The 2015 BC Scotties is sure to get off to an exciting start as Kesa Van Osch and Kelly Scott, the two skips from last year’s final, go head-to-head in the first draw of the tournament.
The 2014 final saw Van Osch win the women’s provincial title at the very first attempt when her rink beat the six-time BC Scotties Champion in a thrilling tenth end. This year both skips return to the Championship with new teams alongside six other rinks who are sure to provide tough competition as they all battle it out to be crowned the best in BC.
The event is taking place at Golden Ears Winter Club in Maple Ridge with today’s draw starting at 6:30 p.m. All results are available at www.playdowns.com/ under the Curl BC tab.
Scott’s team, who curl out of Kelowna Curling Club and Golden Ears Winter Club, may only have formed last year but all five members have won provincial titles in the past. The rink is rounded out by third Shannon Aleksic, second Karla Thompson, lead Sarah Pyke and fifth Kristen Recksiedler.
This year Van Osch is joined by her sister Kalia at third, Trysta Vandale at second and Kelsey Steiger at lead. The team, which includes three former BC Junior Women’s Champions, represents Nanaimo Curling Club.
Team Sivertson, which contains three of the curlers that won gold alongside Van Osch last year, will be keen to repeat their past success. The team is now skipped by Dailene Sivertson with Stephanie Jackson-Baier at third, Jessie Sanderson at second and Carley St Blaze. They curl out of the Victoria Curling Centre and Royal City Curling Club.
The field contains several other experienced teams including Team Knezevic who were runners up at the 2013 BC Scotties. The rink, who curl out of Prince George Golf and Curling Club and Howe Sound Curling Club, consists of skip Patti Knezevic, third Kristen Fewster, second Jen Rusnell and lead Rhonda Camozzi.
In the first draw, they will face Team Gushulak who qualified as Canadian Team Ranking System winners. The team from Vancouver Curling Club is skipped by Diane Gushulak, Grace MacInnes is third, Lorelle Weiss is second and the lead is Sandra Comadina.
The Island rink of Team Wark, which represents Victoria Curling Centre and Juan de Fuca Curling Centre, won the A-event at the first open playdown. Skip Sarah Wark is joined by third Simone Brosseau, second Michelle Allen and lead Rachelle Kallechy.
In the first draw they will face Team Russett who will be making their debut at the BC Scotties. The team from Kamloops Curling Club is skipped by Amanda Russett alongside third Crista Sanbrooks, second Ashley Nordin and lead Courtney Karwandy.
The field is rounded out by Team Lewis from Royal City Curling Club. The rink is skipped by Kristy Lewis, third is Jody Maskiewich, second is Barbara Zbeetnoff and the lead is Jenn Howard.
The team which takes the provincial crown will go on to represent BC at the 2015 Scotties Tournament of Hearts in Moose Jaw, SK, from February 14-22.
Tickets for the 2015 Scotties BC Women’s Curling Championship, Presented by Best Western, which run from today until January 25, 2015, are available through the club. Visit http://bcscotties2015.curlbc.ca for more details.
The BC Scotties semi-final and final will be broadcast on Sportsnet on January 25. Visit http://www.curlbc.ca/communications/tv-schedules/ for information about broadcast times.