Team Canada, skipped Kerri Einarson, can’t wait to hear the roar of the crowd when the World Women’s Curling Championship kicks off at CN Centre.
The Manitoba-based rink will be in action twice on opening day (Saturday) — at 2 p.m. against Italy, skipped by Olympic mixed doubles gold-medallist Stefania Constantini, and at 7 p.m. against Norway’s Kristin Skaslien.
Two years ago, Team Einarson was coming off its first victory at the Scotties Tournament of Hearts and arrived in Prince George ready to represent Canada for the first time, only to see those ambitions shattered as the 2020 event was cancelled 48 hours before it was to begin due to the pandemic.
This year, the team has literally come full circle having won a third successive Scotties title. Last year in the bubble in Calgary, Team Einarson made the playoffs at the 2021 event and finished in a tie for fifth place.
Following a practice session at the PG Golf and Curling Club, Lead, Briane Meilleur told the media playing in major events like the Scotties Tournament of Hearts helps them prepare for the international competition they’ll face.
“We have a lot of experience in big games now so that’s really helpful when we play in these big events. We are excited for another chance to play at the Worlds – it’s good to have that experience behind us as we know what to expect and bring your “A” game every game.”
Third, Val Sweeting can’t wait to play in front of the host fans.
“We hope that the fans fill the building. We hear the fans here are amazing and we are so excited to compete here as Team Canada.”
Thirteen teams will be competing in BC’s northern capital, including the reigning world champions from Switzerland skipped by Silvana Tirinzoni, as well as the perennial Swedish powerhouse team skipped by Anna Hasselborg – both of whom competed at last month’s Winter Olympics in Beijing.
In addition, Denmark (skipped by Madeleine Dupont) and South Korea (skipped by EunJung Kim) also competed at the Games and will have the same lineups in PG.
At the other end of the experience spectrum, Turkey, skipped by Dilsat Yildiz, will make its debut this year.
Whomever, the opponent is, Einarson and company are ready to hit the ground running.
“I think we are feeling very confident, very relaxed and that’s when we play our best. We are just going to embrace every single moment out there and excited to put the Maple Leaf on our backs.”
“It’s really been an emotional roller coaster these last two years and last year it just didn’t feel like the worlds. Right now, I think this is feeling a lot more like it so it’s a pretty special moment.”
The 2022 season isn’t over yet and we are already seeing some major shakeups on the women’s circuit.
The Jennifer Jones rink, which also included Lisa Weagle, Dawn McEwen, Kaitlyn Lawes, and Jocelyn Petermen called it quits.
Subsequently, Jones has decided to join fellow rival Mackenzie Zacharias for the next four-year quadrennial.
In addition, Tracy Fleury’s rink, which also includes Liz Fyfe, Selena Njegovan, and lead Kristin MacCuish will also disband at the end of the season.
When asked about what the immediate future of the Einarson rink looks like, the group will be sticking around for the foreseeable future.
“It’s exciting to see all the shakeups and not be a part of that. We are just going to keep playing the four of us and I’m really excited for that.”
Also competing at the Women’s Championship will be the Czech Republic’s Alžběta Baudyšová, Germany’s Daniela Jentsch, Japan’s Ikue Kitazawa, Scotland’s Rebecca Morrison and Cory Christensen of the United States.
Team Canada will be seeking its first podium finish since Team Jennifer Jones claimed the gold medal with a perfect 14-0 record in 2018 at North Bay, Ont.
It’s the 17th time that Canada has hosted the World Women’s Championship since it began in 1979 in Perth, Scotland, and the first time it’s happened in Prince George.
The top two teams from round-robin play will be seeded directly into the semifinals on March 26 at 7 p.m., while third will play sixth and fourth will play fifth in the qualifying-round games at 1 p.m. on that day.
The winners of the qualifying-round games will advance to the semifinals. The semifinal winners will play for gold on March 27th at 4 p.m., with the semifinal losers battling for bronze on at 11 a.m.
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