Scotties trip ‘good learning experience’ for Nunavut curlers

Final results could have been better for Team Nunavut but skip Julia Weagle says she’s content with her second appearance at the Scotties Tournament of Hearts.

Weagle’s rink, representing the Iqaluit Curling Club, concluded its run at the women’s national curling championship this week losing 10-4 to Manitoba on Thursday morning.

The Nunavut rink, which also includes lead Alison Taylor, second Leigh Gustafson and third Sadie Pinksen, finished with one win and seven losses in the Mississaugua, Ont. tournament and failed to qualify for the playoffs.

“We had a good week,” Weagle said. “I think we hung in there with the best teams in the country. So we’re pretty proud of how we did.”

She said this year’s event was another learning experience for her squad. Her rink was winless in its eight games in its Scotties debut a year ago.

Team Nunavut’s win at this year’s tournament happened Sunday in its second game, an 8-5 victory over Prince Edward Island.

“I think every game is a good learning experience for us,” she said. “We don’t get to play on tour or anything like that. So we’re really learning every game as we go.”

Team Nunavut skip Julia Weagle and coach Colin Hodgson following the club’s final game at the Scotties Tournament of Hearts on Thursday. (Photo by Sam Laskaris, special to Nunatsiaq News)

Weagle said she had more of an inkling of what the tournament was all about this time around.

“I had a better idea of what to expect and how to manage the week,” she said. “I think every experience just kind of builds on what we did before. So, I was definitely less nervous coming in this year.”

More victories would have been nice. But Weagle said the quality of competition at the national level is exceptional.

“I think we were hoping to get a couple more wins,” she said. “But you need to do all the little things really, really well, really, really consistently to hang in with these teams. I think just getting more reps for us and getting more experience is going to be good.

“I think we’re overall pleased with how we did.”

Nunavut coach Colin Hodgson echoed that sentiment.

“I had a lot of great comments from some great coaches of other teams in the locker room that they’re noticing change and they’re really impressed,” he said.

The Scotties Tournament of Hearts, featuring 18 teams from across Canada, is being held in Mississauga, Ont. The tournament opened Jan. 23 and continues until Sunday.