HEARTS ON THE LINE

SCOTTIES AND BRIER BERTHS UP FOR GRABS THIS WEEK ACROSS CANADA

 Every curling season, when the calendar page turns over to January, it’s a sign to curling fans everywhere that the competitive season is coming into full swing. In each province and territory, the provincial playdowns loom, with spots at the Scotties Tournament of Hearts of the Montana’s Brier hanging in the balance. 

Some Member Associations run both events simultaneously, while others spread them out in different locations at different times. Some have already been completed, and some will unfold over the next few weeks. 

These championships will get underway this week… 

ONTARIO – UNDERWAY NOW 

Both men’s and women’s provincials are being held in Cobourg, Ontario beginning January 19. Streaming is free and available on Cogeco’s YourTV site (https://yourtv.tv/curling-championship).  

NORTHERN ONTARIO – BEGINS TUESDAY 

Port Arthur Curling Club will host the Northern Ontario playdown. The women will be playing a seven-team round robin, while the men’s event is a ten-team triple knockout.  Streaming will be found here: https://www.youtube.com/@PACurling .

BRITISH COLUMBIA – BEGINS TUESDAY 

CurlBC will hold their provincial championships in Langley this week, beginning on Tuesday. Eight women’s teams and 12 men’s teams will compete with games streaming on Youtube. (https://www.youtube.com/@CurlBCTV/streams) 

ALBERTA – BEGINS TUESDAY 

The Alberta playdowns will begin on January 21, but only the women are competing this week. Twelve teams will be playing down at the Rimby Curling Club, with streams available here: https://www.youtube.com/@curlingalberta 

The men’s championship will be held at the Erskine Curling Club beginning February 5. 

SASKATCHEWAN – BEGINS TUESDAY 

The Sasktel Tankard and the Viterra Prairie Pinnacle Playowns will both commence on Tuesday in the Kindersley West Events Centre. Both events will feature a nine-team round robin leading to a page playoff. Streaming can be found on the CurlSask Youtube page. (https://www.youtube.com/@curlsask5852). 

MANITOBA – BEGINS TUESDAY 

Like Alberta, only the women are in action this week – with their championship taking place in Pilot Mound. The RME Women of the Rings playdowns will feature 12 teams in two pools of six. One game per draw will be featured on Curl Manitoba’s YouTube page. (https://www.youtube.com/@CurlManitoba/streams)  

The Manitoba men’s provincial – the Viterra Championship – will begin February 5 in Portage la Prairie. 

NEWFOUNDLAND AND LABRADOR – BEGINS WEDNESDAY 

Both men’s and women’s playdowns will take place at the ReMax Curling Centre at the St. John’s Curling Club beginning January 22. Streaming can be found on their site here: (https://www.youtube.com/@stjohnscurling/streams) 

PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND – BEGINS WEDNESDAY 

P.E.I. will also begin their championships on January 22 at the West Prince Curling Club. Nine men’s teams and four women’s teams will be fighting for their respective provincial berths. 

These Member Associations (below) have already declared their Scotties reps. In some cases, the Brier team is yet to be determined… 

NUNAVUT  

Women’s – Julia Weagle, Sadie Pinksen, Leigh Gustafson, Alison Taylor advanced to the Scotties at the only entry. 

Men’s – Shane Latimer, Sheldon Wettig, Peter Van Strien and Justin McDonnell won the Territory (3-0) in a best-of-five series with Bob Mackey. 

NORTHWEST TERRITORIES  

Women’s – Kerry Galusha, Megan Koehler, Sydney Galusha, Shona Barbour, and Ella Skauge beat Team Betti Delorey, 3-1, in a best-of-five series. 

Men’s – Provincial Playdown will be held January 29-February 3 in Hay River.  It will be a three-team double round robin. 

YUKON 

Women’s – Bayly Scoffin, Raelyn Helston, Kerry Foster, Bailey Horvey, alternate Kimberly Tuor won a best-of-five series 3-1 over Team Patti Wallingham. 

Men’s – Thomas Scoffin, Kerr Drummond, Trygg Jensen and Joe Wallingham won a best-of-five series over Team Dustin Mikkelsen. 

NEW BRUNSWICK 

Women’s – Melissa Adams, Jaclyn Crandall, Kayla Russell, Kendra Lister, Molli Ward won the seven-team triple knockout tournament in Saint Andrews, N.B. 

Men’s – The New Brunswick Tankard will take place January 29-February 3 in Fredericton at the Capital Winter Club. Streaming will be on CurlNB’s Youtube page (https://www.youtube.com/@curlnblive) 

NOVA SCOTIA  

Women’s – Christina Black, Jillian Brothers, Jennifer Baxter, Karlee Everist, and Marlee Powers ran through the seven-team round robin the championship final with a perfect 7-0 record. 

Men’s – Owen Purcell, Luke Saunders, Scott Saccary, and Ryan Abraham dropped one round robin game, but won the final of the eight-team provincial. 

QUEBEC  

Women’s – Laurie St. Georges, Jamie Sinclair, Emily Riley, and Lisa Weagle won the six-team provincial in Alma, Quebec. 

Men’s – Félix Aselin, Jean-Michel Menard, Martin Crete, and Jean-François Trépanier won the 16-team provincial championship in Alma.