Scott’s sights set on December homecoming

Kelly Scott knows what it takes to do it the hard way when it comes to qualifying for the Canadian Curling Trials, where Canada decides its women’s and men’s representatives for the 2014 Olympics. In 2009, she was one of the three women’s teams to lock up the final berths in the Tim Hortons Roar of the Rings, and she’s hoping for the same results when she takes to the ice in the Kitchener Memorial Auditorium Complex, Nov. 5-10, for the 2013 Capital One Road to the Roar, presented by Monsanto. “I think we were the first team to secure a spot in the 2009 Pre-Trials,” said Scott. “We scrapped our way through the week and wound up being the last to qualify for the Trials.” This year there are two women’s spots on the line, and Scott would dearly love to lay claim to one of them, especially given the 2013 Tim Hortons Roar of the Rings, presented by Monsanto, will be contested in her former hometown. “It would be wonderful to make it to the Trials. Three of us on the team are originally from Winnipeg so it would be just a thrill to be there.” Front-enders Sasha Carter and Sarah Wazney are former Winnipeggers, while third Jeanna Schraeder is a native of Kelowna. Scott came within one end of realizing the Olympic dream at the 2005 Trials where her team gave up three in the tenth to lose the championship final by a single point to Shannon Kleibrink. “It was definitely disappointing, but we talked about it over the Christmas break and just decided to refocus,” said Scott. “Really, it was a huge stepping stone in our careers. We proved to ourselves that we did belong at the top level.” The team went on to win the 2006 Scotties Tournament of Hearts, and defended the title the following year as Team Canada. They also earned the gold medal at the 2007 World Women’s Curling Championship. “Scheduling this season requires a bit of a new focus,” said Scott. “This year we’re trying to peak in November, when most years you’re looking to play your best in January.” Their Pre-Trials schedule started with The Shoot-Out at the Saville Centre and will include two more events before taking a few weeks off for practice and rest. “We showed up in Edmonton, but it was our first time on the ice,” said Scott. “We did win a couple of games… we just have some kinks to work out. We got one of the local clubs in Kelowna to put the ice in ice early, so we’ll be out there practicing right away.” “You Gotta Be There” when 24 teams – 12 women’s and 12 men’s – compete for a coveted spot in the Canadian Curling Trials. Reserve your seats today by clicking here.