodi Picoult (couldn’t think of any movies!) Tattooed? Not yet Never leaves home without: A picture of my little boy Lucas Competed in: 2008, 09 Scotties, 08, 09 Worlds
Coach: Janet Arnott Home: Winnipeg Occupation/title: Store systems co-ordinator Employer: Shoppers Drug Mart Date of birth: April 17, 1956 Place of birth: Winnipeg Coached: 2008, 09 Scotties, 08, 09 Worlds
Page 12
HeartChart The match provides an extra life while all other playoff games are sudden death. “I just wanted a shot at the four-foot and I knew I’d have that draw,” said Jones of the tension-packed final end played before a crowd of 3,507. McCarville had taken two in the ninth to tie the count after chasing Jones most of the way. McCarville had two rocks stationed in the four-foot, guarded, but Jones executed an angle-raise takeout leaving her rock hidden. McCarville flashed, attempting a thin double off one of her own rocks. “We played the angle raise on the first one when we had the chance,” said Jones. “I knew all the way down we weren’t hitting it too thick but it worked. It was a big game for us today and we knew we’d have to play well and we did.” Jones, playing with Cathy Overton-Clapham, Jill Officer and Dawn Askin, lost to O’Rourke Wednesday night and noted the Islanders “play with no fear.” “They’ll be tough but we’ve been there before and we’ll be tough, too,” she said. McCarville explained her last-rock miss: “I planned to throw peel weight; I just threw wide. It’s such a long drop, from No. 1 to tiebreakers, two tiebreakers, again. Hopefully this time it’ll go our way.” McCarville won two tiebreakers at the Olympic trials in Edmonton, then lost in the semifinal. “I think for some reason we’re supposed to learn the ice a little better so two extra
From Page 2
PLAYOFFS games will have to do,” she said. “We like tiebreakers. Wherever we go, we take the hard road. But that’s OK; it makes us a better team. And we’re conditioned for what we’re facing the next couple of days.” McCarville said she wasn’t disappointed in her team’s play. “We picked up our game tonight but it wasn’t enough,” she said. The B.C. team won its second of the day by stealing points at will against the women from The Rock. “We had a real, real good day — team dynamics, chemistry and just solid play,” said Scott, the 2007 world champion who’s looking to get back to the Scotties throne room. “I think we’re ramping it up at the perfect time. We have some momentum now.” She said she’d probably rather play today. “I’d rather play, but not in a tiebreaker,” she said. “We’ll practise instead.” Thurston was irate after what she termed “a horrible” performance against New Brunswick’s Andrea Kelly in the afternoon, but her Winnipeg team bounced back to clobber Quebec. “We played a lot better,” she said. “We had a talk and decided we’re still in it, we can still make a tiebreaker so let’s just go out and play hard. The goal was to make the playoffs and whether it’s a tiebreaker or not it’s still
the playoffs. I think we play well when our backs are against the wall. We knew we had to win this game to stay in it and we came out firing.” Saskatchewan’s Amber Holland drew to the button for a 7-6 win over Valerie Sweeting of Edmonton in the other game Thursday night. Holland missed the playoffs by one game at 6-and-5 while Quebec and New Brunswick were 5-and-6, Newfoundland/Labrador, Alberta and the Territories were 4-and-7 and Nova Scotia was 1-and-10. Scott remained in contention Thursday afternoon with a key 10-5 win over the Islanders that failed to dislodge the O’Rourke outfit from the top rung of the round-robin standings. “I think the scoreboard was indicative of how sharp we played,” said Scott. Thurston’s crew merely needed to knock off New Brunswick to punch its own playoff ticket but was instead trumped 9-6. Jones overwhelmed lastplace Nova Scotia by an 11-4 count. O’Rourke’s said she thought here crew was “emotionally a little tired out there. “We just really didn’t have the gas. I think the last three games have been really scrappy, hard-fought ones. It’s almost like you know you’re in that (Page) One-Two game, and you’re out there trying to play for hammer, but it’s tough going when you’re a little bit tired.”
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Page 13
Time out for trivia Larry Wood HeartChart Editor
QUESTION OF THE DAY: Next year’s Scott Tournament of Hearts will be played at Charlottetown. Name the Scotties champion skip the last time the event was played P.E.I. and the year it was played. 2. All told, Canadian women’s titles have been decided in Charlottetown on three occasions. List the two previous winners and the years they won the tournaments on the island. 3. Marilyn Bodogh, in 1996, is the last Ontario skip to win the Scotties. Who skipped the P.E.I. team in that particular tournament?
4. This year’s Tim Hortons Brier will be held at Halifax in March. When was the Scotties last staged in Halifax?. 5. Who won it, from which province? 6. Next year’s Brier will be played in the John Labatt Centre, London, where a successful Scotties was played in 2006. Who won that, representing which province? 7. Newfoundland is one of three provinces/territories never to have won the Canadian women’s curling championship. Name the other two. 8. Which Ontario centres do not fit in this list — Kenora, Dryden, North Bay, London, Unionville, Hamilton, Windsor, Arnprior — and why? 9. Name the last Ontario
skip to win 10 games at the Scotties, where and when?
10. Name the only three Ontario skips ever to win the Canadian women’s curling championship. 11. Where were they from? 12. Name the province with the most third-place finishes in Canadian women’s curling championship history. 13. How many third-place finishes? 14. Name the province with the most secondplace finishes, and that number.
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QofD: Colleen Jones, 1999 2. Vera Pezer 1973, Connie Laliberte 1984 3. Susan McInnis. 4. 1992. 5. Connie Laliberte, Manitoba. 6. Kelly Scott, British Columbia
7. P.E.I. and the Territories. 8. North Bay and Hamilton don’t fit because neither has produced an Ontario women’s curling champion. 9. Jenn Hanna of Ottawa won 10 in 2005 at St. John’s.
10. Marilyn (Darte) Bodogh, Heather Houston, Alison Goring. 11. St. Catharines, Thunder Bay, Toronto.. 12. Ontario. 13. Seven bronze medals. 14. Alberta has nine silver medals.
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Page 14
HeartChart
SCOTTIES CUMULATIVE STATS (final through round robin)
Skips
Editor: Larry Wood
Associate Editor: Todd Kimberley
Photography: Andrew Klaver
Name Kelly Scott (B.C.) Jennifer Jones (Canada) Krista McCarville (Ont.) Amber Holland (Sask.) Jill Thurston (Man.) Erin Carmody (P.E.I.) Valerie Sweeting (Alta.) Andrea Kelly (N.B.) Eve Belisle (Que.) Sharon Cormier (NWT/YT) Nancy McConnery (N.S.) Shelley Nichols (N.L.)
Seconds % age 79 76 75 74 73 72 72 69 69 68 67 64
Name Jill Officer (Canada) Sasha Carter (B.C.) Leslie Wilson (Man.) Jillian Babin (N.B.) Ashley Miharija (Ont.) Tammy Schneider (Sask.) Kathy O’Rourke (P.E.I.) Whitney More (Alta.) Sheena Gilman (N.S.) Martine Comeau (Que.) Rhonda Rogers (N.L.) Megan Cormier (NWT/YT)
Thirds Name Cathy Overton-Clapham (Canada) Jeanna Schraeder (B.C.) Kristen Phillips (Man.) Brenda Nicholls (Que.) Stephanie LeDrew (N.L.) Geri-Lynn Ramsay (P.E.I.) Tara George (Ont.) Denise Nowlan (N.B.) Jennifer Crouse (N.S.) Tara Naugler (NWT/YT) Megan Einarson (Alta.) Kim Schneider (Sask.)
% age 81 80 78 76 76 75 73 71 70 69 69 66
Leads % age 81 77 75 75 75 74 74 73 72 71 71 69
Name Dawn Askin (Canada) Heather Kalenchuk (Sask.) Jacquie Armstrong (B.C.) Tricia Affleck (P.E.I.) Julie Rainville (Que.) Lindsay Makichuk (Alta.) Colette Lemon (N.L.) Jill Thomas (N.S.) Raunora Westcott (Man.) Kari MacLean (Ont.) Danielle Ellis (NWT/YT) Lianne Sobey (N.B.)
% age 87 82 82 80 80 79 79 78 78 78 74 71
Teams
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Canada (Jones) British Columbia (Scott) Manitoba (Thurston) Ontario (McCarville) Saskatchewan (Holland) P.E.I. (O’Rourke)
% age 81 79 77 76 75 75
Alberta (Sweeting) Nova Scotia (McConnery) New Brunswick (Kelly) Quebec (Belisle) Newfoundland/Labrador (Nichols) Territories (Cormier)
% age 73 72 71 71 71 70
Friday, February 5, 2010
Page 15
SCOTTIES SCHEDULE AND RESULTS
Standings (final round robin)
Team P.E.I. Canada B.C. Manitoba Ontario Saskatchewan Quebec New Brunswick Nfld/Labrador Alberta Territories Nova Scotia
Today’s Games 3 p.m. Tiebreaker — Ontario (7-4) vs. Manitoba (7-4) 7:30 p.m. Page One-Two Playoff — Prince Edward Island (8-3) vs. Canada (8-3)
Draw 16 Results
Draw 15 Results
W L 8 3 8 3 7 4 7 4 7 4 6 5 5 6 5 6 4 7 4 7 4 7 1 10
Draw 17 Results
Nova Scotia Ontario* %age Nova Scotia Ontario
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 1 0 0 4 0 Lead Second Third 63 61 64 70 75 71
8 9 10 T 0 1 x 3 1 0 x 7 Skip Team 71 65 83 75
Territories Alberta* %age Territories Alberta
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 0 0 0 2 1 0 2 1 0 0 3 0 0 1 0 0 Lead Second Third 67 77 78 83 60 60
9 10 11 T 0 1 0 7 3 0 2 9 Skip Team 60 71 69 68
Manitoba* Quebec %age Manitoba Quebec
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 1 3 1 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 1 1 Lead Second Third 83 92 66 92 75 81
8 9 10 T 2 x x 10 0 x x 4 Skip Team 75 79 61 77
Nfld/Labrador P.E.I.* %age Nfld/Labrador P.E.I.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 0 0 1 0 2 1 0 3 1 0 3 0 0 0 Lead Second Third 83 66/75 67 64 61 82
8 9 10 T 0 1 x 5 2 0 x 9 Skip Team 56 68 75 71
Manitoba New Brunswick* %age Manitoba New Brunswick
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 1 0 1 0 1 0 2 0 1 0 4 0 2 0 Lead Second Third 79 70 59 66 70 74
8 9 10 T 0 1 0 6 1 0 1 9 Skip Team 70 69 85 74
Saskatchewan Alberta* %age Saskatchewan Alberta
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 0 1 2 0 0 2 0 1 0 0 1 1 0 1 Lead Second Third 83 85 74 89 71 88
8 9 10 T 1 0 1 7 0 2 0 6 Skip Team 91 83 85 83
New Brunswick Quebec %age New Brunswick Quebec
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 0 0 0 0 1 0 3 0 0 0 1 0 3 0 Lead Second Third 71 81 86 80 81 83
8 9 10 T 0 1 0 5 1 0 1 6 Skip Team 83 80 89 83
P.E.I.* B.C. %age P.E.I. B.C.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 1 0 2 0 1 0 1 0 3 0 2 0 2 0 Lead Second Third 78/75 81 74 84 75 76
8 9 10 T 0 0 x 5 1 2 x 10 Skip Team 67 75 81 79
Canada* Ontario %age Canada Ontario
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 0 2 0 2 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 1 0 Lead Second Third 84 70 78 86 73 78
8 9 10 T 1 0 1 6 0 2 0 5 Skip Team 79 78 80 79
Saskatchewan Territories %age Saskatchewan Territories
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 0 2 1 0 1 0 1 3 0 0 1 0 2 0 Lead Second Third 98 63/73 61 64 74 73
8 9 10 T 0 0 x 5 1 2 x 9 Skip Team 63 72 72 71
Canada* Nova Scotia %age Canada Nova Scotia
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 1 1 0 5 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 2 1 0 Lead Second Third 86 91 89 80 84 58
8 9 10 T 3 x x 11 0 x x 4 Skip Team 84 88 61 71
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Nfld/Labrador 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 British Columbia* 1 0 1 1 1 0 2 %age Lead Second Third Nfld/Labrador 76 92 85 British Columbia 76 89 89
8 9 10 T 1 0 0 2 0 2 0 8 Skip Team 60 79 76 83
Friends of the Scotties A Thymely Affair Arthur Funeral Home Avery Construction & Transportation Jet Ice Ltd McDougall Energy Rowswell & Associates Engineers Ltd S & T Group
Page 16
HeartChart
Rogers, Rock crew are thinking pink Larry Wood HeartChart Editor
F
lamboyant Shelley Nichols and her mates from The Rock may no longer be in the pink today at the Scotties Tournament Of Hearts, but their penchant for pink will carry on. The Newfs have been employing pink brooms at the Essar Centre this week. The motif, of course, is recognition of a cure for breast cancer. There’s a connection here, though, that transcends simple charity. Newf-Lab second player Rhonda Rogers is a breast cancer survivor. She was diagnosed with the insidious disease in 2002. “It definitely was a shock,” she recalls now. “I
was sitting in the doctor’s office with my mother. I was thinking, ‘You’re talking to me, not to her, right?’ “I went through the whole gamut of treatments — chemo, radiation, then medication afterward. Finally, I was declared cancer-free. For what it was, it went well. I was very lucky.” Of course, an initial reaction to being informed you have cancer practically is universal. “Once the shock wears off, you decide you have to make the most of every single day. Every day,” says Rogers, 37. Yep, you learn in a hurry that time is so very important. The team has been on the pink kick for a while. “It’s Rhonda, but it’s not
just Rhonda,” says Nichols. “We were promoting it any way. We do the Run-ForThe-Cure every year.” The team conjured up the idea of pink brooms a season ago, a year after Nichols lost in the provincial final to Heather Strong. “We wanted to bring them in last year but we’d already signed with another sponsor,” explains Nichols. “So we waited, and then we brought them in this year.” And the reaction? “Oh yes, people are noticing,” says Nichols, 27. “Back home, we went with black jackets that had pink lettering on the back. Just with our names. The contrast worked really well. “Then we get here and realize, ohhhh, we’re wearing red.
“Once the shock wears off, you decide you have to make the most of every single day” Newfoundland second and breast cancer survivor Rhonda Rogers, shown at left with skip Shelley Nichols
Red! Like Valentine’s Day. Red and pink definitely do not work. What do you do?” So much for the thought of applying pink lettering at the Scotties. Maybe a trade with Nova Scotia might have worked. “It looks kind of cute, anyway, with the brooms,” says the Newfie skip. “The pink broomheads are getting
a lot of reaction. Back home, people are all so really supportive. People band together for things like this. A lot of people at our curling club do the run-for-cure every year. “But, you know, everybody’s involved in so many charities. You know what I mean? You’re gung ho for one charity. There’s another group favouring another charity.
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There’s only so much charity work that you can do.” Nevertheless, this team won’t be abandoning The Pink any time soon. Any why would it? The cause can’t get enough support. And even if you’ve been declared cancer-free, oncologists will tell you that you live with the disease for the remainder of your life. “I still go back for a checkup ever year,” says Rogers. “I’m part of a long-term trial so I can go back every year for the rest of my life. I don’t really have to at this point. But I’m doing it!”