Patti Knezevic has rolled to a berth in the playoffs at the B.C. Scotties Tournament of Hearts Women's Curling championship.
Knezevic and her Prince George Golf and Curling Club crew of third Kristen Fewster, second Jen Rusnell and lead Rhonda Camozzi defeated Victoria's Sarah Wark 7-4 Friday afternoon in an A-event qualifier in Maple Ridge.
It was the third-straight win for Knezevic. This year, the format changed from a 12-team round-robin to an eight-team triple knockout.
"Our goal going in [to provincials] was to secure a playoff spot because of the format change," said Knezevic Friday from Maple Ridge. "Regardless of the path we took, whether we won or lost, we were just going to play every draw until we secured a playoff spot."
After blanking the first end at the Golden Ears Winter Club and after a solid setup from the front end, Knezevic scored three in the second end on a draw to the four-foot with the hammer and stole singles in the fourth and sixth ends to take a 5-0 lead.
Wark rebounded with a deuce in the seventh end with the hammer and stole singles in the eighth and ninth ends.
"They played a great last half of the game," said Knezevic. "In the 10th end, we were setting up very well and had two in the top-four. She [Wark] drew around and I made an angle raise takeout."
Due to all the rain in the Lower Mainland causing high humidity, Knezevic said the ice (made by B.J. Gagnon) was straighter in Friday's draw than it had been on Wednesday and Thursday which she said they'll have to be aware of this weekend.
Knezevic now advances to the 1 vs. 2 page playoff game tonight at 7 p.m. and play Wark, who defeated Kelly Scott of Kelowna 7-4 Friday night.
"We have ice time on Saturday and we'll prepare and practice and have lunch and a rest," she said. "We'll follow our schedule like we usually do on a two-game day."
Knezevic is a three-time provincial runner-up and is seeking her first B.C. women's title.
Knezevic will have two cracks at qualifying for Sunday's final.
If she wins the first page playoff game, she'll go directly to the final at 1 p.m. If she loses, she'll play the winner of the 3 vs. 4 page playoff game in a semifinal Sunday at 8:30 a.m.
"We'll have a very shot turn-around [if we lose] but we'll stick to the game plan. There's always room to get a bit better each game and we're building towards Sunday. There's been good execution, good exchange of information and good communication."
The Prince George crew spent the first half of the season competing solely on the World Curling Tour's cash spiel's circuit due to the ice plant breakdown at the PGGCC. They qualified for provincials in early on and didn't practice at nearby clubs in Quesnel or Vanderhoof.
Instead, they focused on the mental side of the game.
"We've probably worked a little bit more on the mental side this season than we have in the past," said Knezevic. "It's been good and really enjoyable."
The team is sponsored by Redwood Plastics, Ron's Aviation Services, AutoMagic, Curtis Elite, Finning and Amigos Taco Shop.
In Friday night's other games, Kesa Van Osch of Nanaimo defeated Amanda Russett of Kamloops 11-6 and Diane Gushulak of Vancouver edged Dailene Sivertson of Victoria 7-6.
