Scotties swan song for Englot

PENTICTON, B.C. Regina’s Michelle Englot doesn’t appear to be the retiring type, but she could be.

The skip of Team Canada at the 2018 Scotties Tournament of Hearts intends to retire from competitive curling after this season.

“I want to end my career on a high note and being Team Canada is definitely a great way to go out,” Englot said, adding with a chuckle that her plans might change if she wins the 2018 Canadian women’s curling championship.

Englot, who turned 54 on Monday, still enjoys curling at a high level. However, it has become a challenge finding a balance between curling and her job.

“I eventually want to retire from my day job,” said Englot, SaskTel’s director of external communications. “The sport has changed so much and teams need to play in all of the Grand Slams and dedicate more time off ice than ever before to stay competitive.

“Unless someone gives me $300,000 so I can quit my day job and just curl for a living, then it’s time to call it a day.”

Englot made the curling move from Regina to Winnipeg in a bid to find teammates willing and competitive enough to make a run at representing Canada at the 2018 Winter Olympics. Her team of third Kate Cameron, second Leslie Wilson and lead Raunora Westcott won the Manitoba title.

Englot was beaten 8-6 by Ontario’s Rachel Homan in the final of the 2017 Scotties. The secondplace performance coupled with Homan’s Olympics commitment led to Englot’s squad being named Team Canada in 2018.

Homan won the Canadian Olympic team trials in December and will represent Canada at the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea.

The Scotties takes place Saturday through Feb. 4.