Ready to rock
Team Prince Edward Island will have a familiar look at this year’s Scotties Tournament of Hearts in Moose Jaw, Sask.
The squad of skip Suzanne Birt, vice-skip Marie Christianson, second Meaghan Hughes, lead Michelle McQuaid and coach Mitch O’Shea repeated as provincial champs earlier this year at their home rink of the Montague Curling Club.
The whole squad played together at last year’s nationals in Sydney, N.S.
“It helps so much, that second year together,” Birt said Thursday.
The team has done a few things differently this season. It included attending five more tournaments, collaborating with a sports psychologist and increased work on strategy, technical elements and analytics.
“We did have success last year and after (making some changes) this year, we just feel so much more prepared and more confident,” Birt said.
The team went 5-2 in the preliminary round last year to finish third in its pool. P.E.I. went 1-3 in the championship pool, including a 10-6 victory over the eventual champion Chelsea Carey rink from Alberta and three one-point losses, and didn't qualify for the
“We did have success last year and after (making some changes) this year, we just feel so much more prepared and more confident.”
P.E.I. skip Suzanne Birt
playoffs.
Birt said the field is strong with no easy games. And with teams carrying their preliminary round records with them to the championship round it is critical to get off to a strong start.
“Once you get to the championship pool, you’re playing the best of the best of the other pool,” she said. “You can’t really afford to lose too many more games.”
The Island champs are in Moose Jaw to win but understand the importance of not looking too far ahead.
“Obviously, you can’t get there unless you create (and achieve) smaller goals and play well at the beginning of the week,” Birt said.
The team arrived Wednesday night in Moose Jaw. They practised Thursday in Regina and had 10 minutes of practice on each sheet of ice Friday
afternoon at the 4,500-seat Mosaic Place.
They begin play today at 3:30 p.m. Atlantic against British Columbia.
The Birt rink will have some people cheering them on in person in Moose Jaw.
“All four sets of parents are going to be here this week and that is pretty special,” Birt said. “It’s so awesome.”
And they know, based on the messages they receive, the quartet has many more people rooting for them back home.
“It just feels really good knowing that people are following us,” Birt said. “It gives us a little boost.”
This is Birt’s 11th Scotties appearance as a skip, tying her with Heidi Hanlon of New Brunswick for fifth all-time. Colleen Jones leads at 18.
“It feels just so amazing every time you are here,” said Birt, who has skipped 114 games at the national women’s competition. “You don't take it for granted.”
Jennifer Jones leads at 141.