Alberta’s Val Sweeting won her final two round-robin games Thursday to qualify for the playoffs at the Scotties Tournament of Hearts Canadian women’s curling championship at Montreal.
Sweeting started the day with an easy 10-3 victory over Quebec’s struggling Allison Ross before scoring three in the ninth end to knock off Manitoba’s Chelsea Carey 7-4 on Thursday night.
“We were a little tight on time so everything was rushed,” said Sweeting about her final shot of the game, which left Carey a chance for multiple points for the win. “I think if we’d had more time I would have taken a better look on my first one and then we could have capped that off and she would have only had a shot for two. We definitely took a deep breath after that one.”
Sweeting’s Saville Centre rink of Joanne Courtney, Dana Ferguson and Rachelle Pidherny stole one in the final end to complete the 12-team round-robin with an 8-3 record and finish tied for third place with Saskatchewan’s Stefanie Lawton.
“Fabulous end to the round-robin for Team Sweeting,” said Alberta alternate player Renee Sonnenberg. “They have taken many positives from each win and learned from the losses, all in preparation for the playoffs.”
Alberta will have a 30-minute practice on Friday and then rest for the weekend’s playoffs. Team Canada’s undefeated Rachel Homan (11-0) takes on Manitoba’s Chelsea Carey (9-2) in the Page Playoff 1-2 game at 5:30 p.m. MST Friday, with Sweeting playing Lawton in the Page Playoff 3-4 game at 9 a.m. MST Saturday.
The winner of the Sweeting-Lawton game plays the loser of the Homan-Carey match in Saturday’s 2 p.m. MST semifinal at the Maurice Richard Arena. The championship final is set for 5:30 p.m. MST Sunday.
