Patti Knezevic is among a field of eight rinks who'll compete at the B.C. Scotties Women's Curling championship next month in Maple Ridge.
Knezevic and her crew of third Kristen Fewster, second Jen Rusnell and lead Rhonda Camozzie from the Prince George Golf and Curling Club qualified recently in an open event at the Kelowna Curling Club.
This year, the provincial Scotties has changed from a 12-team round-robin format to an eight-team triple knock-out with a page playoff which will take place from Jan. 21 to 25 at the Golden Ears Winter Club.
Knezevic will be joined at provincial championship by defending champion Kesa Van Osch and her new team of sister Kalia, (third), second Trysta Vandale and lead Kelsey Steiger from Nanaimo who qualified on the weekend at Golden Ears.
The remainder of Kesa Van Osch's former team - third Steph Baier, second Jessie Sanderson and lead Carley St. Blaze - is now skipped by Dailene Sivertson out of Victoria. They qualified as the defending champions.
Kelowna's Kelly Scott, who lost to Kesa Van Osch in the 2014 final played on the sheets at the Prince George Golf and Curling Club, also returns to the house in 2015 with a new team. It includes third Shannon Aleksic, second Karla Thompson and lead Sarah Pyke.
Other rinks include Kristy Lewis from Royal City Curling Club (New Westminster), Sarah Wark from Victoria, Amanda Russett from Kamloops, and Diane Gushulak from Royal City.
Gushulak and Scott earned their berths as Canadian Team Ranking System points winners.
Knezevic's team is not the only Prince George rink to qualify for a provincial championship.
Alyssa Connell and her junior girls team is competing at the 2015 Tim Hortons B.C. Junior championship from Dec. 28 to Jan 3 in Parksville.
Connell's crew includes third Bailey Eberherr, second Jordan Henson and lead Erin Ross.
