Lawton back in green for the Scotties

Stefanie Lawton will be taking her third trip to the Scotties Tournament of Hearts when the Canadian women’s curling championship hits the ice, Feb. 1-9, in Montreal’s Maurice-Richard Arena. The Saskatoon skip posted a perfect record in the Saskatchewan provincial playdowns, Jan. 8-12 in Tisdale. After going 5-0 in round robin play, she moved on to defeat Michelle Englot in the A1 vs B1 playoff and then again in the championship final. The team, including third Sherry Anderson, second Sherri Singler and Lawton’s sister, Marliese Kasner at lead, was coming off a disappointing week in December’s 2013 Tim Hortons Roar of the Rings Canadian Curling Trials. “It was quite disappointing actually,” said Lawton. “You work so hard to get there, but we just didn’t perform. We were having a really good season up to that point, but we didn’t play at all the way we had been.” The Lawton squad had a 2-5 record at the Trials but used the Christmas break to refocus on the rest of the season. “We were able to regroup. We took some time off and had a great Christmas, and then got ready for our next event at the provincials. “We played quite strong. We got our old game back and played with a lot of spunk. I think after an experience like the Trials, it takes some time to get it back, but now were heading into the Scotties with a lot of confidence. This will be the first time I’ve ever been to Quebec so I’m really excited.” Lawton won the 2000 Canadian juniors and was the silver-medallist at the world championship. She previously represented Saskatchewan at the Scotties in 2005 and 2009. “You Gotta Be There” when the Scotties Tournament of Hearts comes to Montreal for the first time in the 33-year history of the event. Click here to get your tickets today.