BLUENOSERS PERFECT THROUGH FIVE

NOVA SCOTIA’S ALLY MACNUTT REMAINS ONLY UNBEATEN TEAM AT NEW HOLLAND U-21 CHAMPIONSHIPS 

Going into Wednesday afternoon’s games, three women’s teams at the New Holland U-21 Championships found themselves at the top of the standings with undefeated records. 

When the dust had settled following the draw, however, only one remained unbeaten in Fort McMurray, Alta. 

Nova Scotia’s Ally MacNutt, playing out of the Halifax Curling Club, defeated Northern Ontario’s Claire Dubinsky, 7-4, and added a fifth victory to their perfect record. 

“We’re feeling pretty good, feeling confident,” said the 20 year-old Dalhousie University Student. “But our team is really focused on staying relaxed and trusting the process. We try not to think about the outcome.” 

After that game had finished, New Brunswick’s Melodie Forsythe dropped her first game of the week to another Northern Ontario team (NO2 – skipped by Mia Toner) in a tightly contested battle. Forsythe, who entered with a 4-0 record, ended the day at 4-1. 

Ontario 2, skipped by Ottawa’s  Ava Acres, was handed their first loss by Manitoba’s Shaela Hayward, after a last rock measure in the tenth end. Acres ON2 team drops to 3-1, while Hayward’s MB1 improves to 3-2. 

MacNutt, along with Maria Fitzgerald, Alison Umlah, and Grace McCusker, find themselves still without a loss, at the top of Pool A. Forsythe, meanwhile, leads Pool B. 

“I try not to think about that at this point,” said MacNutt. “Our goal from the start was to get a playoff spot, and we’re in pretty good shape to do that… so we’re happy about that.” 

MacNutt credits her experience in recent seasons for this year’s successes. After two years playing at the USports championship with Dalhousie, she also skipped at last year’s New Holland U21 Championship. She also competed at this year’s Nova Scotia provincial Scotties playdowns. 

“I remember for my first nationals, I was so much more nervous. Playing in front of a crowd, and with the noise and everything…it’s such a different environment from playing in a club. Having some experience with that, I’m so much more relaxed and confident with all that.” 

To say this arena presents a different atmosphere would be a massive understatement. With crowds lining the bleachers along the ice, friends and family members blowing horns and ringing cowbells, this setting is simply wild – and loud – compared to your standard curling club. 

“I kinda love it,” said MacNutt. “Especially now that I’m more used to it now. Whether the crowd is cheering for me or against me, it really motivates me.” 

With four more women’s draws to play before the round robin is completed, it is still too soon to make any predictions about playoff draws. The top three seeds from each pool will move on to the playoff round, with the top seed advancing straight to the semifinal. 

The women’s draw will resume Thursday morning at 9:00 am MT. Scores are available at http://curling.ca/scoreboard and sheets C and D will be streamed on http://plus.curling.ca.