Another year, another trip across the country for Team Galusha as they fly the territorySA国际影视传媒檚 flag at the Canadian womenSA国际影视传媒檚 curling championship.
The Scotties Tournament of Hearts kicks off this Friday, Jan. 24 in Thunder Bay, Ont., with Kerry Galusha and her rink of Jo-Ann Rizzo, Margot Flemming, Sarah Koltun, Megan Koehler and coach Shona Barbour, as one of 18 rinks from around the country. Those travelling from YellowknifeSA国际影视传媒擥alusha, Koehler, Flemming and BarbourSA国际影视传媒攍eft on Tuesday morning. Rizzo and Koltun are both in Ontario already and will meet up with the team in Thunder Bay.
Pool B is where the ladies will do battle as they take on Alberta, Team Canada, Manitoba, Ontario, Nova Scotia, B.C., Quebec and Yukon.
SA国际影视传媒淲eSA国际影视传媒檙e excited to get going,SA国际影视传媒� said Galusha, who will be making her 19th appearance at the event. SA国际影视传媒淭he only team we havenSA国际影视传媒檛 played in our pool is Quebec but I like how our pool looks.SA国际影视传媒�
The draw was just announced late last week as there was still some doubt as to whether the event would happen at all under the current circumstances in Ontario but the green light was given by the provincial government as a SA国际影视传媒渟elect professional and elite amateur sport league,SA国际影视传媒� as defined by OntarioSA国际影视传媒檚 Ministry of Health. It will be similar to what Galusha and company faced one year ago in Calgary: the 18 teams will be split into two pools of nine for the round-robin.
The big difference, however, comes in the playoff round. There will be no championship pool, as has been the format in years past. Instead, the top three teams in each pool will advance to the playoff round; the first-place teams will receive a bye to the second round.
SA国际影视传媒淣o championship pool takes away one spot (for the playoffs) but we feel like third place is definitely up for grabs,SA国际影视传媒� said Galusha. SA国际影视传媒淲e want to have a strong start and have a good first three days.SA国际影视传媒�
Galusha will open things up against Nova Scotia on Saturday afternoon with Friday being a practice day. ThatSA国际影视传媒檚 where the team will get their first chance to see how the ice plays and it will be arena ice, which plays very different from club ice.
SA国际影视传媒淭he big thing is getting the draw weight and getting used to the ice,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淚f you can get the draw weight down, youSA国际影视传媒檒l have a decent week. WeSA国际影视传媒檝e been on arena ice in two events already this season, which is usually two more than we normally get. ItSA国际影视传媒檚 been a couple of months since weSA国际影视传媒檝e played on arena ice but weSA国际影视传媒檒l be more prepared this time around.SA国际影视传媒�
And just like it was in Calgary one year ago, the teams will be in a bubble situation with no fans in attendance. They will either be curling or inside their hotel room with no chance to either dine out or even take a drive around the city.
SA国际影视传媒淲e were worried about going and we heard rumours that it wouldnSA国际影视传媒檛 happen,SA国际影视传媒� said Galusha. SA国际影视传媒淲eSA国际影视传媒檙e spending two days in our hotel (before the start) but weSA国际影视传媒檝e been told weSA国际影视传媒檒l get to walk in the parking lot. ItSA国际影视传媒檚 going to be tough to stay active and thatSA国际影视传媒檚 a concern but weSA国际影视传媒檒l be ready.SA国际影视传媒�
