Who’s in the Soo? Kelly Scott will be.

After a two year absence from the Canadian Women’s Championship, two-time champion and 2007 world champion Kelly Scott will be making a return trip to the Scotties Tournament of Hearts. Scott and her Kelowna Curling Club foursome of Jeanna Schraeder, Sasha Carter and Jacquie Armstrong will be representing British Columbia in Sault Ste. Marie Ontario January 30 to February 7 after a convincing win against former world champion Kelly Law.

Scott fell behind early after Law scored two in the second end. Scott responded with a three in the third end, a steal of two in the fourth end and another steal of 1 in the fifth end to take a commanding 6-2 lead at the fifth end break. Law struggled with the ice for most of the game but managed to score one in the sixth and steal another one in the seventh, closing the score 6-4.

In the eighth, Scott was left with an open house on her last shot and chose to draw for one. Many people questioned this strategy, but statistics prove in women’s curling that you have a greater chance of winning up three without hammer with two ends remaining than you do up two with hammer. Her strategy worked its magic with a steal of one more in the ninth and ran Law out of rocks in tenth end for the 8-4 victory.

Kelley Law had a rough game only shooting 54% while Kelly Scott curled 88%. Overall, Scott’s team outcurled Law’s by 11%.

The loss in the final has got to be a tough pill to swallow for Law’s third Jody Maskiewich. This is the third year in a row she has lost the B.C. final – losing as skip to Marla Mallett last year and Allison MacInnnes in 2008.

Photo courtesy of Randy Kirkoski

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.

Photo courtesy of Rick Kirkoski.

Kelley Law’s Royal City Curling Club team of Jody Maskiewich, Shannon Aleksic and Darah Provencal advance to the BC Scotties final with a 9-3 win over Kelly Scott of the Kelowna Curling Club in 8 ends. Scott struggled at skip curling 62%, while Law shot 81%. Scott and teammates Jeanna Schraeder, Sasha Carter and Jacquie Armstrong will play the winner of the Page playoff between Kristen Fewster of the Prince George Golf and Curling Club and defending BC champion Marla Mallett of Royal City Curling Club.

The 3 vs. 4 Page playoff game goes at 9:30am Pacific on Saturday and the semi-final (live on Shaw TV) goes at 5:00pm PST. All playoff games will be covered in our live chat.

Photo courtesy of Randy Kirkoski

Join us in the chat room at the BC Scotties Women’s Provincals live from Penticton. We will be giving live updates and answering your questions about the action on the ice.

Select the current draw below to join in or you can replay the chat from previous draws.

• Draw 1 – Monday, January 4 at 12:00pm
• Draw 2 – Monday, January 4 at 7:00pm
• Draw 3 – Tuesday, January 5 at 12:00pm
• Draw 4 – Tuesday, January 5 at 7:00pm
• Draw 5 – Wednesday, January 6 at 12:00pm
• Draw 6 – Wednesday, January 6 at 7:00pm
• Draw 7 – Thursday, January 7 at 12:00pm
• Draw 8 – Thursday, January 7 at 7:00pm
• Draw 9 – Friday, January 8 at 9:30am
• Page Playoff #1 – Friday, January 8 at 7:00pm
• Page Playoff #2 – Saturday, January 9 at 9:30am
• Page Playoff #3 – Saturday, January 9 at 5:00pm
• Final – Sunday, January 9 at 2:00pm

Former world champions Kelley Law of New Westminster and Kelly Scott of Kelowna are tied for first place with records of 5-1 at the B.C. Scotties Tournament of Hearts currently under way at the Penticton Curling Club.

Full Story – Island Sports News (islandsportsnews.net)

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.

Scores and results on Playdowns.com

2010 Ontario Scotties Home Page

2009 – 2010 Northern Ontario Women’s Provincials

Champions and A Qualifiers:

Team Horgan – Skip: Tracy Horgan; Third: Jennifer Horgan; Second: Amanda Gates; Lead: Andrea Souliere-Poland; Fifth: Louise Logan

B Qualifiers:

Team Dahl – Skip: Marlo Dahl; Third: Shana Ketonen; Second: Julie Ruoho; Lead: Carly Ray; Coach: Ken Ketonen

C Qualfiers:

Team Mayrand – Skip: Krista Mayrand; Third: Valerie MacInnes; Second: Karen McGoldrick; Lead: Julie Brunet; Fifth: Natalie Albert

Automatic Qualifiers:

Team McCarville – Skip: Krista McCarville; Third: Tara George; Second: Kari MacLean; Lead: Lorraine Lang; Coach: Rick Lang