Past Curling Champs Make Their Picks for the Week

MISSISSAUGA, ON – The opening weekend of the Scotties is always exciting. 

So many new faces trying to make their mark, a number of more experienced teams trying to find the magic, and some of the favourites trying to figure if they can get across the finish line.

Some are here for the first time, while others looking to get their name back on the trophy. 

The opening weekend also had a number of past champions floating around in the building, attending to various duties.

It was great to spend some time with the likes of Marilyn Bodogh, along with her 1996 world champion teammates Jane Hooper-Perroud and Kim Gellard; Jan, Joan and Marcie from Team Schmirler; and Alison Goring and her teammates from the 1990 championship team (and 1997 finalists). 

I reached out to a few other past champions from different eras to see who they think will win the right to represent Canada after this week in Mississauga. 

I asked for top three favourites, and – if they felt like going deeper into the field – more that may contend for the playoffs!.

Here are the favourites by percentage of votes (no surprises here):

Contenders for being on the podium – Top 3                                                          

Team Black – Nova Scotia      100%  

Team Einarson – Canada        90%            

Team Lawes – Manitoba          50%         

(Black, Einarson, and Lawes were picked by everyone to make the playoffs)  

Team Skrlik – Alberta                20% 

Team Sturmay – Alberta          10% 

Team Reese-Hansen – BC      10% 

Team Scharf – NONT               10%

There were also multiple votes for other contenders to make the playoffs including: 

Team Skrlik – Alberta               50% 

Team Scharf – NONT               40% 

Team Sturmay – Alberta          30% 

Team Campbell – SASK           20% 

Team Peterson – Manitoba     20% 

As far as my picks go… 

I look very far past Kerri Einarson and her team as the clear favourites. Three of them are four-time champions, and the team seems to be coming into peak form over the past four weeks or so. They will be tough to beat. All four players are highly skilled and very experienced. And they are very well coached. 

I feel Christina Black will also be there late into the week. They just keep making good decisions and have a great team dynamic. They endeared themselves to the country at the Olympic Trials in Halifax in December, and would be popular champions. 

I’m going to go off the beaten path a little for my third pick for the podium. Team Peterson from Manitoba has an edge that I like. Now that Kelsey Calvert (nee Rocque) is skipping and throwing last, they look very solid. She is such a great player and seems to have the clutch gene.

Beth Peterson has been knocking at the door in Manitoba for a while, but had some tough opponents in her province, including Lawes, Einarson, Kate Cameron and, of course, Jennifer Jones. It may be their time to shine this week. 

Who do you have?