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U-20 champs Team Ally MacNutt stun four-time Scotties champs Team Kerri Einarson in Sweep 16

Nova Scotia’s Team Ally MacNutt delivered a strong message to the field at the 2024 PointsBet Invitational on Thursday afternoon: they will not be intimidated by any team.

With an impressive 8-6 win over third-seeded Team Kerri Einarson (Gimli, Man.) in Sweep 16 action at the 2024 PointsBet Invitational, it’s assured that other teams are taking note.

The young Halifax squadron of vice-skip Maria Fitzgerald, second Alison Umlah, lead Grace McCusker and fill-in coach Helen Radford (team coach Theresa Breen had a prior commitment), who earned its berth into the PointsBet Invitational by winning the New Holland Under-20 Women’s Curling Championship last March, is playing with a level of poise reserved for the pros.

And while the team may not be pros yet with its lineup of university students, it would be foolish to take the bubbly-fun team as a weak opponent.

“We’re having so much fun,” said MacNutt after the surprising upset. “I’m freaking out.”

The win nets the soon-to-be Team Canada at the upcoming World Juniors at Cortina-Milano, Italy, $3,000. MacNutt and Co., will face Manitoba’s Kate Cameron (St-Adolphe) in the Elite 8 with an additional $6,000 going to the winner.

Even though MacNutt successfully dispatched the four-time Scotties champion, MacNutt expressed how much she respects Team Einarson.

“It’s crazy watching (Team Einarson) on TV growing up and now playing against them beside all these amazing teams and having a great game; it’s so insane.” said MacNutt, 21.

MacNutt said she was comfortable being a lower seed entering the match, which contributed to her team’s success.

“The pressure was definitely on them and we were 100 per cent the underdog. I think that helped us a lot; not feeling the pressure the as much as they did.”

Knowing that a team with Einarson’s skill can quickly run away with a lead, MacNutt said that a conservative strategy would give her rink the best shot at a victory.

The plan paid massive dividends.

“We kept our strategy very simple and on the defensive side,” said MacNutt. “We focused on one shot at a time, one end at a time.”

Fitzgerald and Umlah are former recipients of Curling Canada’s For The Love of Curling scholarships.

Meanwhile, the feature match on TSN saw hometown favourites Team Kayla Skrlik of Calgary down Team Danielle Inglis (Ottawa) 9-2 in a rematch from the Sweep 16 of the 2023 PointsBet Invitational at Oakville, Ont., which Team Skrlik also won.

“Lots of rocks in play,” said Skrlik of the rematch. “Honestly, we got a couple lucky breaks that set the tone.”

The game’s momentum swung on a steal of three for the Skrlik rink in the seventh end, putting Team Inglis into an 8-2 hole. Skrilik would add an additional steal of one in the eighth end, cementing the victory.

“On the steal of three, Danielle could have easily gotten a three back, so, that’s just some September curling,” Skrlik said. “The girls are playing great right now, which we knew going in. We had a bunch of momentum.”

In additional Sweep 16 action, Team Chelsea Carey (Winnipeg) dispatched Everest North American Women’s Club Champion Team Abby Burgess (Oromocto, N.B.) 10-4, and Team Cameron outlasted Team Jolene Campbell (Regina) by an 8-5 score.

The 2024 PointsBet Invitational continues with draws Thursday at 6 p.m. (all times MT).

Live scoring, standings and statistics for the 2024 PointsBet Invitational are available by CLICKING HERE.

TSN and RDS will provide coverage of the 2024 PointsBet Invitational. CLICK HERE for the complete schedule.

For ticket information for the 2024 PointsBet Invitational, go to www.curling.ca/2024pointsbetinvitational/tickets/.

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