Win games, inspire next generation: Nunavut’s goals set in Scotties return
New skip joins team as territory returns to national women’s curling championship after 2024 withdrawal
From left: Curlers Julia Weagle, Sadie Pinksen, Leigh Gustafson and Alison Taylor are representing Nunavut at the Scotties Tournament of Hearts, which starts Friday in Thunder Bay, Ont. (Photo courtesy of Curling Canada)
Updated February 18 at 12 a.m. ET
Nunavut is headed back to the Scotties Tournament of Hearts and this year’s team is hoping to make an impact on and off the pebbled ice.
“We want to come away with a few wins and we think that’s totally within our grasp to do that,” said Leigh Gustafson about her hopes for the national women’s curling championship.
Gustafson plays second on the team and serves as vice-president of both the Iqaluit Curling Club and Nunavut Curling Association.
This year’s Scotties marks Nunavut’s return to the tournament after the team withdrew last year.
The decision to withdraw was partly due to lack of time to prepare for the national event. As well, Iqaluit curlers lost access to their rink last winter when the city rented it out for filming the CBC/Netflix/APTN comedy North of North.
Joining Gustafson in Thunder Bay, Ont., for the curling championship are team veterans Sadie Pinksen as vice-skip and Alison Taylor as lead.
Julia Weagle is Nunavut’s new skip. Based in Ottawa, she’s making her Scotties debut as Nunavut’s designated import player.
Weagle and Gustafson’s dads were the “matchmakers” who helped bring this team together, Weagle said.
Over the past year, phone calls and video chats kept the four players connected. Weagle eventually made the trip north to join her Iqaluit teammates to practise, play and take part in some clinics.
“It’s been incredible,” Weagle said, describing getting to know Iqaluit’s curling community.
“I think there’s an appetite to grow the sport as well.”
This year’s Scotties is not just about getting wins, Gustafson said. They want to be an example for Nunavut’s up-and-coming curlers.
Nunavut is also sending teams to Saskatoon for the Canadian under-18 curling championships, which start Feb. 16.
“We have some really promising junior teams that we just want to be good role models [for],” Gustafson said.
“I think we have a really good next generation coming up.”
Nunavut’s first game at the Scotties is Saturday at 7 p.m., versus one of the two Alberta teams in their pool.
The Scotties tournament runs until Feb. 23 with games airing on TSN.
Correction: This story has been updated to correct Leigh Gustafson’s position on the team and to correct the tournament’s final date.
We’re they even born in Nunavut yall should be embarrassed for that
Not that it matters, but Sadie was born in Iqaluit if that makes you feel better. Still, the other 2 are resident of the territory and therefore eligble, and Julia is the import, which most teams import from another province or territory to create a more competitive team.
It’d be nice to have Inuit representation!
It would! You should try curling, maybe next year you can join the team.
Inuit always complaining that they never want to get out and do anything, it never ceases to amaze me.
So are we supposed to just go into people’s home and ask them if they want to represent the territory? Nothing is stopping Inuit from joining the curling leagues at the rink in Iqaluit. Nothing is stopping them from competing to win the right to represent the territory.
Until then….. quit whining and be happy others are doing it for you.
Go Nunavut Go!!!
You dont need to be born in Nunavut to represent the territory at sporting events. We should support anyone who is proud to be living in Nunavut and who puts in the work to represent the territory at a national sporting event.
Seems like an opportunity for those interested in curling to ask about training and all that jazz.
One year 5 of us inuit ladies tried out for the Scottiies Tournament of Hearts. We didn’t do well but had the greatest fun! I still have my Scottiies Tournament of heart pin. You just need to go out there play and enjoy the game!
If every one inuit person that curls brought out another Inuit person, the game is fun enough that it would catch on, especially with the ladies. The men tend to stick to the hockey as they get older, but it would be great to see a local ladies team compete regularly for a spot at the Scotties.
The darts leagues have done that and there is lots of local representation at the nationals.