Day 3 at the Scotties: Québec 'veteran' and record-setter St-Georges a serious contender

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Laurie St-Georges says she’s feeling like a freshman at the 2025 Scotties Tournament of Hearts.

Her resumé, however? That belies such a silly notion.

And so does her play — record-setting stuff, in fact — during a 2-for-2 start at the Canadian women’s curling championships, proving she’s truly become a seasoned competitor at the annual 10-day event.

“At one point, somebody called me a veteran here,” said St-Georges, the ever-bubbly skip of the Québec champions at the Scotties hosted in Thunder Bay, Ont. “And I’m like … ‘Oh, no.’ I’m playing against women who have so much experience, and I have so much to learn from them.

“So I still feel like a rookie.”

Not a chance, Laurie.

Fact is only four others this year in T-Bay have skipped more times than St-Georges at the Scotties, and only Rachel Homan, Kerri Einarson and Kerry Galusha match St-Georges in skipping in each of the national finals from 2021 through this winter’s event.

“But I feel like a rookie,” reiterated St-Georges, 27. “At the beginning of the game, I have butterflies and I have to breathe more, because I felt a little stress.

“Of course, you just (start to) feel more and more confident. But this is the spot that I like … T be a rookie, that’s fine with me.”

No matter, because the self-described newbie to the nationals is showing she belongs at Fort William Gardens.

Her opening-game win Saturday — an 8-2 ease past fellow contender Kaitlyn Lawes from Manitoba — saw St-Georges and her Quebec crew establish a new Scotties mark with steals in seven different ends. In fact, they stole points in seven of the first eight ends, with Lawes — who didn’t score until the ninth — having the hammer throughout.

“I didn’t even know that,” said St-Georges, of setting that record. “Oh, my God. I’m glad that I have a record now.

“But I think we’re far away from the job done here,” she continued. “It was our first game. It was a good performance, but teams are just going to get stronger and more confident on the ice. So I think we just got to keep it up and just keep making shots.”

They did just that with another Scotties highlight in Draw 4’s victory Sunday, by counting seven in the seventh end in a 12-3 morning take-down of Galusha and Northwest Territories.

The third game came for Quebec (2-1) — which also boasts third Jamie Sinclair, second Emily Riley and lead Lisa Weagle — went late Sunday, which ended in an 8-4 decision for Ontario’s Danielle Inglis (2-1).

“Laurie just looks really confident, and the whole team feels confident,” Weagle said. “We’re having fun. We’re playing well.

“I think the thing with Laurie is she’s a big-game player,” continued 39-year-old Weagle. “And she’s rising to the occasion — and the whole team is. We’re all playing really well right now, which is really fun. And we have a great mix of experience.”

The addition this year of Weagle herself has been huge for the rink from the Glenmore and Laval-sur-le-Lac curling clubs.

Of course, the Ottawa native is a two-time Olympian — in 2018, with Rachel Homan, and ’22, with Jennifer Jones — a three-time Scotties champ — in 2013, ’14 and ’17 — and a 2017 world queen.

“Oh … Lisa makes such a big difference,” said St-Georges, praising the decorated lead for her world-class front-end skills.

“She brings a lot of confidence and a lot of mojo on the ice, which I love,” continued St-Georges. “I feel like she’s got our back, and you can just feel it. Her spirit is just so nice on the ice.

“And she loves the Scotties, and that just shows. Just during that first game, she came to me and she was like, ‘Oh, my God — I love the Scotties. I’m so glad that we’re here. Like it’s so fun.’

“I think it’s key.”

The draw of Sinclair to the team two years ago has been key, as well.

At third, the 32-year-old Alaska native also boasts quite the body of curling work, too, as a three-time United States champ in 2017, ’18 and ’19, bringing even more experience to the team.

“Fantastic” second Riley has joined St-Georges in all her visits to the Scotties, and she’s also a sports psychologist, which brings a different strength to the squad.

And experienced coach Francois Roberge carries big experience to further help make the Québec crew a serious contender this year.

“I know we’re going to get some tough games coming up,” added Weagle. “We’re just going to keep trying to enjoy the moment and play well.”

Extra ends

Sandra Schmirler Day at the Scotties saw Yukon’s Bayly Scoffin pull off a 9-8 upset over Nova Scotia’s Christina Black, thanks to a three count in the 10th end early Sunday … Other Draw 4 scores saw: Inglis top Newfoundland and Labrador’s Brooke Godsland 8-7; and Lawes hammer Manitoba’s Kate Cameron 12-3 … Sunday afternoon’s Draw 5 matchups saw: Canada’s Rachel Homan (3-0) drop Alberta’s Kayla Skrlik (2-1) 9-7; New Brunswick’s Melissa Adams (1-1) top Nunavut’s Julia Weagle (0-2) 6-3; B.C.’s Corryn Brown (2-1) edge Saskatchewan’s Nancy Martin (2-1) 7-6 in an extra end; and Northern Ontario’s Krista McCarville (0-3) allow seven straight points, including a final-end steal of four, to lose 10-7 to Alberta’s Selena Sturmay (2-1) … Other Draw 6 games Sunday evening match: Cameron (2-1) conquer Godsland (0-3) 15-4; Black (2-1) top Lawes (1-2) 7-6; and Manitoba’s Kerri Einarson (2-0) handle Scoffin (1-1) 10-2 … The Scotties continue Monday on TSN — all times ET — with Draw 7 (9 a.m.), Draw 8 (2 p.m.) and Draw 9 (7 p.m.) … To donate to the Sandra Schmirler Foundation in support of neonatal care, visit www.sandraschmirler.org.

tsaelhof@postmedia.com

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