‘Wild’ one worked
Second-chance qualifier game produced drama and publicity
PENTICTON, B.C. — Initially, I wasn’t wild about the wild-card format, but it is growing on me.
I was skeptical about Friday’s one-game showdown to determine the 16th team at the Canadian women’s curling championship.
I figured teams had enough of an opportunity to qualify for the national championship through their provincial or territorial playdowns and didn’t need a second chance.
If Curling Canada wanted to expand its field to 16 teams, then the final spot should have been awarded to the top squad on the Canadian Team Ranking System and open the competition on Saturday like it has in the past. There wasn’t any need for the wild-card game with a simple solution in hand, or so I thought.
My sentiments on the wild-card game changed as the Scotties grew closer, largely due to the teams involved. The participants in the wildcard game — teams skipped by Chelsea Carey of Calgary and Kerri Einarson of East St. Paul, Man. — had successful seasons on the cash circuit and under the proposed format had both earned a second chance at the Scotties.
Both skips accepted responsibility for falling short in their provincial playdowns while acknowledging the new format allowed them another opportunity to curl on the national stage.
So the skips took to the ice on Friday at the South Okanagan District Sports Centre with an opportunity to make history as the first wild-card team to qualify for the Scotties. Einarson, third Selana
Kaatz, second Liz Fyfe and lead Kristin MacCuish then beat Carey 7-4 in the winner-take-all match.
The host committee opened the doors for the wild-card game and didn’t charge for tickets. It was a smart marketing move, because 2,346 spectators turned out. Many of the fans may already have tickets for the main event, but some might have been curious about what curling is like in an arena setting. Who knows how many may now buy tickets to watch the Scotties? The additional exposure can only help.
The game was interesting and featured some superb shots by Einarson, who curled at 89%. Carey scored two in the first end before Einarson erupted for two in the third, a steal of two in the fourth end and steals of one in the fifth and sixth ends. Carey rebounded with a deuce of her own in the seventh, but Einarson’s earlier run proved to be too much to overcome.
“That was probably the most nerve-racking game (she has ever played),’’ Einarson said. “It was do or die. You win or you’re out.’’
Carey was fuming after the loss, an indication of how badly she wanted to play through the weekend and beyond.
“You lost your provincial and you still get a chance to be here, so that part is good,’’ Carey said. “It’s a one-game event at the start of an event and you don’t know the ice or the rocks so it’s a tough game to play. We had a chance to get there through the Alberta provincials and it’s nice to get a second chance. It sucks not to take advantage of it.’’
The result has created an interesting dynamic with three of the top-seeded teams having ties to Manitoba. Einarson joins Team Manitoba’s Jennifer Jones and Team Canada’s Michelle
Englot, both of whom curl out of Winnipeg. Alberta’s
Casey Scheidegger is the other top-four seeded team.
The next national exposure for the wild-card game is in Regina when the Queen City plays host to the Tim Hortons Brier. The wildcard game is to be held on March 2, the night before the Canadian men’s championship kicks off.
With the possibility of two of the best men’s teams not in the Brier squaring off, I expect Regina’s curling fans to be out in full force for a wild start to the championship. KREV GETS HER CHANCE
The Scotties Tournament of Hearts is a nice consolation prize for Ontario’s Cheryl Kreviazuk.
Kreviazuk was the longtime alternate for Ottawa’s
Rachel Homan, including during the 2017 Canadian Olympic team trials. Homan finished first at the trials and will represent Canada at the 2018 Winter Olympics in women’s curling in Pyeongchang, South Korea.
Normally the fifth player would be part of the team going forward, but Kreviazuk didn’t meet the criteria set by Curling Canada for the selection of alternates. The criteria included international curling experience.
That meant Kreviazuk was off the team and was later replaced by Cheryl
Bernard, who skipped Canada to a silver medal at the 2010 Winter Olympics.
“I was more than happy to be with them as their fifth player,’’ Kreviazuk said after Ontario’s 6-5 opening draw loss to Alberta on Saturday.
“To this day, I’m their No. 1 fan and I wish them the absolute best of luck. I know they will be absolutely great representatives.’’
It has worked out Kreviazuk, who won the Ontario women’s championship with skip Hollie Duncan, third
Stephanie LeDrew and
lead Karen Sagle.
Kreviazuk is curling as a full-fledged player at the Scotties after being Homan’s alternate in 2015 and 2017.
“How can I complain about how it turned out?’’ Kreviazuk said. “It’s a different ball game when you’re out there and I give credit to a lot of the players. It’s quite the experience and I’m thrilled to be here.’’