It's not often a Canadian and world champion makes a stop in Prince George.
Kelly Scott has those titles behind her name, and she'll be here next week. Scott's presence is just one of the reasons why we as a city are fortunate to be hosting the B.C. Scotties Tournament of Hearts women's provincial curling championship. The event, a qualifier for the national Scotties, will start Monday at the Prince George Golf and Curling Club and will crown a champion on the evening of Jan. 12.
Scott claimed national women's titles in 2006 and 2007 and also won the 2007 world championship. As well, she was one victory away from representing Canada at the 2006 Winter Olympics, in which Shannon Kleibrink threw to a bronze medal.
Now, local curling fans and sports lovers in general will get the opportunity to see Scott and the rest of her team -- third Jeanna Schraeder, second Sasha Carter and lead Sarah Wazney -- in action, with no TV screens necessary. As the skip, Scott will be aiming for her fifth consecutive B.C. championship.
Years from now, the Kelowna-based Scott will be regarded as one of the best players of her era. She hasn't competed in Prince George since the 2009 Road to the Roar, a precursor to the 2010 Winter Olympic trials, and it's anyone's guess when she'll be here next.
The B.C. Scotties -- in Prince George for the first time in history -- will also be worth the price of admission for other reasons, including the fact two local rinks will be in the 10-team field. The P.G. entries will be led by Patti Knezevic and Tracey Jones and both could make some noise before the week of play is done.
Last year, when the B.C. Scotties was held in Cloverdale, Knezevic made it to the final but lost 9-6 to Scott. For Knezevic, it was her third appearance in the provincial championship game and her third taste of disappointment. She fell 7-6 in an extra end to Scott in 2005 and lost 10-4 to Kelley Law in 2007. This time around, Knezevic and teammates Jen Rusnell, Kristen Fewster and Rhonda Camozzi -- the same lineup that settled for silver last winter -- will have the advantage of familiar surroundings as they try to break through for gold.
As for Jones and rinkmates Falon Burkitt, Kay-Lynn Thompson and Melinda Kotsch, they secured the 10th and final berth for these provincials and will try to use that to their advantage. Expectations for them will be low so their plan is to fly under the radar and surprise some of their opponents.
Regardless of how Knezevic and Jones do at their hometown provincials, watching their respective dramas unfold will be compelling. Jones, incidentally, will face Scott in the very first draw, set for 11 a.m. on Monday.
Spectators will also get the chance to watch Cloverdale's Marla Mallett, who always seems to be in contention at the B.C. Scotties.
Want tickets? Full-event and single-game passes are available at the PGGCC.
And consider this -- some of the seats will be right out on the ice.
Hard to get much closer to the action than that.
