The 2022 Scotties Tournament of Hearts in Thunder Bay, Ont., saw Kerry Galusha and company make the playoffs for the first time. No more close calls. No more heartbreak.

This year, there would be no repeat, but there isnSA国际影视传媒檛 total disappointment.

Galusha and her rink of Jo-Ann Rizzo, Sarah Koltun, Margot Flemming, Megan Koehler and coach Shona Barbour wrapped up the 2023 edition of the Canadian womenSA国际影视传媒檚 curling championship in Kamloops, B.C., with a record of four wins and four losses in pool play. It wasnSA国际影视传媒檛 good enough to get them into the playoffs this year SA国际影视传媒� there was an outside chance had the numbers all worked out SA国际影视传媒� and they finished fourth, one spot shy of the playoff round.

SA国际影视传媒淲e had a chance, but we had to have (Rachel) Homan lose both of her last games and we had to win both of ours,SA国际影视传媒� said Galusha.

Once Homan won her penultimate game over New BrunswickSA国际影视传媒檚 Andrea Kelly, 5-3, that was it.

SA国际影视传媒淓ven if we beat (Casey) Scheidegger, we werenSA国际影视传媒檛 going to make it in,SA国际影视传媒� said Galusha.

The NWT ladies finished the opening round on Feb. 23 with a 9-6 win over YukonSA国际影视传媒檚 Hailey Birnie.

Galusha said it was one of the best fields she had ever played in at the Scotties and she knew it would be a tough pool.

SA国际影视传媒淭he media were claiming it was the pool of death,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淚f you asked me before we started if I would be happy with fourth place in that pool, that would have been great. We were close all week long SA国际影视传媒� there were some shots we wished we could have back, but thatSA国际影视传媒檚 curling. ThatSA国际影视传媒檚 how the game rolls.SA国际影视传媒�

The event began for the ladies on Feb. 18 with a 6-4 win over Kelly, a game which Galusha celebrated as the 150th competitive contest she had played all-time at the Scotties. Only seven other players have reached that milestone.

An 8-4 win over Homan in game two put the ladies atop their pool in the early going SA国际影视传媒� Galusha said it couldnSA国际影视传媒檛 have started better.

SA国际影视传媒淲e felt we had a really good chance after we beat Homan,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淭he games against Northern Ontario (5-4) and Wild Card 1 (8-6) were tough losses. We knew we were right there with them.SA国际影视传媒�

And so ends another eventful year for the team with appearances on the World Curling Tour, Grand Slam circuit and the inaugural PointsBet Invitational SA国际影视传媒� seven events in total, one of the busiest years ever.

SA国际影视传媒淭o do as well as we did this year was great,SA国际影视传媒� said Galusha. SA国际影视传媒淲e always find a way to battle and do well.SA国际影视传媒�

One of the storylines all week in Kamloops revolved around whether this would be the swan song for Galusha as a competitive curler. She never said yes, but never said no, either.

She did say that the ladies still havenSA国际影视传媒檛 made a final decision on next season.

SA国际影视传媒淲e still have to talk about it as a team,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淚 just got home late Sunday, but weSA国际影视传媒檒l talk about it and decide in a bit. I would love to keep our team together, if we can.SA国际影视传媒�