Calvert just shy of big early upset

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This article was published 22/01/2025 (240 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

PILOT MOUND — Carberry’s Alyssa Calvert nearly pulled off an upset to open the 2025 RME Women of the Rings but narrowly missed a key double and settled for an opening round 5-4 loss instead.

Calvert and her team of Stacey Irwin, Pam Robins and Roz Taylor opened the event against the second-seeded Beth Peterson team and had a hard time not focusing on the missed opportunity, but were able to remain optimistic following the loss.

“I’d like a couple of shots back personally. A double for two that I only got one … but I think overall it was a great curling game.”

After taking a 1-0 lead after two ends of play, Calvert’s last rock in the fourth end hit and rolled out, allowing Peterson to steal one for a 3-1 lead.

Calvert had a shot at a double to count two in the fifth end, but hit and stuck to score a single and trailed 3-2.

Calvert caught a break in the sixth end, as Peterson hit and rolled, allowing Calvert a steal of one, tying the game 3-3.

Peterson hit into a mess of rocks in the eighth to count one for a 4-3 lead.

Calvert drew for one in the ninth, then attempted another draw in 10 but missed and Peterson counted one to win 5-4.

Both teams showed up and played a close and competitive game, but as it often goes in curling, it came down to a few narrow misses of mere millimetres.

“Really important to win with that win,” said Peterson. “Everyone’s got pre-event and pre-game jitters, and waiting until 12 to play isn’t our favourite draw so we were sitting around waiting and watching curling to get that game under our belt.

“I thought that Calvert played great. It was a really good game and we knew that it would be … The ice was really good. I felt that we had a handle on weight after we got two draws to the button to get us hammer so that was important and felt that we got a good read on the ice which is important for the rest of the week.”

Peterson also noted being one of the highest seeds tends to put a target on their backs.

“The teams that are lower than you want to beat you, so they often come out a little more fiery against you, but we’re not letting that be something in our minds. We’re just one of twelve teams that has a chance to win this thing.”

For the first game in a new venue, Calvert noted there’s always the added pressure of playing the first game. Playing against sister-in-law Kelsey, Peterson’s third, also created a family connection for the first time.

Calvert was quickly reminded after the game that while all teams want to perform well it begins and ends the moment they step on and off the ice.

“As long as you go out there and have fun. We hope to have good, close games and hopefully have hammer in the tenth end and if you can do that you never know what can happen,” Calvert said.

“We took them 10 ends and it was a great, close game. We have lots to build on, my kids were in the crowd, I’m just a mom out here having fun curling.

“Draw weight is key out there. Just need to focus on that and find the paths and keep pressing forward.”

Peterson is happy to get the win and move on with an eye on the weekend’s championship round in sight.

“Every win counts,” Peterson said. “You take your record to the championship rounds, and we’ve been in events where that can make or break what happens in the end, so a win is important in every game and I think a lot of that was learning the ice but also being able to breathe after and just keep in mind that we just need to get one game at a time.”

Top seed Kate Cameron put up five in the fourth against Ehnes before winning 9-5 in the early draw, then easily took care of Sarah-Jane Sass 9-2 in the afternoon draw to sit 2-0 before the opening ceremonies took place.

Lisa McLeod had two in the fifth, one in the sixth, and three in the seventh to win 7-5 over Neepawa’s Hailey McFarlane in early action before beating Cheyenne Ennes 11-4 in eight ends in the afternoon draw to also sit at 2-0.

In the afternoon draw, McFarlane bounced back to beat Rachel Kaats 8-7 in an extra end. McFarlane put up singles in the first, third, fourth, sixth, seventh, eighth and ninth ends, giving up ends of just two and three.

Kaatz then managed a deuce in the tenth end to tie it 7-7. McFarlane then answered back with a draw for yet another single to come away with the win and improve to 1-1 on the day.

“I’ve been struggling with my draws a little bit these last two games so I really wanted to make sure I nailed the line and trust what the girls said about the weight,” said McFarlane.

“It feels better to have that one in the win column. We’re a new team so we’re learning and having fun along the way so it feels good. We’ve been playing okay and had our chances and it feels good to pull it out.”

Wednesday’s 8 p.m. draws were still underway at press time.

Preliminary round action continues today through Friday afternoon with the championship round getting underway at 6 p.m. on Friday. The top three teams from each side of the draw will qualify for the championship round with the top three teams following that advancing to Sunday’s playoffs.

There are no tie-breakers following the preliminary round as placement will be determined on head-to-head results.

Following the championship round, a tie-breaker will be held only if necessary.

The two-versus-three semifinal is scheduled for Sunday at 9:30 a.m., with the championship final set for 2 p.m.

» mpackwood@brandonsun.com