Now that’s how you make a debut at the Scotties Tournament of Hearts.
Moose Jaw’s Skylar Ackerman and her Saskatoon Nutana foursome of third Ashley Thevenot, second Taylor Stremick and lead Kaylin Skinner took the ice in their first-ever game at the Canadian women’s curling championship on Friday night at the WinSport Arena in Calgary and promptly found the win column.
It took a bit of work, though, as Ackerman’s battle with Prince Edward Island’s Jane DiCarlo went right down to the final end before she was able to score three and take an 11-8 win.
Ackerman opened with a single point in the first end and after DiCarlo picked up a deuce in the second, looked to take control of things the next two frames. A deuce in the third and steal the next end saw to it she’d do just that, giving the Moose Jaw Curling Centre product a 4-2 lead.
Things are never going to be too easy at the Scotties, though, DiCarlo got everything back and then some when she scored four in the fifth end to take a 6-4 lead.
Ackerman blanked the sixth before tying things up in the seventh and getting a crucial deuce in the eighth for a two-point lead heading into the final ends. DiCarlo used the hammer to tie things up in the ninth, and Ackerman would get her three in the 10th for the win.
Ackerman had a solid outing personally, with her 84 percent second-best among all skips in the opening draw. Only Team Canada’s Kerri Einarson was better at 92 percent. Thevenot and Skinner were both at 81 percent, Stremick curled 63 percent.
Other opening draw results saw Alberta’s Selena Sturmay defeat Manitoba’s Kaitlyn Lawes 7-5, Northern Ontario’s Krista McCarville take a 9-5 win over B.C.’s Corryn Brown and Canada’s Kerri Einarson defeat Quebec’s Laurie St. Georges 8-2.
The tournament was shocked earlier in the day Friday when long-time Team Canada lead Briane Harris was ruled ineligible to compete in the event. No reason was given and Einarson was unable to comment.
Things won’t get any easier for Ackerman as the draw progresses, as Saskatchewan returns to action Saturday night when they take on Manitoba champion and former Olympic gold medalist Kaitlyn Lawes Saturday at 7 p.m..
Ackerman then has one game Sunday when she faces McCarville during the 2:30 p.m. draw before playing twice on Family Day Monday, duelling St. Georges at 9:30 a.m. and Sturmay at 7 p.m.
You can follow along with all the scores at www.curling.ca and catch draws throughout the event on TSN.
