Road to Scotties fires up on all fronts: Our guide to the provincial curling battles ...
Here’s a breakdown of all the provincial championships starting up Tuesday on the Scotties trail …
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They have “business left unturned” at the Scotties Tournament of Hearts, says skip Corryn Brown.
But first things first for the B.C. skip and her Kamloops rink …
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Road to Scotties fires up on all fronts: Our guide to the provincial curling battles ... Back to video
Like many other teams across the country over the next six days, they have business at hand in their provincial finale — the step they have to win to reach the national stage in Thunder Bay, Feb. 14-23.
And the biz for Brown & Co. is familiar given the ongoing on-ice battle with Kayla MacMillan at the BC Women’s Curling Championship.
“If you’re looking on paper, you can argue that we’re the two top contenders,” said Brown, ahead of the six-day provincials in Langley, B.C. “But I think the thing about provincials is anybody can come out firing and have a good week. So I don’t think that there’s any team we’re taking lightly out there.
“We’re expecting a good game from anyone we play.”
Especially MacMillan & Co.
After all, the Victoria rink returns as the winner of last year’s playdowns — then skipped by Clancy Grandy, who’s since stepped away from the team to focus on other opportunities. Grandy, third MacMillan, second Lindsay Dubue and lead Sarah Loken also won the B.C. crown in 2023.
But now it’s MacMillan taking over skip duties and Sarah Daniels in at third with Dubue and Loken.
And their chief rival is Brown, a rep for B.C. at the 2020, ’21 and ’24 Scotties, after earning the provincial title five years ago, getting named the B.C. team a year later during COVID times and then earning their way last year to the national championship as high earners in the Canadian Team Ranking System.
They’re high again — ninth — on this year’s CTRS board, while MacMillan is seventh, stoking the fire even more for another provincial battle.
“Our two teams have really pushed each other to become better, and I think that’s made both of our teams be contenders at the top level,” added Brown, who this year has replaced second Jennifer Armstrong with Sarah Koltun — a nine-time Scotties rep for the Northwest Territories — joining third Erin Pincott and lead Samantha Fisher.
“We’re grateful that we have each other to push ourselves to become bigger, better and stronger.”
Here’s a breakdown of all the provincial championships starting up Tuesday (with Wednesday’s start-ups coming tomorrow) on the Scotties trail …
B.C.
When and where: Tuesday-Sunday, Langley’s George Preston Arena
Defending champs: MacMillan (Victoria Curling Club)
Who to watch: Brown, Scotties participant in 2020, ’21 and ’24; MacMillan, Scotties participant in 2023 and ’24; Taylor Reese-Hansen, third-highest B.C. team in CTRS.
Saskatchewan
No longer the Viterra Scotties, it’s now the Viterra Prairie Pinnacle.
And the two-time defending champs are no longer skipped by Skyler Ackerman, who left the sport to pursue her education in health care.
Ashley Thevenot bumped up from third to skip Saskatchewan’s queens, who have added experienced Brittany Tran at third to join the new skip, second Taylor Stremick and lead Kaylin Skinner.
When and where: Tuesday-Sunday, Kindersley West Central Events Centre
Defending champ: Thevenot (Saskatoon’s Nutana CC)
Who to watch: Michelle Englot, a 10-time Scotties participant; Penny Barker, champ in 2017 and ’22; Amber Holland, 2011 Scotties champ; Nancy Martin, provincial runner-up in 2023 and ’24;
The skinny: There’s name-brand talent — new and not-so-new — on nearly all of the nine competing squads, making it a dogfight and impossible to pick a consensus favourite.
Manitoba
The Nos. 1-, 2- and 3-ranked squads on the Canadian Team Ranking System — Chelsea Carey, Kerri Einarson and Kaitlyn Lawes — all pre-qualified for the Scotties.
And all three are from Manitoba, meaning they won’t be at the Manitoba Scotties-turned-RME Women of the Rings.
But alas, Carey’s crew — formerly that of the now-retired Jennifer Jones — won’t be there due to Karlee Burgess’ move to Team Einarson causing it to lose its Scotties spot. Her departure came too late for Carey to jump into the provincial playdowns, and the team has disbanded, says coach Glenn Howard, with the future of Carey, second Emily Zacharias and lead Lauren Lenentine now up in the air.
When and where: Tuesday-Sunday, Pilot Mound Millennium Recreation Complex
Defending champs: Lawes (Winnipeg’s Fort Rouge CC)
Who to watch: Kate Cameron, Scotties bronze medallist in 2024; Beth Peterson, Scotties participant in 2021
The skinny: Cameron and her crew surprised many with a semifinal appearance at the Scotties last year, so she’s the fave to build off that success and shine again in a long line of Manitoba star skips, especially without the big-three teams present at provincials.
Northern Ontario
Krista McCarville is looking for the Thunder Bay roll — a win in Northern Ontario’s playdowns followed by a win at the Scotties. T-Bay hosts both spiels.
First, it’s the provincials this week.
When and where: Tuesday-Sunday, Thunder Bay’s Port Arthur Curling Centre
Defending champ: McCarville (Fort William CC)
Who to watch: McCarville, an 11-time Scotties participant; Emma Artichuk, second-highest Northern Ontario team — behind McCarville — in the CTRS.
The skinny: McCarville, a three-time Scotties medallist, is the clear favourite. As one curling guru put it, “For anyone else to be a contender, McCarville would have to bow out.”
Ontario
Ottawa’s Rachel Homan qualified a year ago for the Scotties when she won the national championship, and, of course, she rightfully heads to Thunder Bay sporting Team Canada colours.
Meanwhile, the provincials are already underway, with four playoff qualifiers to be named out of the lengthy triple-knockout event, and defending champion Danielle Inglis looking to reign supreme again.
When and where: Saturday-Sunday, Cobourg Community Centre
Defending champ: Inglis (Ottawa Hunt Club)
Who to watch: Inglis, Scotties participant in 2018, ’21 and ’24; Hollie Duncan, Scotties participant in 2018 and ’22; Carly Howard, Ontario runner-up in 2024; Chelsea Brandwood, second-highest Ontario team — behind Homan — on the CTRS board
The skinny: Without Homan in the picture, it’s Inglis’ crown to lose. Skip Inglis herself is the 2018 world mixed curling champ, while her rink is currently third-highest of Ontario teams on the CTRS chart.
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