Manitoba downs Ontario to claim top playoff seed
ST. CATHARINES, Ont. — Michelle Englot was recruited precisely for this situation.
Short on previous playoff experience at the Canadian women’s curling championship, Manitoba will lean on a woman who has been there, done that.
The Manitobans claimed the top playoff seed beating Ontario’s Rachel Homan 9-5 on Thursday night.
Both 10-1 to conclude their preliminary rounds, Englot and Homan will meet again in tonight’s 1-versus-2 Page playoff game.
“We’re playing them again. Fun times,” Englot said.
Tonight’s winner goes directly to Sunday’s final, while the loser must win Saturday’s semifinal to gain another rematch.
Defending champion Chelsea Carey, 8-2, gained a playoff spot with a game remaining against Alberta.
Northern Ontario’s Krista McCarville (7-3) needs a win over Kerry Galusha of Northwest Territories this morning to get into the final four. A loss drops her into a tiebreaker with Quebec’s Eve Belisle (7-4).
The winner of Saturday’s 3-versus-4 playoff between Carey and the team to be determined advances to the semifinal.
Manitoba third Kate Cameron, 25, is making her Hearts debut in St. Catharines.
Front end Leslie Wilson, 37, and Raunora Westcott, 40, played in it for Cathy OvertonClapham in 2011 and Jill Thurston in 2010.
The closest Wilson and Westcott came to playoffs was losing a tiebreaker in 2010.
Englot, 53, skipped Saskatchewan to the playoffs twice in seven appearances. She finished third in both 1988 and 1989.
“Back then, we didn’t really realize how big this is,” Englot said. “Now, we know how big this is, but yet, in the same breath, we need to stay the course, stay relaxed and stay focused.”
The Regina resident — Curling Canada allows each team to have one out-of-province member — did that in the preliminary round.
“This has been a really fantastic fairy-tale year,” the skip said. “This year has been more exciting for me, just because I know the team is super-talented and we have the opportunity to be at the top.
“We know if we play well, we can compete with any team in the world, so we’re looking forward to the playoffs.”