Tbaytel Major League of Curling

Up to 348 volunteers and 37 Future Stars youth will gain free access to the Gardens on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Team Nunavut second Kaitlin MacDonald stumbled on a stone in the seventh and Team Northern Ontario was awarded a steal of three as a result, helping them to a 7-6 win to improve to 3-1.

Northern Ontario rink doubles up Suzanne Birt foursome 8-5 on Saturday night to share top spot in Pool A standings after two days of action at the Gardens.

Curling Canada said it was too risky to let fans into Fort William Gardens and ensure the safety of players, coaches and officials inside the Scotties bubble.

Steal of three in the fourth blows open a 2-0 game as Team Northern Ontario gets into the win column early on home ice.

Northern Ontario team opens against wild-card Chelsea Carey, who defeated Team McCarville in the 2016 Scotties Tournament of Hearts final.

Wild-card entry announces skip Tracy Fleury is one of the two positive tests.

Heather Houston, Lorraine Lang, Tracy Kennedy and Diane Adams were a new team 33 years ago when they stunned the curling world by winning the Scotties Tournament of Hearts. A year later, they were world champions.

Fleury, Carey, Homan rinks earn wild-card spots in Thunder Bay.

Bonot, McCarville and Carr rinks maintain spots at top of Major League of Curling standings.