2010 STOH HeartChart Feb 1st

Issue 3 – Monday, February 1, 2010 • An Official Publication of the Canadian Curling Association.

Showing heart and soul Favourites McCarville, Jones find an early groove Krista McCarville and her Ontario outfit won twice on Sunday.

■ Ontario, Canada start at 3-0 clip Page 2

■ Big hair, ■ Schmirler big ambitions Foundation for young trio helps the Soo Page 5

Page 4

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Page 2

HeartChart

From faves to frontrunners: McCarville, Jones are 3-0 Larry Wood HeartChart Editor

E

xpert handicappers will be nodding knowingly today when the top choices in the Scotties Tournament Of Hearts resume their respective chases for the national women’s curling title at the Essar Centre.

Heading the pack at 3-and-0 when action ceased Sunday, defending champion Jennifer Jones of Winnipeg and Ontario champion Krista McCarville of Thunder Bay were established as the odds-on favourites at the start of the day previous.

Jones, who’s looking for her third straight Canadian title, hit for a four-ender en route to a 5-4 win over New Brunswick’s Andrea Kelly on Sunday morning, then dispensed with Amber Holland of Saskatchewan 7-3 in the afternoon.

McCarville pulled even Sunday night with a 12-6 victory over Quebec’s Eve Belisle of Montreal in a wild battle completely devoid of defence. Earlier, the home-province team registered a 10th-end deuce to subdue the hot young Alberta unit skipped by Val-

erie Sweeting of Edmonton by a narrow 7-6 score.

“That’s the craziest curling game I’ve ever played in my whole entire life, absolutely crazy,” said McCarville in the wake of her Sunday evening win.

“I mean, I had a four-point lead and I was not happy.

I left her (Belisle) with a double for five and she was close to making it. I was worried. The ice was changing a little bit. It was tricky.

I wasn’t sure what was going on out there. I wasn’t confident of where I putting the broom. I just wanted to get off the ice and come out

Saskatchewan’s Amber Holland delivers.

with a win.”

The Lakehead skip added she was happy with her three wins but . . .

“I’m not satisfied yet,” she said.

Belisle was asked whatever became of defence?

“I think we forgot what it was,” she said. “I don’t know, we both played really aggressive and it got pretty wild.

“Losing two today is not very good but now we have to come out strong.”

McCarville and Sweeting waged a titanic battle of last rocks in the afternoon with the turning point arriving in the seventh end with Alberta angling to break up a tie match and steal a deuce with a pair jammed in the four-foot.

With last rock, McCarville tossed an in-turn draw to a corner of the button from outside ice and watched the stone turn in to score at exactly the right instant.

Sweeting then scored back-to-back singles to take the lead in the ninth but she couldn’t avoid giving up the deciding deuce when McCarville issued her last-rock open hit.

“The seventh was the turning point, we didn’t want to give up that steal,”

Foreground at left, Canada’s Jennifer Jones surveys the scene along with New Brunswick’s Jill Babin and Lianne Sobey. Above, Sheena Gilman and Nancy McConnery watch as Manitoba’s Kristen Phillips calls out instructions.

said McCarville. “I needed about one-quarter or more of the button and it warped in there perfectly.

“I had my draw weight that game and I felt really good so I just threw it and let the sweepers guide it in there and the line was perfect.”

The 22-year-old Alberta skip agreed the seventh end, had it gone the other way, probably would have changed the result.

“That was a clutch draw for her,” said Sweeting. “It would have been nice to steal there. The good thing was they only counted one and you always hope the limit the opposition to that when they have last rock.

“They were making a lot of greats shots, especially in that last end, and there wasn’t much we could do about it. But we played well and that’s and good sign for us.”

McCarville admitted she was impressed with the youthful Albertans.

“Definitely, they are a great team,” she said.

“Someone to watch for in the playoffs, possibly.”

Jones termed her afternoon win over Holland “our best game to date”.

Jones was beaten in the first round of the Olympic Trials at Edmonton by Holland.

“It’s great to get off to a

good start but we’ve done this a lot of ways. I think we did this last year and then had to battle through a tiebreaker so you never can be certain after the first few games.”

Holland admitted an 0-2 start for her team wasn’t in the original game plan.

“But what are you going to do, you can’t go back,” she said. “We just have to ramp it up and get rolling.”

Her team did just that, defeating Shelley Nichols of Newfoundland/Labrador 8-5 on the late shift for Saskatchewan’s first win.

Alberta remained at 2-and-1 alongside British Columbia and Manitoba.

P.E.I.’s Kathy O’Rourke climbed to 3-and-1 with a late 10-7 win over the Territories (1-3).

Winner of two straight on Saturday, the Islanders were pummelled 13-2 by Alberta on Sunday morning.

Please see FAVES, Page 10

Monday, February 1, 2010

Page 3

FACES OF THE GAMES: From left to right, P.E.I.’s Erin Carmody, Alberta’s Valerie Sweeting, Sharon Cormier of the Territories and B.C.’s Kelly Scott get right into the action on Sunday at the Essar Centre.

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Amarula is the official spirit of the Scotties Tournament of Hearts, Tim Hortons Brier and Ford World Women’s Curling Championship.

Please visit www.amarula.com to learn more. Amarula is a rare find. Appreciate it accordingly.

Page 4

HeartChart

Soo youngsters benefit from Schmirler legacy

JIM CRONIN

HeartChart Columnist

M

arc St. Eloi, like thousands of other Sault Ste. Marie residents, will be sitting with his parents and enjoying the televised coverage of the 2010 Scotties Tournament of Hearts this week. But for fourand-a-half-year-old Marc, there will also be a special connection to the Scotties and the legacy of a wonderful woman by the name of Sandra Schmirler.

Marc was born July 28, 2005 at the Sault Area Hospital. He was eight weeks premature, and weighed less than four pounds.

For his parents, Luisa Martone and Mike St.

Eloi, it was a very stressful time, as Marc spent the next five weeks of his life in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) of the hospital, including 10 days in an incubator. “The nurses became our second family; they provided constant care and supervision to Marc, and you rely on them for their expertise,” says his mother.

Without a NICU in Sault Ste. Marie, the family would have faced the prospect of having Marc flown to London, Ont., for special care and treatment.

Marc, who is now a very active energetic little guy weighing Marc in at 43 St. Eloi pounds, was recently back at the hospital’s NICU along with his parents for a special celebration related to the 2010 Scotties Tournament of Hearts, underway at the Essar Centre.

The Sandra Schmirler Foundation has provided the local hospital with $30,000

for the purchase of new equipment for the hospital’s neonatal intensive care unit.

The Sandra Schmirler Foundation was created in January 2001 as a legacy to three-time world curling champion and Olympic gold medalist Sandra Schmirler in recognition and celebration of her love of family. The foundation’s mission is caring for babies in crisis through direct giving to neonatal care across Canada.

“The new equipment will be put to immediate use in the current hospital, and will then become part of the new state-of-the-art neonatal intensive care unit in the new hospital next year,” says Johanne MessierMann, chief nursing officer and director of the maternal/ child program and nursing practice at the hospital.

Please see CRONIN, Page 10

Healthy and Vibrant Communities We are pleased to support the 2010 Scotties Tournament of Hearts in promoting sports and recreational opportunities in Sault Ste. Marie.

Call us to discuss ideas for your community.

Des communautés saines et dynamiques Nous sommes heureux d'appuyer le Tournoi des Coeurs Scotties de 2010 qui participera à la promotion des activités de sports et loisirs à Sault Ste. Marie.

Appelez-nous pour discuter de vos idées au sujet de votre communauté.

1.800.263.2887 www.trilliumfoundation.org

Monday, February 1, 2010

Page 5

Recalling the Sisterhood of the Big Hair LARRY WOOD HeartChart Editor

S

everal pundits have scoured the national women’s curling history book but none have been able to discover a match for the quirky record established at the Essar Centre this week by Jill Thurston, Jennifer Jones and Kelly Scott.

Call it the Big Hair Sisterhood.

“Yeah,” says Thurston, “back in those days we had the (really) big hair.”

“You see my curlies now?” adds Jones. “You should have seen them then!”

The late 1980s, early 1990s, apparently were all about ballooning coiffures for the ladies.

And it was the 1991 Canadian junior women’s championship at Leduc, just south of Edmonton, where Thurston, Jones and Scott played on the same Manitoba team. Skip, third and lead respectively, if you must know.

Hence the offbeat record, involving three old teammates arriving at the Scotties and skipping three different teams. That’s 25 per cent of the field, in case you’re not up on your arithmetic.

And it just never has happened before.

“I think it’s pretty neat, not only that we’re still able to curl — a lot of people give it up at such a young age — but that we’ve all been successful,” says Thurston, whose maiden name in junior days was Staub.

“Obviously, Jenn and Kelly have been quite successful!”

Their Manitoba junior team made it to the championship final but lost an extra-end thriller to Heather Smith (Dacey), then skipping the New Brunswick entry. It ended with the Herringchokers stealing the duke.

Oh yes, and one more coincidence. Current New Brunswick third Denise Nowlan played the same position with that conquering junior team of ’91.

To boot, current B.C. third Jeanna Schraeder, current Ontario third Tara George, current Quebec third Brenda Nicholls and current Newf/ Lab second Rhonda Rogers also took part in the same tournament.

“Back then we were definitely gung-ho,” recalls Thurston. “We worked really, really hard. We just curled, nothing else. We ate, slept, breathed curling back then.”

Please see WOOD, Page 12

Sault Ste. Marie O N TA R I O

Tourism SSM and the City of SSM proudly welcome all athletes, family and fans to the 2010 Scotties Tournament of Hearts.

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Page 6

HeartChart

GETTING TO KNOW YOU

Prince Edward Island: Skip: Kathy O’Rourke (second rocks)

Home: Cumberland, P.E.I. Began curling at age: 12 Delivery: Right Occupation/title: Chartered accountant Employer: Grant Thornton LLP Date of birth: April 30, 1964 Place of birth: Summerside, P.E.I. Marital status: Married Spouse/partner: Mark Children: None First vehicle: Mercury Lynx Current vehicle: Ford Escape Favourite food: Anything Italian Favourite drink: White wine, green tea Celebrity dream man: Gerard Butler Most annoying celebrity: Paris Hilton All-time favourite movie: Walk The Line Last movie she hated: Can’t remember Tattooed? No Never leaves home without: Her dog Rookie Competed in: 89, 91, 96, 99, 02 Scotties, 89, 99 Canadian Mixed.

Third: Geri-Lynn Ramsay Home: Charlottetown Began curling at age: 8 Delivery: Right Occupation/title: Student Employer: None Date of birth: Oct. 26, 1988 Place of birth: Summerside, PEI Marital status: Not married Spouse/partner: None Children: None First vehicle: 1994 Nissan Altima Current vehicle: Dodge

Gerard Butler fantasies, Speidi vexations, and rookies (canines, not teammates) Neon Favourite food: Chicken fingers and fries!

Favourite drink: Iced tea Celebrity dream man: Channing Tatum/Ryan Reynolds (tie) Most annoying celebrity: Speidi (Spencer Pratt, Heidi Montag) All-time favourite movie: Save The Last Dance, until they made Twilight saga Last movie she loved: New Moon Last movie she hated: The Spirit Tattooed? Nope Never leaves home without: Her purse!

Competed in: 07, 08. 09 Junior Nationals

Second: Erin Carmody (fourth rocks)

Home: Summerside, P.E.I. Began curling at age: 9 Delivery: Right, no backswing?

Occupation/title: Student Employer: None Date of birth: August 4, 1988 Place of birth: Charlottetown Marital status: None Spouse/partner: None Children: None First vehicle: Toyota Echo Current vehicle: Toyota Echo/ Toyota Prius Favourite food: Salmon Favourite drink: Vodka, cran, and water :) Celebrity dream man: Hmmm . . . Jake Gyllenhaal Most annoying celebrity:

Keanu Reeves All-time favourite movie: Remember the Titans Last movie she loved: P.S. I Love You Last movie she hated: Avatar Tattooed? No Never leaves home without: Cellphone . . . except when she loses it Competed in: 07, 08, 09 Junior Nationals

Lead: Tricia Affleck Home: Milton, P.E.I. Began curling at age: 13 Delivery: Left Occupation/title: Assessment technician for WCB and part-time co-host/ interviewer for a local harness racing show called “Race-Day” Employer: Workers Compensation Board of PEI Date of birth: Sept. 25, 1970

Place of birth: Charlottetown Marital status: Married Spouse/partner: Trevor Affleck Children: Chelsey (5), Sophie (2) First vehicle: Chrysler LeBaron convertible (red) Current vehicle: Nissan Pathfinder Favourite food: Anything sweet . . . cake!

Favourite drink: Black Fly Coolers Celebrity dream man: Hugh Jackman Most annoying celebrity: Pam Anderson All-time favourite movie: When a Man Loves a Woman Last movie she loved: Hangover, The Blind Side Last movie she hated: Inglourious Basterds Tattooed? No, but if she was to get one it would be a horseshoe Never leaves home without: Lip gloss Competed in: 89, 90 Junior Nationals, 96, 00, 01, 04, 06 Scotties, 08, 10 National Mixed

Fifth: Shelly Bradley Home: Stratford, P.E.I. Began curling at age: 12

Delivery: Right Occupation/title: Senior admissions officer Employer: Holland College Date of birth: Nov. 17, 1970 Place of birth: Dalhousie, N.B. Marital status: Married Spouse/partner: Ryan Children: Emma (11), Avery (6) First vehicle: Dodge Colt Current vehicle: 2003 Toyota Sienna and 2008 Mazda 3 Favourite food: Pasta Favourite drink: Pepsi, beer, coolers Celebrity dream man: Paul Walker Most annoying celebrity: Paris Hilton All-time favourite movie: Too many to choose Last movie she loved: The Blind Side Last movie she hated: 2012 Tattooed? Yes, one.

Never leaves home without: Lip gloss, credit card Competed in: 88, 89, 90 junior nationals, 94, 99 (fifth), 00, 01, 05, 06 (fifth) Scotties.

Coach: Allan Ledgerwood Home: Charlottetown Occupation/title: Counsellor Employer: Holland College Date of birth: March 16, 1949 Place of birth: Moose Jaw, Sask.

Coached: 72, 89 junior men’s, 09 junior women’s, 98 Scotties, 04 Brier, 06, 07, 09 senior men’s, 04, 06, 07 senior women’s.

From left, Erin Carmody, Kathy O’Rourke and Tricia Affleck.

Monday, February 1, 2010

Page 7

Feels great to be home,

by George!

Larry Wood HeartChart Editor

T

he lone Sault native competing in the current Scotties at the Essar Centre is revelling in this week’s curling homecoming.

“The whole thing has a nice feel to it,” says Tara George, formerly Coulterman, the third player on the Ontario champion team from Thunder Bay skipped

by Krista McCarville.

“It’s nice to come in and know there is going to be a lot of support for us,” she is saying the other day. “We’ve had a lot of good things leading up to it so we’ve been looking forward to it.”

Indeed, this Ontario champion hit the Essar on a high after sweeping the 10-team provincials at Thunder Bay and reaching the semi-final of the Tim Hortons Olympic Trials at Edmonton in December after qualifying second from the pre-Trials at Prince George in November.

“Krista is brimming with confidence. We played well at Trials, we had a good week, we stuck to our game plan and we shot like we know we can,” says George.

“It would have been nice to have escaped those tiebreakers and the three-game day but it was still good. It helped us prove to ourselves that we are where we should be. We came out of there with a lot of positives to build on.”

And the soaring confidence was evident in the Ontario championship that appeared on paper to be a rout but, in reality, wasn’t.

“Not an easy sweep,” says George. “There were tough teams there. Kathy Auld and Jenn Hanna are tough opponents. There were a lot of other good young teams I’m sure we’ll see numerous times in the future.

“We just had a good week.

We were shooting well.

Ashley (Miharija) stepped

in at second and played fantastically well. I think that travelling with us the last year-and-a-half she learned a lot about us and about our team dynamics. It helped that she’d been around. And we knew she was a shooter.

I think she probably was mid-Eighties throughout the week.”

When veteran lead Lorraine Lang retired following the Trials, Miharija was promoted from fifth to second and Kari MacLean dropped to the lead position.

“Kari has played lead for a number of years and loves the position,” says George.

“She has a passion for it.

When she came on the team Lorraine had been our lead for a number of years and so when this came about it was a natural move and she was excited to try that position again.”

Fans at the provincials, of course, were vociferous in their support of the McCarville squad.

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Tara George, of Sault Ste. Marie plays third on Ontario’s championship squad, skipped

by Krista McCarville.

The crowd favourites “have a whole new attitude,” says George.

“We expect to be right there at the end.”

“It probably was an advantage (playing it at the Port Arthur club),” says George. “We had fantastic support, they had full bleachers on the ice and great crowds. It was something to build on, definitely.

In a tough game, having the crowd behind you always helps you out.”

It’s no different at the Essar.

“I love coming to the Sault because the crowds are amazing,” says George.

“They get behind their teams. It was like that growing up. And I couldn’t wait to get back here.”

Playing its fourth Scotties in five years, the McCarvilles are carrying a reputa-

tion for perfection at the provincial level and mediocrity at the national level.

“The difference now is the way we’re playing and the confidence in the way we’re playing,” says George.

“We have a game plan that we’ve stuck to the last little while and hopefully it will pull us through.”

George departed the Sault in 1992, moving to the Lakehead to attend university.

“But it was kind of a double move,” she recalled.

“It was partially for curling, too. Rhonda Skillen, who was Rhonda Halvorsen at the time, had asked me to come up and play with them and I had some junior years

left, so I did.

“I’ve curled back here twice — once in colleges and once when the Ontario women’s championship was here.

No team from Sault Ste. Marie ever has qualified for a shot at the Canadian women’s title and George considers that a surprising statistic.

“It seems a lot of good juniors move away to college and don’t return, maybe that’s why no one from here has won the province,” she allowed.

“But it was wonderful growing up here, it really was,” she said. “It’s a wonderful curling town. We had a really competitive high school league here. That helped tons. It helped with my passion for the sport.”

It’s an enduring passion that’s hitting a new high for intensity this week on the Essar ice lanes.

“We have a whole new attitude,” said George. “We expect to be right there at the end.”

The Party Line • Your guide to what’s goin’ on

Page 8

your guide to what’s goin’ on

Make Your Next Stop the HeartStop!

When the last rock’s been thrown in the Essar Centre, remember… your draw pass includes free admission to the HeartStop Lounge.

In between draws, it’s the perfect place to share a relaxing bite and beverage among friends. But when the last draw is done, get ready for the fun - because the HeartStop errupts into a party that rocks the house all night long!

An exciting lineup of live entertainment has been carefully selected to appeal to a wide range of tastes. Dance to the beat of everything from disco and swing, to country and classic rock.

Stuart Brown – our infamous host – is on the job day and night, leading the way with contests, competitions and off-the-cuff fan interviews.

The HeartStop’s also home to Up Close and Personal and team Autograph sessions – so it’s a great place to meet the competitors!

Plus, it’s the setting for the Cool Curling competition – where competitors play the tabletop version of the roaring game, with cash prizes at stake.

on stage

Make sure your Scotties experience includes the HeartStop Lounge… the Biggest Do in the Soo!

Tonight’s DJ Night in the HeartStop Dance to the greatest hits of all time - starting at 10:30 pm.

Saturday, January, 30 Cal Bearden - ticket number 2296 - won $1,352

Take a

Yard • 10:30 pm Wednesday, February 3 – College Battle of the Bands • 10:00 pm Thursday, February 4 – Dirty Little Swing Thing • 10:30 pm Friday, February 5 – Superfreak Disco Band • 10:30 pm Saturday, February 6 – Rockstar Live • 10:00 pm

Free Ride

Tuesday, February 2 – Bone

Shuttle service is available daily between the Essar Centre and HeartStop Lounge at the Soo Curlers Association. The service is provided by Tim Hortons and the City of Sault Ste. Marie. Shuttles will depart every half hour to both venues. Departure points are the main parking lot near the front entrance of the Essar Centre and front door of the Soo Curlers Association.

Full schedules are posted at both departure points and online at seasonofchampions.ca

Monday, February 1, 2010

Page 9

It’s Simply up close

personal

HeartStop Lounge Menu

and

Jumping from the Juniors!

Homestyle Cooking Available Daily 11 am – 8 pm Provided by Rico’s Catering

Daily Menu

Today – 6:30 pm

Pasta and Meatballs $6.00 Soup and Sandwich $6.00 Salads (Garden, Caesar or Greek) $4.00

In the past three years, Erin Carmody has represented Prince Edward Island at the M&M Canadian Juniors Championships. Well, she’s back on the national stage again in 2010… but this time in the Scotties Tournament of Hearts!

up close

Today’s Specials Served 6 pm - 8 pm

&personal

At just 21 years of age, Carmody will be throwing last stones for the Islanders with second Kathy O’Rourke calling the shots. Curling out of the Charlottetown Curling Club, the team earned a birth in the Scotties with an extra-end steal in the provincial final.

Dinner Feature

Roast Beef Dinner Served with Garden Salad

$10.00

Vegetarian Option

Vegetable Stir-Fry – Noodles $8.00

Nightly Menu

Available Daily 8 pm – 1 am Provided by Soo Curlers Restaurant Nacho Chips Chili & Bread Sticks Jumbo Hot Dog Chili Jumbo Dog Sausage On A Bun Hamburger Lemon Pepper Chicken Hoagie Roast Beef On A Bun Bbq Beef & Mozzarella On A Bun Mrs. B’s Pizza By The Slice Chicken Wings (8)

Find out what it’s like to make the move to the big show in your first year!

Cool Curling

Twenty-four young curlers - representing clubs in Sault Ste. Marie and surrounding communities - were selected as Junior Stars through a random draw of applicants. The lucky Stars receive: a hat, event pin, jacket, photo with their assigned team, a tour of the TSN mobile and event tickets to their team’s draw for themselves and two chaperones.

Underway Today Head to the HeartStop for the kick-off of the Cool Curling competition! It’s the opening of round robin play and by day’s end, the first four qualifiers will be determined for the playdowns.

Monday 7:30 pm feature Stars:

While you’re there, check out the schedule – openings may still be available for upcoming draws.

Take your best shot at a spot in the championship weekend action – and the chance to win cash prizes!

Team Alberta

Brianne Manson Samantha Servant Team Newfoundland/Labrador

Jessie Harnden Jebidiah Pallot

Today

2:00 pm SK – Amber Holland 6:30 pm NS – Nancy McConnery

Tuesday Come and meet your favourite curlers!

From today until Friday teams will be featured in the HeartStop Lounge.

2:00 pm NB – Andrea Kelly 6:30 pm BC – Kelly Scott

AB – Valerie Sweeting

Wednesday 1:00 pm MB – Jill Thurston 5:30 pm ONT – Krista McCarville Thursday 2:00 pm QB – Eve Belisle

NL – Shelley Nichols 6:30 pm NWT/Y – Sharon Cormier

Friday

6:30 pm Olympic

Team – Cheryl Bernard

$5.00 $5.50 $4.00 $4.75 $5.00 $5.00 $5.00 $5.50 $5.50 $2.25 $8.00

Page 10

HeartChart

From Page 2

FAVES

TSN’s Vic Rauter announces another pledge Sunday at the Essar Centre during the Sandra Schmirler Foundation’s annual telethon.

The foundation, which cares for babies in crisis via donations to neonatal care across Canada, raised a record $285,000 this year.

“Sandra’s legacy will live on through the infants and families we serve in Sault Ste. Marie and the Algoma region for many years to come.”

Cheryl Pavoni, executive director of the hospital, says, “our community and hospital are both benefitting greatly by the presence of the Scotties Tournament of Hearts and the Sandra Schmirler Foundation in the Sault this year.”

For little Marc St. Eloi, the hospital celebration was especially exciting,

because some of the nurses who looked after him in the neonatal unit more than four years ago, when he weighed less than four pounds, were on hand to say hello. “The nurses were so thrilled to see him,” says Luisa.

Although Marc doesn’t remember the faces and names of those healthcare professionals who gave him special care during his five weeks in the neonatal intensive care unit, he understood that this was a

From Page 4

CRONIN: Hospital bash for Marc special area of the hospital that looks after very small babies. He also knows he

was one of those special babies, a “preemie” only a few years ago.

A telethon is held annually during the Scotties Tournament of Hearts to raise funds for the Sandra Schmirler Foundation. This year’s edition was staged on Sunday.

“Over the past 10 years, we have donated more than one million dollars to help babies in crisis right across Canada, and we are committed to helping neonatal intensive care units in communities that so generously

support our fundraising efforts,” said Al Hodgins, chair of the Sandra Schmirler Foundation.

And for Luisa Martone and Mike St. Eloi of Sault Ste. Marie, and their healthy young bundle of energy, Marc, the importance of neonatal care and the support provided by the Sandra Schmirler Foundation will always be top of mind . . . particularly as they watch this week’s Scotties at their hometown arena.

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In another late game, New Brunswick’s Kelly won her first, 10-6 over winless Nancy McConnery of Nova Scotia B.C. skip Kelly Scott covered part of the button with a last-rock cold draw to defeat Belisle 6-4 Sunday afternoon while Manitoba’s Jill Thurston ran away from Nichols 11-6 with a killer four-count in the seventh end the major blow.

“I thought I needed just a touch extra on that last draw and it worked out,” said Scott, whose final stone ground to a halt in winning territory.

Thurston admitted the playing surface began to fudge in the late ends: “When you have ice like that it’s definitely and advantage to get a lead as soon as possible.”

Manitoba led by a point when Thurston executed a precise takeout for the four-ender. Said Nicholls: “My draw weight just wasn’t there. I’d make one, miss one, make one, miss one.

You aren’t helping anybody when you’re going like that.”

Thurston, who lost to Jones in her opening assignment, admitted her team was applying far more pressure Sunday.

“That’s the game,” she said. “You apply the pressure and that’s how you steal points. We have to go out and play our game and stay within ourselves just like we did in the provincials. It’s still just curling.

You do the things you do that make you successful.”

Monday, February 1, 2010

Page 11

GETTING TO KNOW YOU

Newfoundland/Labrador: Skip: Shelley Nichols Home: St. John’s Began curling at age: 11 Delivery: Right Occupation/title: Owner Employer: WestJet Date of birth: May 19, 1982 Place of birth: Labrador City Marital status: Not compatible with anybody Spouse/partner: See above.

Children: Cat, Nikko First vehicle: 1998 red Chevy Cavalier Current vehicle: 2008 blue Mazda 3 Favourite food: Homemade pizza Favourite drink: Coors Light Celebrity dream man: Rex Goudie (Sexy Rexy!)

Most annoying celebrity: Flava Flav All-time favourite movie: Zoolander Last movie she loved: Defiance Last movie she hated: Burn After Reading Tattooed? None Never leaves home without: iPhone, Burt’s Bees Lip Balm Competed in: 99 Canada Games, 01, 02 03 Junior Nationals, 02 World Juniors (fifth), 05 National Mixed, 06, 07 Scotties

Third: Stephanie LeDrew Home: St. John’s Began curling at age: 10 Delivery: Right Occupation/title: Registered acupuncturist, clinical demonstrator, laser technician, waitress (works a lot!)

Employer: Back On Track Physiotherapy, Eastern College, Bense

Vodka Koe, Sexy Rexy, BBQ ribs, the Mighty Civ and . . . being professionally good-looking!

Studio 100, The Cellar Restaurant Date of birth: June 6, 1984 Place of birth: Corner Brook Marital status: Occupied Spouse/partner: Rex Goudie Children: Two dogs, Sheeba and Daisy First vehicle: 98 Honda Accord Current vehicle: The Mighty Civ (2008 Honda Civic) Favourite food: Butter Chicken from India Gate Restaurant, St. John’s Favourite drink: The

Vodka Koe (named after Jamie Koe, the curler from NWT: vodka + water + a splash of cranberry. Bartenders around the world, take notes!)

Celebrity dream man: Rex Goudie Most annoying celebrity: Jamie Korab All-time favourite movie: Goodfellas Last movie she loved: The Hangover (laughed until it hurt, and it hurt for days!)

Last movie she hated: Glitter (Come on Mariah, you can do better) Tattooed? None

Never leaves home without: Chapstick, cellphone Competed in: 98, 01, 02, 03, 04 Junior Nationals; 07, 09 Mixed Nationals

Never leaves home without: Lip balm Competed in: 91 Junior Nationals, 91 Canada Winter Games

Second: Rhonda Rogers

Lead: Colette Lemon

Home: Clarenville, N.L. (currently St. John’s) Began curling at age: 12 Delivery: Right Occupation/title: Physiotherapist Employer: Eastern Health Date of birth: July 18, 1972 Place of birth: St. John’s Marital status: Relationship Spouse/partner: Bob Whalen Children: None First vehicle: Mazda Protege Current vehicle: Honda Civic Favourite food: BBQ ribs Favourite drink: Iced tea Celebrity dream man: Rex Goudie (Sexy Rexy) Most annoying celebrity: Paris Hilton All-time favourite movie: Shawshank Redemption Last movie she loved: The Hangover Last movie she hated: Burn After Reading Tattooed? No

Home: Outlook, Sask.

Began curling at age: 11 Delivery: Right Occupation/title: Level II dental assistant Employer: Mount Pearl Dental Date of birth: March 11, 1981 Place of birth: Saskatoon Marital status: Relationship Spouse/partner: Mark Nichols Children: Dog, Torino First vehicle: Chevrolet Cavalier Current vehicle: 2004 Hyundai Santa Fe Favourite food: McDonald’s Favourite drink: CocaCola Celebrity dream man: Rex Goudie (Sexy Rexy).

Most annoying celebrity: Tom Green All-time favourite movie: Almost Famous Last movie she loved: The Blind Side Last movie she hated: The Informant Tattooed? Yes, two!

Never leaves home without: Cellphone Competed in: 08, 09 NL Provincials

Shelley Nichols, left, and Colette Lemon

Fifth: Michelle Jewer Home: St. John’s Began curling at age: 12 Delivery: Right

Occupation/title: Manager of budgeting/chartered accountant Employer: Government of Newfoundland and Labrador Date of birth: August 17, 1974 Place of birth: Labrador City Marital status: Married Spouse/partner: Keith Children: Adam (6), Sarah (2) First vehicle: Pontiac Sunfire Current vehicle: Mazda Tribute Favourite food: Spaghetti Favourite drink: Red wine Celebrity dream man: Rex Goudie (Sexy Rexy) Most annoying celebrity: Tom Cruise All-time favourite movie: Grease Last movie she loved: The most recent Star Trek movie Last movie she hated: District 9 Tattooed? Nope Never leaves home without: Snacks (with two kids you always have to have snacks on hand!!!!)

Competed in: 03, 04 Junior Nationals, 01 Mixed.

Coach: Jeff Wilson Home: Charlottetown, P.E.I. Occupation/title: Volunteer Employer: Boys and Girls Club of Charlottetown Date of birth: December 12, 1984 Place of birth: Brampton, Ont. Coached/played: Coach 2006 Canadian Junior Men (Team Ontario, bronze medal); player 2003 Canadian Juniors (Team Ontario); player 2005 Canadian Juniors (Team Ontario, silver medal)

Page 12

HeartChart “The hair was bigger and Kelly (then a 13-yearold MacKenzie) was a lot smaller and we really loved the game and we were tight as a group. It was a fun year and a great experience.”

So how would skip Thurston have reacted if someone had told her back then that, 20 years from now, the three of them would be skipping different quartets in a single edition of the Scotties?

“You know what?” she asks. “I would have said you’re probably right. Jennifer and Kelly both were great curlers back then and they had a lot of passion for the game. And, really, we should have, would have, could have, been Canadian champions at that time so I don’t think it would have been a shock to me.”

She says the three don’t connect much any more.

Jones “travels a lot” and Scott long since has taken up residence in West Kelowna.

“I guess it’s kind of neat, seeing how things evolve,” allows Jones, whose goal here is a third straight Scotties title.

“But it was a long time ago. I hardly remember anything about it. I know we beat Tara (George). It’s just that it’s a long time ago.

“I haven’t played with Jill since then and I haven’t played with Kelly since then. Jill was out of juniors the next year and we all went our separate ways.

“But it was first time any of us had been in a national championship so it was,

From Page 5

WOOD: Reunion a rarity like, the start of our careers.

“They’re great players and it’s fun to play against them.”

Scott agrees the skipping reunion is something of a rarity.

“That was our first chance at national exposure and here we are back again?

It’s rare that I would have moved provinces and then Jenn and Jill, coming from the same province, would be here with Jenn representing Team Canada. It’s neat.

“That really was what started it for me. It opened my eyes to what curling is all about — winning your province, going to nationals, meeting people from different provinces and de-

veloping friendships across Canada that still last to this day. “The team was just a fun bunch of young girls that had big goals and big dreams and we made it as far as the Canadian final.”

Kelly first joined Thurston on a junior team at the tender age of 11.

“Two years later, I was playing in a Canadian final on TV. That was a pretty big deal for a 13-year-old.”

Thurston had picked up Jones to play third the same year. And Jones was back skipping Manitoba teams in the Juniors in three of the next four years. She won in 1994. Kelly skipped her winner the next year.

“The friendships are still there,” contends Scott. “Jenn and I meet up at these events as opponents all the time. Jill and I have always kept in touch. We’re interested in one another’s families, children, dogs and parents.

“I have a lot of respect for Jill and what she exposed me to at such a young age.

I’ll never forget that.”

From left, Kelly Scott, Jennifer Jones and Jill Thurston played on the same Manitoba junior team.

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Page 13

Time out for trivia Larry Wood HeartChart Editor

QUESTION OF THE DAY: Two fifth players in this Scotties tournament have skipped teams that have defeated eventual champions in the same year.

Name them.

2. Name the winners they defeated and the years in which they proved giantkillers.

3. Name the skip and hometown of the Ontario team competing in the very first Scott Tournament of Hearts (1982).

4. How about the skip and hometown of the Ontario team to play in the first Dominion Diamond D Canadian women’s championship (1961)?

5. Name the skip and home province of the runner-up province when

Colleen Jones won the first of her record six Canadian women’s championships.

6. How many points did Jones score in the first end of that final game and what was the final score?

7. Can you name the skips of the other five teams that were Scotties runners-up to Jones?

8. Now, who skipped Team Canada at the world championship the year Elisabet Gustafson of Sweden won her record fourth world title?

9. How about the skip of Team Canada the year Gustafson won her first world title?

10. Which year and where?

11. Something unique to the Canadian women’s curling championship occurred at the inaugural Scott Tournament of Hearts in 1982. What was it?

12. Who was involved and where were they from?

13. Where was this edition played?

13. Three skips in Canadian women’s curling championship history have won 11 games in a single tournament and failed to win that tournament. They were?

14. Three competitors in the current Scotties played in the 2009 Canadian Junior Women’s Championship. Name them, and their provinces.

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QofD: Dawn Moses, Shelly Bradley.

2. Moses beat Connie Laliberte in 1992, Bradley beat Colleen Jones in 2001.

3. Carol Thompson, Toronto.

4. Emily Woolley, Toronto.

5. Dorothy Rose, Manitoba 6. Jones opened with a four-ender and won 8-7.

7. Cathy King, Kelley Law, Sherry Anderson, Cathy Cunningham, MarieFrance Larouche.

8. Colleen Jones.

9. Connie Laliberte.

10. 1992 at GarmischPartenkirchen, Germany.

11. The round-robin competition wound up with a record five teams tied for first place with 7-3 records.

12. Teams skipped by Colleen Jones of Halifax, the eventual champion, Barbara Parker of Comox, B.C., Cathy Shaw of Edmonton, Arleen Day of Regina and Dorothy Rose of Winnipeg 13. Regina.

14. Jillian Babin, New Brunswick; Erin Carmody, Geri-Lynn Ramsay, P.E.I.

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Page 14

HeartChart

SCOTTIES CUMULATIVE STATS Skips

Editor: Larry Wood

Associate Editor: Todd Kimberley

Photography: Andrew Klaver

Name Jennifer Jones (Canada) Valerie Sweeting (Alta.)

Kelly Scott (B.C.) Jill Thurston (Man.) Erin Carmody (P.E.I.) Krista McCarville (Ont.) Amber Holland (Sask.)

Sharon Cormier (NWT/YT) Shelley Nicholls (N.L.) Nancy McConnery (N.S.) Andrea Kelly (N.B.) Eve Belisle (Que.)

Seconds % age 84 84 80 77 74 74 71 69 65 63 61 57

Name Sasha Carter (B.C.) Jill Officer (Canada) Ashley Miharija (Ont.) Leslie Wilson (Man.) Whitney More (Alta.)

Jillian Babin (N.B.) Tammy Schneider (Sask.)

Kathy O’Rourke (P.E.I.) Martine Comeau (Que.) Megan Cormier (NWT/YT) Rhonda Rogers (N.L.) Sheena Gilman (N.S.)

Thirds

% age 83 79 77 76 75 74 74 73 71 69 67 61

Leads

Name Jeanna Schraeder (B.C.) Cathy Overton-Clapham (Canada) Kristen Phillips (Man.) Denise Nowlan (N.B.) Megan Einarson (Alta.)

Tara George (Ont.) Jennifer Crouse (N.S.) Stephanie LeDrew (N.L.) Geri-Lynn Ramsay (P.E.I.) Tara Naugler (NWT/YT) Brenda Nicholls (Que.) Kim Schneider (Sask.)

% age 83 80 77 76 76 76 72 72 71 70 69 64

British Columbia (Scott) Canada (Jones) Alberta (Sweeting) Ontario (McCarville) Manitoba (Thurston) P.E.I. (O’Rourke)

% age 82 82 79 76 76 74

Name Dawn Askin (Canada) Heather Kalenchuk (Sask.)

Jacquie Armstrong (B.C.) Lindsay Makichuk (Alta.)

Tricia Affleck (P.E.I.) Jill Thomas (N.S.) Julie Rainville (Que.) Kari MacLean (Ont.) Raunora Westcott (Man.) Lianne Sobey (N.B.) Colette Lemon (N.L.) Danielle Ellis (NWT/YT)

% age 85 83 81 81 80 78 77 76 74 73 72 70

Teams

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T

www.neighboursfriendsandfamilies.ca

Saskatchewan (Holland) New Brunswick (Kelly) Territories (Cormier) Newfoundland/Labrador (Nicholls) Nova Scotia (McConnery) Quebec (Belisle)

% age 73 71 70 69 68 68

Monday, February 1, 2010

Page 15

SCOTTIES SCHEDULE AND RESULTS

Standings

Today’s Games

Team Canada Ontario P.E.I. Alberta B.C. Manitoba Saskatchewan Quebec Nfld/Labrador New Brunswick Territories Nova Scotia

Draw 6 (10:30 a.m.)

Saskatchewan vs. Ontario Quebec vs. Nfld/Labrador Draw 7 (3 p.m.)

British Columbia vs. New Brunswick Canada vs. Territories Alberta vs. Nova Scotia Manitoba vs. P.E.I. Draw 8 (7:30 p.m.)

Nfld/Labrador vs. Canada Alberta vs. Quebec Saskatchewan vs. Manitoba B.C. vs. Ontario

Draw 4 Results

Draw 3 Results

W 3 3 3 2 2 2 1 1 1 1 1 0

L 0 0 1 1 1 1 2 2 2 3 3 4

Draw 5 Results

Canada* New Brunswick %age Canada New Brunswick

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 0 0 0 0 0 4 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 1 Lead Second Third 81 76 79 80 71 89

8 9 10 T 1 0 x 5 0 1 x 4 Skip Team 80 79 73 78

Manitoba Newfoundland* %age Manitoba Newfoundland

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 0 3 0 1 1 0 4 2 0 1 0 0 1 0 Lead Second Third 69 69 67 79 54 69

8 9 10 T 0 2 x 11 2 0 x 6 Skip Team 86 73 51 64

Ontario Quebec* %age Ontario Quebec

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 0 3 0 5 0 2 1 2 0 2 0 2 0 0 Lead Second Third 73 63 80 82 79 77

8 9 10 T 1 x x 12 0 x x 6 Skip Team 67 71 47 68

P.E.I. Alberta* %age P.E.I. Alberta

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 2 0 6 4 Lead Second Third 68 79 73 63 64 71

8 9 10 T x x x 2 x x x 13 Skip Team 70 72 86 71

Quebec* B.C. %age Quebec B.C.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 0 0 1 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 2 Lead Second Third 69 63 56 82 74 70

8 9 10 T 0 1 0 4 1 0 1 6 Skip Team 53 60 76 75

New Brunswick* Nova Scotia %age New Brunswick Nova Scotia

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 0 2 0 0 4 0 2 1 0 0 1 0 2 0 Lead Second Third 57 61 66 83 69 72

8 9 10 T 0 2 x 10 2 0 x 6 Skip Team 53 60 58 70

Nova Scotia* Manitoba %age Nova Scotia Manitoba

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 1 1 2 0 2 Lead Second Third 75 47 73 75 86 80

8 9 10 T 1 x x 3 0 x x 7 Skip Team 64 65 84 82

Canada* Saskatchewan %age Canada Saskatchewan

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 0 1 0 2 0 0 2 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 Lead Second Third 90 75 81 89 72 75

8 9 10 T 0 2 x 7 1 0 x 3 Skip Team 96 85 90 82

P.E.I.* Territories %age P.E.I. Territories

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 0 1 0 2 1 0 0 2 0 1 0 0 1 1 Lead Second Third 80 78 83 69 63 76

8 9 10 T 3 0 3 10 0 2 0 7 Skip Team 75 79 76 71

Territories B.C.* %age Territories B.C.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 1 1 0 3 0 0 2 Lead Second Third 64 76 80 68 88 88

8 9 10 T 2 1 1 6 0 0 0 7 Skip Team 66 72 87 83

Ontario* Alberta %age Ontario Alberta

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 0 2 0 0 2 0 1 1 0 0 2 0 1 0 Lead Second Third 90 80 70 84 73 71

8 9 10 T 0 0 2 7 1 1 0 6 Skip Team 75 79 71 75

Nfld/Labrador Saskatchewan* %age Nfld/Labrador Saskatchewan

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 0 0 2 0 1 2 0 0 1 0 2 0 0 2 Lead Second Third 78 65 76 74 83 63

8 9 10 T 0 0 0 5 1 1 1 8 Skip Team 70 72 78 74

* —started game with the hammer

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Page 16

HeartChart

ROAD TO THE SCOTTIES

Holland finally reaps Saskatchewan title Larry Wood HeartChart Editor

C

ount perseverance among Amber Holland’s premier attributes.

The 1992 Canadian junior champion skip has had her eye on a Scotties title ever since but, until a January engagement at Kindersley and Eston, never was able to claim the Saskatchewan women’s title.

All that changed with highly credible performances at both the Prince George Olympic Pre-Trials in November and Edmonton Olympic Trials in December.

And, playing out of Kronau, just south of Regina, Holland won the latest provincial bauble with a 7-1

record in the 12-team split round-robin competition.

Along with Kim Schneider, Tammy Schneider and Heather Kalenchuk, skip Holland defeated Saskatoon veteran Sherry Anderson 9-6 in the final.

The blonde Holland was undefeated in her side of the round-robin draw with five straight wins while Anderson’s Granite club team of Kim Hodson, Heather Walsh and Donna Gignac won the other side with a 4-1 record and a last-round win over defending champion Stefanie Lawton of Saskatoon.

In the Page One-Two collision, Anderson hit for three in the fourth end and refused to relinquish control in an eventual 9-4 decision that dropped Holland to the semi-final against Lawton.

But that extra game didn’t hurt Holland and Co. They jumped into an early 4-0 lead with a deuce in the first and a theft of two more in the second when Lawton wrecked on a rock in the 12foot. It was a relative cruise to an 8-6 win thereafter.

SASKATCHEWAN Then, in the final, Holland wiped out a one-point deficit in the fourth with a three-ender and could have had four but threw light on the draw.

She yielded a tying deuce

to Anderson in the fifth and after a trade of deuces in the sixth and seventh panels, took a one-point edge in the eighth and applied a killer steal of two in the ninth.

Lawton settled for a berth in the Page Three-Four playoff after losing 6-3 to Anderson in the preliminary wrapup.

But, in the sudden-death playoff, Lawton negotiated a narrow port with her last rock of the sixth end, connected for a double takeout and scored a game-ending six for a 9-2 conquest of Regina’s Chantelle Eberle.

Trailing Holland (7-1) after the finish were Anderson and Lawton at 5-2, Eberle at 3-3, Michelle Englot of Regina and Patti Hersikorn of Saskatoon at 3-2, Robyn Silvernagle of Meadow Lake, Cathy Inglis and

Jolene Campbell of Regina at 2-3, Cindy Ricci of Lampman and Susan Lang of Regina at 1-4 and former champion Tracy Streifel of

Saskatoon at 0-5.

As was the vogue during the Trials, Holland will have Campbell on hand as fifth player at the Scotties.

Amber Holland, Kim Schneider and the rest of this crew are playing in their first Scotties tournament.

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