Nunavut rink drops opener at Scotties

Despite a less-than-ideal start, Julia Weagle is still hoping for some success at this year’s national women’s curling championships.

Julia Weagle, the skip of Nunavut’s team at the Scotties Tournament of Hearts curling tournament, says her team is working on “its processes” at this year’s event in Mississauga, Ont,, “doing all the little things right.” (Photo by Sam Laskaris, Special to Nunatsiaq News)

Weagle, who is skipping the Nunavut rink representing the Iqaluit Curling Club, was downed 9-1 by one of the two Nova Scotia entries, skipped by Christina Black, in its opening match of the Scotties Tournament of Hearts on Saturday afternoon.

The Canadian event, which features 18 teams, began Friday and continues until Feb. 1 at the Paramount Fine Foods Centre in Mississauga, Ont.

For Weagle and her teammates, this marks their second straight appearance at the Scotties. The rink failed to win any of its eight round-robin matches at the 2025 tourney, held in Thunder Bay, Ont.

“This year we’re just trying to work on our processes and making sure we’re doing all the little things right,” Weagle said. “Obviously we want to bring home a couple of wins. That’s the goal for the week.”

Weagle believes her side can register some Scotties victories this year.

“We’re coming into this week knowing that we’re going to be up against a lot of tough competition,” she said.

“It’s the best teams in the country. But definitely our focus is every shot and getting the best out of what we can do every game. Hopefully some wins will come for us by doing the right things.”

Weagle, an Ottawa native who continues to live and work in the nation’s capital, also said her rink is hoping to build off its 2025 Scotties debut and continue learning and getting better.

As for Saturday’s game, Weagle knew that Black, representing the Halifax Curling Club, is one of the favourites at this year’s nationals.

“We knew we were going to have a tough game against them,” she said. “We just didn’t kind of figure out the draw path as quickly as we needed to. If I had made a couple of draws earlier in the game, then it’s a lot closer.”

The Nunavut squad includes lead Alison Taylor, second Leigh Gustafson and third Sadie Pinksen.

Taylor and Gustafson work in Iqaluit while Pinksen, an Iqaluit resident, is currently attending Ottawa’s Carleton University.

Nunavut’s next game is Sunday versus Prince Edward Island, starting at 9 a.m. (EST). Weagle’s rink will also square off against Newfoundland and Labrador on Sunday at 7 p.m. (EST).

The winner of this year’s Scotties tournament will represent Canada at the world women’s tournament, which begins Mar. 14 in Calgary.