THE LEGEND GROWS WITH EVERY VICTORY
Opponents, teammates in awe as curling icon Jones rewrites record book at Scotties
On the day Manitoba's Jennifer Jones became the all-time leader in wins at the Scotties Tournament of Hearts, she thought of the achievement in terms of what it will mean to her two young daughters.
Jones, 46, is undoubtedly one of the greatest Canadian curlers of all time, but she's also a mom to Isabella and Skyla, and the idea of leaving an imprint on them is something the six-time Canadian women's curling champion cherishes.
“It definitely means something to me,” Jones said after her 6-5 win over Newfoundland's Sarah Hill on Tuesday at the Markin McPhail Arena in Calgary.
“As you approach the end of your career, just to be remembered for doing something that you love is pretty remarkable. My kids look at it. There's a book with my name in it with some records, and they're very proud of me. I hope, if anything, this shows them that if you work hard, dreams are possible. It's absolutely incredible.”
Jones earned the 153rd Scotties win of her illustrious career, giving her one more than fellow six-time champion Colleen
Jones of Nova Scotia.
Her thoughts also went to her teammates over the years and, of course, her parents, Carol and Larry. Carol was no doubt watching on TV Tuesday, but Larry died in 2019, leaving Jennifer without her greatest supporter.
“My dad always loved the records, he always followed all the records, he always knew where we were at,” Jones said. “I know he would be watching from above and be very, very proud.
“I always think of my teammates, because this definitely would not be possible if I didn't curl with outstanding people and players. I've been so fortunate to have the best human beings as teammates who have supported me for I don't know how many years.”
One of those teammates is third Kaitlyn Lawes, who has been with Jones for 11 years and has a Canadian title, a world championship and an Olympic gold medal to show for it.
“I've always looked up to Jen,” she said.
“She's a role model. And how special is it to be able to play with people you're inspired by? She makes me want to be a better teammate and a better athlete, and I'm just so grateful to be with her for these 11 years. We've become like family, she's like my sister, and I couldn't imagine being on this journey with anyone else.”
Jones has had a bit of a rocky go of things at the Scotties this year in the Calgary bubble.
Her team has already lost two games in pool play and narrowly escaped with a win over the rookie Hill on Tuesday in its only game of the day. Jones hasn't scored multiple points in an end since a win over B.C. on Sunday and heads into Wednesday's action with a middling 3-2 record.
But she's still in the hunt for a spot in the championship round, and that's right where you would expect her to be after so many years of greatness.
Hill, 25, was in awe playing against Jones for the first time.
She said Jones has been her idol since she watched her play at the 2005 Scotties in St. John's, N.L.
Jones made arguably the greatest shot in curling history that year — an in-off for four points in the 10th end — to win her first Scotties, defeating Jenn Hanna of Ontario.
“She's been winning for about as long as I've been watching her play on TV,” Hill said. “I was about 10 years old when she won that Scotties in Newfoundland with that famous shot.
“When you watch your first Scotties and you see someone win, you think they're the best. So I just kind of stuck with her the whole time. Every time she comes on TV, it's such a pleasure to watch her play. She's such a great shot maker, and you've got to love the respect she has for the game, the talent, the skill, the way she carries herself. It's just, overall, I'd love to be able to call myself a player like her one day.”
Hill hated losing the game, falling to 2-2 in the tournament, but she was able to see the upside.
“I guess I'm a part of history,” Hill said.
“Getting to play her for the first time, in and of itself, was pretty cool. I was fortunate that it wasn't my first game of the week and that I had a chance to settle in a bit. I don't think I was quite as shocked, as deer-in-the-headlights, as I would have been.
“To get to play her and to go out and play as well as we did and have it really come down to the last couple of rocks of the game was more than I could have imagined, really. I'll remember that game for a long time for sure.”
If Jones can get on a roll and win the Scotties this year, she'll break the record of six titles that she shares with Colleen Jones.
Even if she doesn't get that seventh crown, her career already is impressive enough to get her into any Hall of Fame she's eligible for.
“To be honest, I thought she already had the record,” longtime rival Chelsea Carey said Tuesday. “She's a beast at the Scotties, she has been for years. In my opinion, she's the most decorated player in men's or women's curling history, so it's no surprise to anybody that she has this record.”
I always think of my teammates, because this definitely would not be possible if I didn’t curl with outstanding people.