Thunder Bay Thriller!

Nova Scotia’s Team Black outlasts Team Alberta-Skrlik in Page 3-4 shootout at 2025 Scotties

Nova Scotia skip Christina Black is a self-admitted student of the game.

When there’s live curling available to watch, she’s on intake mode, regardless of where the game might be broadcasted.

“I don’t miss a curling game,” said Black. “I watch everyone’s games on Facebook live. I don’t miss a game.”

So, it stands to reason that Black – alongside vice-skip Jill Brothers, a platoon of front-enders in Jennifer Baxter, Karlee Everist and Marlee Powers, and rounded out by coach Stuart MacLean – would be cool as a cucumber in an 8-7 thriller over Alberta’s Team Kayla Skrlik (Calgary) Saturday at the 2025 Scotties Tournament of Hearts Page 3-4 matchup.

The win earns the Halifax Curling Club collective a berth into Sunday’s semifinal at 1 p.m., (all times Eastern) against the loser of the Page 1-2 game between Canada’s Team Rachel Homan (Ottawa) and Manitoba’s Team Kerri Einarson (Gimli), which is set for 7 p.m. Saturday.

“It’s so cool,” said Black of the semifinal berth and guaranteed podium finish. “We’re getting a ring! This is great. I’m so excited.”

The game was a dandy that could have gone either way, but Black padded her highlight reel with incredible shots all game long; much to the delight for curling fans at Fort William Gardens at Thunder Bay, Ont.

And while Nova Scotia did appear to be in control of the game as far as momentum is concerned, Team Skrlik managed to score a three in the eighth end to take a 6-5 lead. It proved to be the only time Nova Scotia would trail as Black and Co. rebounded with a three of its own in the ninth end.

“You know, I felt the whole game that we were in control,” said Black. “In eight, my first rock picked and I was like, ‘Aw come on, are things turning for us? Is the tide turning?’ and then I miss my last one and I thought I had it out of my hands. Wrecked, gave up the three.”

The steady-handed Black didn’t let the emotions of the moment get the better of her team, who has faced similar adversity at this 2025 Scotties already.

“We’d be in this position before,” said Black. “We were down one in eight a bunch of games this week. We could still come back and win. Just stay calm and make eight good ones.”

It’s familiar territory for Christina Black herself, as this marks her second semifinal berth in six Scotties appearances.

“It feels great to be back in it,” said Black. “We’re playing so good and I’m so proud of my team and how we pulled together all game. Team Skrlik is amazing and had an amazing year, so I’m just glad we could pull that one out.”

Alberta Skip Kayla Skrlik nearly sent the game to an extra end with an Al Hackner-esque quadruple take-out that would have been shown on best curling shot compilations for years to come, but the Skrlik offering caught its intended target a fraction too thick, resulting in the loss for the Calgary team.

“It was so close,” said Skrlik. “It was a game of the wrong side of the inch, obviously. Just so close on everything, but I’m so proud of my team. They hung with it the whole time.”

Powers stepped into the lineup from the bench after the second end after Baxter had to leave the game due to a family emergency. Baxter is not expected to play in Sunday’s semifinal.

Live scoring, standings and statistics for the 2025 Scotties Tournament of Hearts are available at www.curling.ca/scoreboard/.

TSN and RDS2 will provide complete coverage of the 2025 Scotties Tournament of Hearts. CLICK HERE for the complete schedule.

For ticket information for the 2025 Scotties Tournament of Hearts, go to www.curling.ca/2025scotties/tickets/.

This story will be available in French as soon as possible at www.curling.ca/2025scotties/nouvelles/?lang=fr