Scotties Set To Rock Moose Jaw
By Robert Thomas
Well over a year in the making the final touches are underway and in just two more sleeps – on Wednesday and Thursday nights – the 2020 Scotties Tournament of Hearts will hit Moose Jaw.
The Scotties will feature the top 16 women's curling teams from across the country from February 15th – 23rd vying for Canadian National Women's Curling Championship.
But before the actual tournament gets underway there is a special treat as on February 14th Mosaic Place will host a free event - the Wild Card game as the sixteenth rink vying for the Canadian championship will be determined. The game is free with a donation in support of youth curling.
Starting at 7:30 pm at Mosaic Place the Wild Card game will be an all Manitoba affair as the two top teams – as rated by the Canadian Team Ranking System (CTRS) - who did not win their respective provincial or territorial berths get the opportunity to battle it out to enter the tournament.
The top seeded Tracy Fleury rink who curl out of East St Paul will face off against the third ranked Jennifer Jones rink who curl out of Winnipeg.
The Jones rink, who are six time Scotties champions, is perhaps the best known with its record setting performance to capture the gold medal in the 2014 Olympic Games in Sochi, Russia. Jones was the first women's curling team to go through the Olympics undefeated.
There is NO pre-seating for the Friday evening Wild Card matchup so get there early for the best seat selection.
“It gets people a chance to come out and watch some great curling,” Al Cameron, director of communications and public relations with Curling Canada said, adding “it does spur ticket sales for the event.”
Mosaic Place is transforming for the Scotties - MJ Independent Photo
Cameron said although there is a definite economic boost and coverage of the Scotties host city that holding the championship has a major impact on local curling with increased interest and memberships often resulting.
“It’s a great opportunity for local curling centres to spread what they are all about…after the Scotties is done the local curling centre sees an increase in interest in membership for the remainder of the season and the next season.”
One of the big advantages of curling is its friendly atmosphere with fans and curlers having the opportunity to interact. Such things as the Heartstop Lounge – located in the Moose Jaw Ford Curling Centre – allow interaction other sports may lack.
“There is live entertainment that is up close and personal,” Cameron said.
Other events are tailored to help the sport grow and give younger curlers the opportunity to showcase their talents.
Curl Sask will be hosting the provincial Hit Draw Tap championships on February 23rd at the Scotties.
Hit Draw Tap (HDT) is a youth skills competition where kids age 6-13 compete individually against other youth curlers across the province of Saskatchewan.
HDT has three different age categories where they will perform three different skill based shots, a “Hit”, a “Draw”, and a “Tap”.
Dependent on the age of the curler will depend on the difficulty of the shot, as it is modified according to the set age group of the curler. HDT is designed to encourage youth to become involved in curling.
The Scotties in Moose Jaw will also see a couple of special events.
There will be a tribute to Aly Jenkins at the Scotties.
Jenkins, a 30 year old member of the Sherry Anderson rink, sadly passed away on October 20, 2019 due to a rare complication giving birth to her daughter Sydney. Amniotic fluid entered Jenkins’ blood stream, resulting in an amniotic fluid embolism.
Additionally TSN is set to not only broadcast the Scotties but on February 22nd they will be broadcasting live on what is Curling Day in Canada.
“There will be a lot of focus on the City of Moose Jaw,” Cameron said.
Despite it being held in February for the past 30 years – with its unpredictable weather – he said the Scotties still brings out a strong fan contingent.
“Whether it be warm or cold, snowing, sunny or raining the curling fans are pretty faithful when it comes to the Scotties.”
As far as Moose Jaw hosting the event Cameron said when it was announced 18 months ago the teams “were really excited to see how the Scotties are coming back to Moose Jaw.”
About the response from the curling community he said it was fantastic.
“We are really pleased how Saskatchewan has embraced the event. There are still some tickets available. We will make room if we need to make room so people can attend.”
Tickets for the Scotties are available online by clicking here or at the Mosaic Place box office.
For exciting and in-depth coverage during the Scotties check out The Moose Jaw Express or the Regina Leader-Post as MJ Independent has decided to sit this one out.
Conexus Credit Union sports a Scotties greeting - MJ Independent photo