OUT OF THE HACK: Shaw excited for Scotties debut

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This article was published 18/02/2016 (3700 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

This year’s Scotties Tournament of Hearts is going to have a strong contingent of Manitobans when the event’s pre-qualification round begins today in Grande Prairie, Alta.

In addition to Jennifer Jones’ Team Canada foursome, which returns as defending champions, Kerri Einarson’s squad will be in the northern Alberta city as the Manitoba representatives. Tracey Lavery was born in Winnipeg and she will be at the Scotties throwing third stones for the British Columbia champions. Don’t forget about Alberta skip Chelsea Carey, who skipped Manitoba at nationals in 2014.

Then there’s Ladene Shaw. The 31-year-old home care support worker throws lead stones for the Yukon team skipped by Nicole Baldwin, which earned its way to nationals by beating Jenna Duncan 2-1 in their best-of-three championship series.

Shaw grew up in Minto before her family moved to Whitehorse at the age of 13. She skipped Yukon at four junior national championships — 2002-2005 — but Shaw will be making her Scotties debut today when Yukon plays the Northwest Territories in the first pre-qualification draw tonight.

“I’ve been to juniors before and the Dominion (now Travelers) Curling Club Championships, but it’s exciting to be going to my first Scotties,” she said Tuesday from Whitehorse. “Everybody has been before. I’m the only first-timer on the team.”

Yukon, along with B.C., Nunavut and the N.W.T., play a round robin in qualification round, with the top two teams playing in a final. The winner advances to the main Scotties draw.

“It makes for a very long week for the team that wins relegation — an extra four games — but it’s nice for all the territories and all the provinces to be playing in the national event,” Shaw said.

But an extra long week is something Shaw and her teammates would like to have.

Adapting to the arena ice in Grande Prairie also isn’t something she expects will be too difficult for her team.

“I’ve only played on arena ice at juniors, but we actually have the most amazing ice in Whitehorse,” Shaw said. “We have one of the best clubs in Canada. We’re really fortunate our ice is quite similar to arena ice, so it’s not that big of an adjustment for us.

“Since we curl on similar ice all the time I think it’s a big advantage.”

Yukon is also aided by a veteran coach. Georgina Wheatcroft, who has made eight Scotties appearances, including winning the 2000 event as Kelley Law’s second, and won bronze at the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, is in her first season coaching Shaw’s team.

Wheatcroft still lives in B.C., but she’s flown to Whitehorse several times this season, including for the Yukon playdowns, to be with her team.

“She’s been a huge influence,” Shaw said of Wheatcroft. “She’s been a great support and she’s a fantastic coach, huge inspiration and just really knows how to get the best of her players.

“We also have a coach here that’s helped us … but Georgina has been here a lot to help us.”

For Shaw, she believes the biggest adjustment for her will be playing in front of sizable crowds, something she hasn’t done since her last appearance at national juniors 11 years ago.

And what about expectations at the Scotties?

“We are just hoping to have fun, enjoy the experience, play to the best of our ability and just take it all in.”

MIXED: Seven Westman teams will be competing for provincial berths at a pair of mixed bonspiels this weekend. Ray Baker’s Dauphin team is the lone Westman team at the Norman regional in Thompson, where two berths are up for grabs.

Kelly Marnoch (Carberry), Jeff Stewart (Neepawa), Don Chatham (Killarney), Butch Mouck (Dauphin) and Pilot Mound’s Kyle McCannell and Bill Thiessen will be competing for the five spots at the Central regional in Pilot Mound. The Manitoba mixed championship takes place from March 24 to 27 in Neepawa.

EXTRA ENDS: Killarney is hosting a seniors mixed bonspiel on Feb. 24 and a juniors bonspiel on March 5. Contact Sandra Lockerby at 204-523-4519.

Nathan Liewicki is the Brandon Sun’s curling reporter.

» nliewicki@brandonsun.com

» Twitter: @liewicks