Kaitlyn Lawes Stays Undefeated, Advances to Playoffs at Scotties

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Kaitlyn Lawes from Manitoba has been dominating the competition at the Scotties Tournament of Hearts.

Her strong performance on Tuesday led her team to become the first to clinch a playoff spot in the Canadian women’s curling championship.

Lawes, now 6-0 after a 9-4 win over Yukon’s Bayly Scoffin, has only faced one close match during round-robin play at Paramount Fine Foods Centre. Her team from Winnipeg has outscored opponents 58-24 in total.

“They’re just trending up,” said coach Marcel Rocque.

Kerri Einarson from Canada beat Saskatchewan’s Jolene Campbell 10-4, while Ontario’s Hailey Armstrong won against British Columbia’s Taylor Reese-Hansen 7-3. Nova Scotia’s Taylour Stevens also secured a victory, defeating Nicky Kaufman from the Northwest Territories 10-4.

Einarson, a four-time champion at Scotties, stands second in Pool A behind Lawes with a record of 5-1. Both Armstrong and Stevens follow closely with records of 3-2.

The top three teams from each nine-team pool will qualify for playoffs starting Friday.

Team Nova Scotia skip Christina Black yells while competing against Team Northern Ontario during the Scotties Tournament of Hearts in Mississauga, Ont., on Tuesday. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press)

Armstrong has been the only skip able to challenge Lawes effectively this week. Their match was tied 6-6 in the eighth end until Lawes scored five points in the ninth end.

The Ontario skip achieved an important win on Tuesday over Reese-Hansen, giving her province a critical head-to-head victory in a format that doesn’t include tiebreakers.

“Our goal coming into it was to make playoffs,” said Ontario alternate Lori Eddy. “We knew that was achievable, although difficult. It’s a lot of good teams, especially in our pool.”

“However, I think if they just keep playing the way they’re playing, there’s opportunity there.”

Lawes, who is also a two-time Olympic champion, earned her last pre-qualification spot for this event after losing to Pool B leader Beth Peterson during the recent Manitoba championship.

“I think the hard work and processes that we have put in place are just kind of coming together,” said lead Kristin Gordon. “It feels really good.”

This season and throughout their training cycle, both Lawes and vice Selena Njegovan have taken turns throwing last stones. In this event, Njegovan is skipping and throwing third position.

Laura Walker stepped in as second for Jocelyn Peterman while she prepares for mixed doubles at the Milan Cortina Olympics. Walker has previously served as an alternate and substitute player for their team over these four years.</s

“She just understands the game,” Rocque said. “Watching the girls sometimes from the bench and seeing some of these things makes it easier sometimes to bring a little bit of ingredients to the recipe.”</s

“A really seamless transition. It’s not often the case, but in this case it is.”</s

Peterson didn’t compete during the first two sessions on Tuesday but held onto her Pool B lead with a record of 5-0. She required an extra end but finished with an 8-7 win against Amanda Power from Prince Edward Island during evening draw.</s

“Amanda made a pistol in the 10th end and we were kind of hook, line and sinkered,” Peterson said. “So I think our coach has some conversations to have with us.”</s

“But it’s good to get a win where you have to make a lot of really good shots to get it.”</s

Nova Scotia’s Christina Black recorded two wins that day bringing her record up to 5-1 after beating Northern Ontario’s Krista Scharf 8-4 and New Brunswick’s Melodie Forsythe 7-4.<s

Selena Sturmay triumphed over Kayla Skrlik with a score of 9-5 in an all-Alberta matchup placing herself firmly into third place in Pool B at 4-1 while Skrlik fell back into fourth at 3-2.<s

The final will take place on Sunday where winning team will represent Canada at March’s world women’s curling championship held in Calgary.

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