And so another Scotties Tournament of Hearts is over. Rachel HomanSA国际影视传媒檚 of Ontario defeated Jennifer Jones of Manitoba in the final on Feb. 25 in Calgary to become the new Canadian womenSA国际影视传媒檚 curling champions.

But for Team Galusha, who represented the NWT, it was the final act of what had been an amazing run over the past few years.

Kerry Galusha and her rink of Sarah Koltun, Jo-Ann Rizzo, Margot Flemming and Shona Barbour played in what was their final Canadian womenSA国际影视传媒檚 curling championship as a unit in Calgary last week. They ended up with a record of three wins and five losses following pool play, which wasnSA国际影视传媒檛 good enough to make it into the playoffs this year.

Galusha said even with all the emotion of the week, the ladies werenSA国际影视传媒檛 happy with their record.

SA国际影视传媒淲e definitely wanted better, but it was an up-and-down week,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淎ll of our games were a battle and if we made the right shots at the right time, it couldSA国际影视传媒檝e been different.SA国际影视传媒�

Going into this yearSA国际影视传媒檚 Scotties, Galusha said she knew it was going to be a stacked field, no matter what pool she was in. If you look at the final results, the three medal-winning teams SA国际影视传媒� Homan, Jones and Kate Cameron, who also played out of Manitoba and the bronze medalist SA国际影视传媒� ended up coming out of the NWTSA国际影视传媒檚 pool.

SA国际影视传媒淭hat shows you just how tough our pool was,SA国际影视传媒� said Galusha. SA国际影视传媒淲e were in all of our games, but we had one bad end or one bad shot.SA国际影视传媒�

GalushaSA国际影视传媒檚 final game of pool play against Jones, a game she ended up winning by a score of 8-4, had some extra emotion as Jones was playing in her final Scotties.

SA国际影视传媒淚t was fitting to end it against Jennifer,SA国际影视传媒� said Galusha. SA国际影视传媒淲eSA国际影视传媒檝e been friends since the 1990s and we knew it would be special playing her in our last game. We rarely went to a national event without being there with her.SA国际影视传媒�

Galusha and company had lost their opening three games, something that this edition of Team Galusha had never done before at the Scotties, and it put a lot of pressure on them, said Galusha.

Following their final game on Feb. 22, the ladies had a chance to spend the following day together before departing for home on Feb. 24.

Galusha said it was during that time when the realization hit that it was over.

SA国际影视传媒淲e all miss each other already,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淲e didnSA国际影视传媒檛 go anywhere without being stopped SA国际影视传媒� even at the airport in Calgary, there were people calling out to me and saying how well we did. WeSA国际影视传媒檙e all in what we call the SA国际影视传媒淪cotties BluesSA国际影视传媒�, the time right after itSA国际影视传媒檚 all done, and now itSA国际影视传媒檚 back to reality.SA国际影视传媒�

While this version of Team Galusha may have taken their final bow, itSA国际影视传媒檚 not the end of the road for Galusha herself. Contrary to what some reports have stated, she has not retired from competitive curling, but she said sheSA国际影视传媒檒l probably never have as good a team as she had with this one.

SA国际影视传媒淚 have to be good with that,SA国际影视传媒� said Galusha. SA国际影视传媒淚 have to focus on whatSA国际影视传媒檚 ahead now and if I ever do have another team, it will probably be a local team. It wonSA国际影视传媒檛 be one where we travel a lot, like our last team did, but one where we practice at the (Yellowknife Curling Centre).SA国际影视传媒�

There is one thing Galusha still wants to do and thatSA国际影视传媒檚 play at a Scotties with her daughter, Sydney.

SA国际影视传媒淚 really hope I get to do one with her,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淪heSA国际影视传媒檚 14 right now, but sheSA国际影视传媒檚 very good for her age. WeSA国际影视传媒檝e tried before to add her as a fifth player, but we always had a full-time fifth. ISA国际影视传媒檇 like to be around and be a mentor for her and put a good team together.SA国际影视传媒�