Back on track!

Team McCarville, Team Lawes score key wins at Scotties

It’s taken a few days to get their motors running, but two teams expected to make some noise at the 2024 Scotties Tournament of Hearts finally got up to speed Monday in Calgary.

Skip Krista McCarville of Team Northern Ontario (2-2, Thunder Bay) could breathe again after scoring a much needed 9-5 win over Team Prince Edward Island (0-4, Crapaud), skipped by Jane DiCarlo, in Pool A action.

Team McCarville, who lost the final of the Scotties in 2022 and is one of the most respected women’s teams in the country, suffered from the ‘blahs’ in losing two of its first three games, and faced the possibility of being out of the running for a playoff spot by mid-week.

But all was righted with a solid performance against the Islanders. 

Skip Kaitlyn Lawes also found her game, leading Team Manitoba-Lawes (1-2, Winnipeg) to its first win at the WinSport Event Centre, dispatching Team Newfoundland & Labrador (0-3, St. John’s), skipped by Stacie Curtis, 8-3.

Lawes is a two-time Olympic gold-medal winner and watching her stumble out of the gate with two straight losses was shocking.

“I feel like every game is a must-win out here,” said Lawes. “We were a little disappointed to begin 0-2 but today was a new day and I’m really proud of us for grinding out a good game. Our other games were super close so it was a matter of making a few more shots.

“We felt real good going out there today. We knew if we just stayed patient we would get some chances. Thought we did good by taking advantage of the opportunities we got.”

Defending champion Team Canada (3-1, Winnipeg), skipped by Kerri Einarson, also had a successful morning, but needed an extra end to subdue Team British Columbia-Brown (2-2, Kamloops), skipped by Corryn Brown. Einarson looked in good shape with a two-point lead heading home with the hammer, but rolled out with her final stone, allowing the B.C. crew to steal two and tie the game 8-8.

However, Einarson played an open hit in the extra end to nail down a 9-8 win. Einarson is looking for a record-breaking fifth consecutive Canadian women’s curling title.

In the other Pool A game Monday, skip Laurie St-Georges guided Team Quebec (2-1, Glenmore & Laval-sur-le-Lac) to a 7-3 victory over previously undefeated Team Saskatchewan, skipped by Skylar Ackerman (3-1, Saskatoon).

Team Alberta (3-0, Edmonton), skipped by Selena Sturmay, had the Pool A bye.

The 2024 Scotties Tournament of Hearts continues with a draws Monday at 1:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. (all times Mountain).

Live scoring, standings and statistics for the 2024 Scotties Tournament of Hearts are available at www.curling.ca/scoreboard/.

TSN and RDS2 will provide complete coverage of the 2024 Scotties Tournament of Hearts. CLICK HERE for the complete schedule.

Broadcast coverage for viewers outside of Canada is available on TSN’s YouTube channel, www.youtube.com/@TSN_Sports.

For ticket information for the 2024 Scotties Tournament of Hearts, go to www.curling.ca/2024scotties/tickets/.

This story will be available in French as soon as possible at www.curling.ca/2024scotties/nouvelles/?lang=fr