Arguably the two best women’s skips in British Columbia in the last decade will go head-to-head in the Scotties provincial final on Sunday. 2000 World Champion and 2002 Olympic Bronze medalist Kelley Law will face 2007 World Champion Kelly Scott for the right to represent B.C. at the national Scotties in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario.
Kelly Scott defeated defending B.C. champion Marla Mallett 6-5 in the semi-final. Mallett opened the game with a steal of one in the first end. Scott scored two in the third end and forced Mallett to take one in the fourth. Scott jumped out to a 4-2 lead with a two in the fifth only to have the lead erased by Mallett with a two of her own in the seventh end. The eighth end saw Scott score another deuce to take a 6-4 lead with two ends to play. Mallett only managed one in the ninth end giving Scott hammer and a one point lead playing the tenth. Marla’s attempted come-around draw in the tenth end with her last stone wicked off the front guard giving Scott the 6-5 victory without Kelly having to throw her last.
Kelly Scott’s Kelowna foursome of Jeanna Schraeder at third, Sasha Carter at second and Jacquie Armstrong will be looking to avenge the 9-3 drubbing in Friday’s playoff game at the hands Law’s Royal City rink of Jodi Maskiewich at third, Shannon Aleksic at second and Darah Provencal at lead at 2:00pm Pacific time on Sunday. The game will be broadcast live on Shaw TV as well as a live chat on playdowns.com.
The Port Arthur Curling Club in Thunder Bay will host the 10 top women’s teams from the province of Ontario competing to represent the province at the Canadian Championship. Defending champion Krista McCarville will be looking to get back to the National Scotties Tournament of Hearts after a strong showing at the Canadian Olympic Trials.
Kevin Martin and his Alberta foursome built a big 5-1 lead after 5 ends and held on for a 7-3 victory over Glenn Howard in the Canadian Olympic Trials final in Edmonton. His team of John Morris, Marc Kennedy and Ben Hebert will represent Canada at the Winter Olympics in Vancouver in February. (photo courtesy of the Canadian Curling Association)
A Qualifier: Stuart Merrifield
Skip:Stuart Merrifield; Third: Tyler O’Brien; Second: Ty Russell; Lead: Corey Chester; Fifth: Ian Hardy; Coach: Len Chillibeck
B Qualifier: Chase Martyn
Skip: Chase Martyn; Third: Ryan Bogle; Second: Kevin Jones; Lead: Matthew Prinse; Coach: Karen Watson
C Qualifier: Josh Hozack
Skip: Josh Hozack; Third: Nolan Reid; Second: Zac Capron; Lead: Daniel Wenzek; Coach: Todd Troyer
