Carey, Jones, Koe unbeaten at Trials
OTTAWA — Having a potential game-winning shot against the Olympic curling champion is challenging enough for a young skip. Throw in some frosty ice conditions and your chances get even slimmer.
It all proved to be too much for Casey Scheidegger, who gave up back-to-back steals on Tuesday afternoon to hand Jennifer Jones an 8-7 victory at the Olympic Trials. Scheidegger’s missed takeout attempt in the extra end was the difference. “The ice was tricky in the end,” Jones said. “So we wanted to make her have to make a shot and fortunately for us, she just missed it and we got away with a steal.”
Jones (5-0) topped the women’s standings after 10 draws. Calgary’s Chelsea Carey (4-0) also remained unbeaten after a 9-3 rout of Toronto’s Allison Flaxey in the morning draw.
Scheidegger missed a chance to move into a tie with Ottawa’s Rachel Homan at 3-1. Instead, she fell to 2-2.
“Just not the greatest throw and tricky ice,” said Scheidegger, who added nerves weren’t an issue. “It happens.”
Edmonton’s Val Sweeting (2-3) stayed in the mix after topping Winnipeg’s Michelle Englot, 8-5.
Calgary’s Kevin Koe was alone in first place in the men’s standings at 5-0, after topping the previously unbeaten Mike McEwen of Winnipeg, 6-5.
Brad Jacobs of Sault Ste. Marie dropped an 8-6 decision to Saskatoon’s Steve Laycock in the other afternoon men’s game.
Ice conditions appeared fine at the start of the draw, but the frost buildup was noticeable as play continued.
Wet weather and mild temperatures outside didn’t help.
Laycock gave up a steal of four points in the first end, but outscored Jacobs 8-2 the rest of the way. Jacobs, who fell to 2-2, called the conditions “real bad.”
“It was an absolutely ridiculous scoreboard,” Jacobs said. “I think they got caught early due to ice conditions and we got caught late due to ice conditions. It was just too bad.”
Entering evening play, McEwen was in second place at 3-1, while Jacobs, Winnipeg’s Reid Carruthers and Brad Gushue of St. John’s, N.L., were tied at 2-2.