THUNDER BAY – There’s a glimmer of hope for curling fans who want to watch the Scotties Tournament of Hearts live at Fort William Gardens.
Curling Canada on Thursday said they plan to look into the possibility of selling a modified ticket package for the final three days of the national women’s curling championship, following an announcement by Ontario Premier Doug Ford that restrictions will start to be lifted on Jan. 31.
On that day arenas and other entertainment venues will be permitted to have up to 500 fans, or 50 per cent capacity, whichever is smaller, in the stands.
Out of an abundance of caution, Curling Canada says it will not allow fans for the round robin portion of the tournament, even though they would be allowed to do so.
“With the advancement of the new Omicron variant we wanted to ensure Curling Canada set up the most effective health protocols possible to keep all participants at the 2022 Scotties Tournament of Hearts safe,” said Curling Canada CEO Katherine Henderson, who is originally from Thunder Bay.
“We thank our partners in Ontario Health and the local health authority in Thunder Bay for helping us put together a plan to make this event a success.”
Media will not be permitted inside the venue, other than the host broadcaster, TSN.
Curling Canada also announced the draw for the 18-team field.
Team Northern Ontario, with skip Krista McCarville, lead Sarah Potts, second Ashley Sippala and third Kendra Lilly, will be in Pool A, alongside the three wild-card team’s skipped by Manitoba’s Tracy Fleury, Saskatchewan’s Chelsea Carey and Ontario's Emma Miskew. Also in Pool A are Saskatchewan’s Penny Barker, New Brunswick’s Andrea Crawford, P.E.I.’s Suzanne Birt, Newfoundland and Labrador’s Sarah Hill and Nunavut’s Brigitte MacPhail.
Pool B will consist of Alberta’s Laura Walker, Team Canada’s Kerri Einarson, Manitoba’s Mackenzie Zacharias, Ontario’s Hollie Duncan, Kerry Galusha of the Northwest Territories, Nova Scotia’s Christina Black, whose rink include’s Thunder Bay’s Karly Everist, British Columbia’s Mary-Anne Arsenault, Quebec’s Laurie St-George and Yukon’s Hailie Birnie.
The Scotties are scheduled to begin on Jan. 28. McCarville opens play at 5 p.m. on opening day, taking on Carey in a rematch of the 2016 Scotties Tournament of Hearts final.
