BURGESS GIRLS ARE N.S. CHAMPS. AGAIN
A group of young, upstart girls stole the hearts of curling fans in the Hubtown during a memorable Cinderella run for one week in October at the Rath-eastlink Community Centre.
The Kaitlyn Jones-skipped junioraged team from Nova Scotia entered the Canadian Beef Pinty’s Grand Slam of Curling Masters event on a sponsor’s exemption.
No one would have batted an eyelid had the foursome played their preliminary round games, then graciously bowed out of the international event. After all, the experience of just competing on the big stage was the real prize, right?
Not so. Instead, the 2018 world junior champs flipped the script.
The Jones foursome, which included local cousins Karlee Burgess and Lindsey Burgess, fashioned a 3-1 record in the round-robin – including a stunning 6-5 triumph over three-time national champion and world champion Rachel Homan – to earn a playoff berth.
Their tournament came to an end after a 7-3 loss to Chelsea Carey of Edmonton in a quarter-final game. However, their success against seemingly long odds in their own backyard gave curling fans a glimpse of what can be expected in years to come from the little team that could.
It was the second time Truro hosted the Pinty’s Grand Slam of Curling Masters, coming after a successful event in 2015.
The tournament featured the top 15 men’s and women’s teams on the planet competing right here in Colchester County under the bright lights and in front of a national television audience.
The exposure allowed us to showcase our area as a whole and share our passion for community and competition with the world.