Rocky Mountain warriors!

British Columbia’s 2-0 start not without adversity at the 2023 Everest Canadian Women’s Curling Club Championship

If one were to take a passing glance at the standings board to see Team British Columbia with a perfect 2-0 record, it’d be easy to assume that it’s been smooth sailing for the Duncan Curling Club squadron at the 2023 Everest Women’s Candian Curling Club Championship, hosted by the Assiniboine Memorial Curling Club at Winnipeg. 

That assumption, however, couldn’t be further from the truth.  

Instead, fourth Carley Sandwith-Craig, alongside third Megan Montgomery, skip/second Roselyn Craig, lead Barb Foster and alternate Marika Van Osch, were thrown a roster curveball that saw Van Osch suffer a lower body injury, sidelining the former third for the entirety of the Everest club championship. 

It’s a difficult situation for any team, and one that hits especially hard when your team’s original lineup can’t take to the ice as a unit to compete for a Canadian title. 

But instead of folding under adversity, Team British Columbia relied on its familiarity and experience together as an internal strength, moving Foster to the lead position and sliding Montgomery from lead to third. The moves solidified its roster and has garnered undefeated results so far in Pool A. 

“Marika had a pretty unfortunate accident,” said fourth Carley Sandwith-Craig. “Adding Barb was really nice. Barb has played with Roselyn for lots of years, so it’s been really seamless, and she’s been a great addition.” 

The situation only reinforces Team British Columbia’s belief that carrying a quality fifth player on your roster is essential. When Van Osch went down with the injury, the decision to slot Foster in at lead was instantaneous.  

“We brought her on pretty much right away,” said Sandwith-Craig. “We’re all risks. In this day and age, you kind of have to have a fifth available, so it was important to us. Marika was the last person we thought would be out, but she proved us all wrong.” 

The secret sauce for Team British Columbia comes in the form of years of experience curling together, as well as some family connections. Second/skip Roselyn Craig, whose husband Wes Craig has worn B.C. colours at both seniors and mixed, is the mother-in-law to Carley and had played alongside third Megan Montgomery during her time as a U-21 athlete.  

“We have a history (together), all of us,” said Roselyn Craig. “Even Marika played with me when she was ten. It’s really nice. 

It remains a special experience for Craig to compete at the 2023 Everest Canadian Women’s Curling Club Championship, who converted from a traditional delivery to a stick delivery in 2018 to ensure that she could continue playing the game she, and her family, hold closely to their hearts. 

“It’s kind of a love-hate relationship right now,” laughed Craig about forgoing the traditional delivery for a stick delivery. “But if my option is to not be able to play at all? That’s not an option. I still love the game. I love to compete. I love to play, and it allows me to do that, so I’m there.” 

British Columbia will put its Pool A perfect record on the line Tuesday evening as it faces the Yukon’s Darlene Gammel (1-2; Whitehorse) at 7:30 p.m. (all times Central). 

Sharing a spot on the top of the Pool A standings in women’s play is New Brunswick’s Abby Burgess (2-0; Oromocto) followed by Nova Scotia’s Tanya Phillips (2-1; Halifax) holding down the third-place position.  

In Pool B women’s play, Saskatchewan’s Allison McMillan (3-0; Saskatoon) stayed perfect defeating Prince Edward Island’s Julie Mutch (1-2; Montague) by a 6-4 score on the Curling Canada + live stream feature match. Sharing Pool B’s top spot is Alberta’s Nanette Dupont (3-0; Lethbridge) while Ontario’s Lindsay Thorne (3-1; Ottawa) holds down the interim third-place spot. 

In men’s play, Pool A’s provisional top teams in order are Alberta’s Dan Sherrard (3-0; Beaumont) and New Brunswick’s Dan Crouse (3-1; Moncton) while Ontario’s Noel Herron (2-1; Kingston) and Nova Scotia’s Shea Steele (2-1; Halifax) are deadlocked for third overall.  

Meanwhile in Pool B men’s play, both Manitoba’s Derrick Anderson (2-1; Gimli) and Québec’s David Maheux (2-1; Saint-Bruno-de-Montarville) share the top spot while the fight for third place sees a three-team logjam composed of British Columbia’s Tyler Orme (1-1; Vernon), Saskatchewan’s Bob Sonder (1-1; Regina) and Prince Edward Island’s Darren Higgins (1-1; Summerside). 

After the round robin, the top three teams in each pool will make a modified double-knockout playoffs, which begin Thursday, Nov. 23, and conclude with the gold- and bronze-medal games on Saturday, Nov. 25. 

Live-streaming coverage of selected games at the 2023 Everest Canadian Curling Club Championships will be available on Curling Canada’s streaming platform, Curling Canada + as well as on TSN+.  

Scores and standings from the event will be available at by CLICKING HERE.  

For draw times, team lineups and other event info, CLICK HERE.