Nunavut snaps 6-year drought with win at Scotties tournament

Julia Weagle has already fulfilled one of her goals by registering a Sunday morning victory at this year’s Scotties Tournament of Hearts.

This marks the second straight year Weagle is skipping her Nunavut team at the national women’s curling championships.

Nunavut
skip Julia Weagle looks on during Sunday morning action at the Scotties Tournament of Hearts in Mississauga, Ont. (Photo courtesy of Curling Canada/Andrew Klaver)

Weagle’s team, representing the Iqaluit Curling Club, failed to register a victory in eight round-robin matches during at last year’s Scotties, held in Thunder Bay, Ont.

Nunavut also lost its opening match on Saturday against a team from Nova Scotia at this year’s Canadian bonspiel, held at the Paramount Fine Foods Centre in Mississauga, Ont.

But Team Weagle rebounded from that setback and earned an 8-5 triumph Sunday morning over the Prince Edward Island entry, skipped by Amanda Power.

“It feels amazing,” Weagle said of her win. “We put a lot of hard work in so having it pay off today felt really, really good.”

This was also Nunavut’s first victory in six years at Scotties tournament.

Following Saturday’s loss, Weagle had lamented her inability to make some timely draws.

Such wasn’t the case though in her Sunday morning match.

“I fixed it,” she said of her improved play versus P.E.I. “The team played amazing. We figured out the ice early this game and that was definitely a key difference maker in this game for sure.”

The last win for the territory was back at the 2020 Scotties held in Moose Jaw, Sask., when Lori Eddy skipped Nunavut to a 7-6 win over Quebec.

Weagle’s team includes lead Alison Taylor, second Leigh Gustafson and third Sadie Pinksen.

The club’s victory on Sunday will provide a confidence boost for the rest of this year’s nationals, which continue until Feb. 1, Weagle said.

“We’re feeling pretty good right now,” she said. “Our first goal has been accomplished. So now we’re just looking to build and keep the momentum going. For sure we’re looking to play really well in every game, focus on every shot and we’ll see what we can do.”

Weagle, however, wasn’t able to earn back-to-back wins on Sunday, dropping an 8-2 decision to the Newfoundland and Labrador team skipped by Mackenzie Mitchell in an evening contest.

Eighteen clubs are taking part at this year’s Scotties. The winning team will go on to represent Canada at the world women’s tournament, which begins Mar. 14 in Calgary.

Nunavut’s next game is Monday at 2 p.m. EST versus an Alberta team skipped by Kayla Skrlik.