PACKING THE HOUSE: Calverts to compete for provincial title

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This article was published 14/01/2025 (449 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Championship season is officially here.

Curl Manitoba released the draw for the 2025 RME Women of the Rings earlier this week, meaning next week’s championship is set and the anticipation for the province’s best continues to build.

The event features another 12-team field that will compete for the chance to represent Manitoba at the national championship in what is certain to be high-level competition, and you’d be forgiven for still calling it the provincial Scotties.

Naming rights aren’t the only difference, as the tournament affectionately known as the Scotties since 1982, is being held in the smallest community in the event’s history.

Pilot Mound is hosting for the first time, but the Millennium Recreation Complex and the town’s population of 675 according to 2021 census data are primed to roll out the welcome mat for both participants and fans.

This year marks the eighth appearance for Carberry’s Alyssa Calvert, who is back after a one-year hiatus. Her team of Stacey Irwin, Pam Robins, and Roz Taylor out of the Carberry Curling Club is back and looking to play their best against the stacked field.

“We’re just really excited to have the opportunity to play in provincials again,” said Calvert.

“I don’t know if we all thought we would just with how competitive Manitoba is. Now that it’s a smaller field and not playing as much as other teams, you want to be competitive so we’re weighing all those odds but we’re comfortable with each other … and playing in the Westman Super League we get a really competitive game every week so that helps.

“We’re feeling pretty good, as good as you can going into a provincials, and excited to see what Pilot Mound can do. Being a small town it should be lots of fun as well.”

The event’s 12-team format comes after reducing the overall number of teams in 2020, and two of the top teams in the country from Manitoba won’t be participating as they’ve already pre-qualified for the national Scotties.

Manitoba also has the highest number of medals at the national Scotties, which doesn’t include Kerri Einarson’s dominant stretch of four national titles in a row as she entered the last three as Team Canada.

Einarson and Kaitlyn Lawes have pre-qualified for this year’s nationals in Thunder Bay, meaning there’s plenty of opportunity for a first-time winner.

That said, Calvert isn’t placing any expectation on the results of next week, but rather to soak up every second of the event her team cherishes every opportunity they get.

“Being in a really competitive atmosphere like this is always great. The ice is the best, the sponsors are always amazing, the volunteers are always amazing, and especially with it being in a small town. The last one I played in was Carberry, so knowing what goes into an event like this gives me so much more appreciation to get to play in another one,” Calvert said.

“To know what goes into it behind the scenes and how the community comes together makes you appreciate it more. That and knowing how many great players there are in Manitoba, with a great crowd and great ice reminds me how lucky we are in Manitoba.”

Playing such a competitive field means Calvert’s rink is placing little value on expectations, the goal is simply to show up and play the best they can and most of all enjoy the experience.

“You have to make shots. It’s as simple as that. Whoever makes the most shots when it counts throughout the week will be in the best position to win. We also want to have fun. That’s an important part of our team. We’re not competing every week, so realistic expectations is important, but usually when we’re having fun is when we’re playing our best, so that’s a big part of it for us. Shots go one way or another, so it’s important that we do our best but enjoy the entire experience.”

She’s also in familiar company as sister in-law Kelsey Calvert is on the same side of draw, curling with Assiniboine Memorial Curling Club team led by Beth Peterson.

Team Peterson were runners up at last year’s provincial Scotties, dropping a very close final 9-8 to eventual champ Lawes.

They enter as the number two seed behind the top seed Kate Cameron rink out of the Heather Curling Club thanks to the team’s number eight Canadian Team Ranking System (CTRS) ranking in Canada

Kelsey Calvert also lives in Carberry, and is married to Braden Calvert, who is currently ranked eleventh in men’s side of the CTRS.

The sisters-in-law won’t have to wait to play each other, as they open the event against each other next Wednesday at 12:15 p.m.

“I was hoping to be in opposite pools so we would potentially play later in the week if the stars aligned but it will be kind of cool. I have a five-year-old daughter that loves curling and I think she’s pretty excited to watch mom and auntie Kelsey play against each other,” Alyssa said.

The first draw of the RME Women of the Rings is next Wednesday at 8:30 a.m. before a full slate of games and the opening ceremonies at 6:45 p.m. Action continues Jan. 23 and the morning of Jan. 24 to conclude round-robin play before the championship round on Jan. 25 and the playoffs Jan. 26.

The Buffalo will be awarded following the championship final, which is scheduled for 2 p.m.

Tickets are still available and can be purchased by contacting pmrockiers25@gmail.com for advanced tickets, or cash at the door.

» mpackwood@brandonsun.com