THUNDER BAY, Ont. — Quebec's Laurie St-Georges contributed to gridlock at the Scotties Tournament of Hearts by handing four-time Canadian champion Kerri Einarson a first loss Monday.
St-Georges team upended Einarson 9-6 to create a three-way tie for first in Pool B at the national curling championship, but there were also five teams with just one loss.
"It's definitely not clear cut," said St-Georges' third Jamie Sinclair. "Yep, anything can happen."
Canada's Rachel Homan had the lone undefeated team at 3-0 atop Pool A heading into an evening game against Saskatchewan's Nancy Martin.
Saskatchewan, Alberta's Kayla Skrlik and B.C.'s Corryn Brown were 3-1 in Pool A.
The top three teams in each pool of nine advance to a round of six, from which the four Page playoff teams will emerge.
Sunday's winner represents Canada at the world championship March 15-23 in Uijeongbu, South Korea, and earns $100,000 in prize money.
Nova Scotia's Christina Black and Ontario's Danielle Inglis joined Quebec at 3-1 in the afternoon draw at the Fort William Gardens in Thunder Bay, Ont.
Black downed Brooke Godsland of Newfoundland and Labrador 11-4 and Inglis was an 8-6 winner over Manitoba's Kaitlyn Lawes.
Einarson dropped to 2-1 alongside Manitoba's Kate Cameron.
"There's a lot of good teams, and then not a lot of room in the playoffs for everyone," said Black, who reached the final four two years ago in Kamloops, B.C.
St-Georges stole single points in the fourth, fifth and 10th ends, but really grabbed momentum with a tricky raise hit to score two in the sixth.
St-George feels like she has a lot to learn in her fifth straight year skipping Quebec at the Hearts. Her team ran low on its allotted time in a second straight game.
"I still feel like a rookie," stated the 27-year-old. "On the ice, we were running out of time at one point, and it was such a stressful game.
"I could see Kerri just make a lot of good decisions and quick decisions. It was automatic for her, and for me, it took a little more time."
But she has an experienced vice with big-game experience for a second straight year. Jamie Sinclair won three gold medals in five U.S. national finals appearances before returning to Canada.
"This is what we've been working for all season is to peak at the right time," said Sinclair, who often communicates with her skip in French in the house.
"We put in the work in the events and in training, and we just spend a lot of time together, chatting on and off the ice, so I think we're building a solid foundation for a relationship."
The 37-year-old Black from Halifax gets a glint in her eye when ice offers stone movement because burying draws around guards is her specialty.
"This morning, before this game, I had a feeling. I was like, 'I think today you're really going to be dialed in,''' Black said. "I knew that the ice from watching the game this morning was curling more on draws."
Black also leans on her experienced vice Jill Brothers, who joined their team this year after seven Hearts appearances as both a skip and a third.
"She understands what I'm feeling out there, the pressure and just like what's going through my head," Black explained. "It's a little bit easier on me. These games are exhausting."
Ontario's Inglis won a third straight after an opening loss to Black, and dropped Lawes to 1-3.
"A huge win, especially against that team," Inglis said. "They're a strong team and one that's always a contender. We needed that one."
Kerry Galusha of Northwest Territories beat Yukon's Bayly Scoffin 14-8 to put both teams at 1-2. Newfoundland's Godsland was winless in four games.
If the provincial spotlight shifts to Inglis because Northern Ontario's Krista McCarville started the tournament 0-4, Inglis is ready.
"I love playing in front of a crowd. Nothing gets me more excited and pumped so I'd welcome it," Inglis said.
The low ceiling on the Gardens makes for a noisy arena that can make verbal communication difficult.
"It's loud," concurred Inglis. "Huge emphasis on hand signals out there and the non-verbal communication."
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 17, 2025.
Donna Spencer, The Canadian Press
