2020 Viterra Scotties Women’s Provincial Championship: Event Preview

We are about to make Saskatchewan Curling history out in Melville next week when these 12 women’s teams hit the ice inside the Horizone Credit Union Centre!

It will be the first time in this province that both the Women’s & Men’s Provincial Championship events will share the same venue in consecutive weeks! The Viterra Scotties Women’s Provincial Championship will kick off an amazing week January 24th, with Draw 1 taking action Friday @ 2:00 p.m.

Many familiar teams will be returning with the same lineups as one year ago in Humboldt, but also a number of teams & individuals making their very first appearance at a Women’s Provincial Championship. We know Melville will provide a first class event for both veteran and rookie curlers, as they played host to the 2016 Viterra Scotties Tournament of Hearts where we saw Penny Barker win her first women’s provincial.

We want to wish good luck & good curling to all the teams competing! For more information on the event, visit the CURLSASK website or official event Facebook page. Tickets to the event can be purchased through the Horizon Credit Union Centre Box Office.

Viterra Scotties Women’s Provincial Championship – Facebook Page
CURLSASK Scores/Results
YouTube & SaskTel Max Live Streaming

2019 Viterra Scotties Women’s Provincial Championship Opening Ceremonies at the Humboldt Curling Club! (Photo Courtesy/Devan Tasa, Tisdale Recorder).

Sherry has had a remarkable year to remember, not just as a women’s skip, but as she also defended her World Seniors Championship last April in Stavanger, Norway! Heading into Melville, she welcomes new member Chaelynn Kitz (former teammate of Regina’s Chantelle Eberle one year ago) at the lead position.

Anderson on tour this season had an impressive start making three third place finishes. A couple coming on home soil at the Colonial Square Classic & Saskatchewan Women’s Curling Tour Spiel in Saskatoon, as well as just up the road in Lloydminster at the Boundary Ford Classic. They will look to continue these winning ways into Melville at this years provincial. Sherry has made an appearance in the last two provincial finals, losing last year to Silvernagle with teammates Nancy & Meaghan.

Skip: Sherry Anderson
Third: Nancy Martin
Second: Meaghan Frerichs
Lead: Chaelynn Kitz
Coach: Gerald Shymko
Home Club: Saskatoon Nutana C.C.

Robyn will be returning to the provincial stage, with her same lineup one year ago where they claimed their first provincial championship as a team. Leading to their remarkable run earning a bronze medal finish at the 2019 Scotties Tournament of Hearts in Sydney, Nova Scotia!

It was yet another busy season for these ladies, as they attended three Grand Slam of Curling events and a few tour stops along the way, with their best showings being a couple of 5th place finishes at the Grand Slam of Curling Boost National in Conception Bay, NFLD and the Booster Juice Shoot-out in Edmonton, AB. Team Silvernagle declined their invite to the Meridian Canadian Open this weekend in Yorkton, SK to properly prepare for the 2020 Viterra Scotties!

Skip: Robyn Silvernagle
Third: Stefanie Lawton
Second: Jessie Hunkin
Lead: Kara Thevenot
Coach: Lesley McEwan
Home Club: Twin Rivers C.C.

Another foursome sticking together for the 2019-2020 curling season! And what a busy season it has been for Team Holland. They competed in 5 events spanning over two months, putting on some miles with it too. Travelling throughout three different provinces, including trips to Calgary, AB, Portage la Prairie, MB & Morris, MB! They picked up quarter-final finishes in both Saskatoon & Morris which helped them claim the third Canadian Team Ranking Spot (CTRS) into this years provincial championship in Melville!

The team will return with Travis Brown as coach, who is fresh off a finalist appearance at the 2019-2020 Junior Provincial Curling Championships. Leading a young & impressive team skipped by Skylar Ackerman of Saskatoon.

Skip: Amber Holland
Third: Cindi Ricci
Second: Laura Strong
Lead: Deb Lozinski
Coach: Travis Brown
Home Club: Regina Caledonian C.C.

One of the hottest headlines that had come out of the off-season, grabbing some major media attention across the province, was Team Michelle Englot. After former Saskatchewan champion Michelle Englot has competed in the province of Manitoba for the past couple of curling seasons, she has now joined with former junior provincial champions Sara England & Shelby Brandt. Where the three of them have welcomed former provincial mixed champion & Canadian University Champion Nicole Bender!

With Nicole just joining the team in the New Year. Michelle, Sara & Shelby had a great year on the SWCT. The team qualified in all four events they competed in, with their best finish being a semi-final appearance at the Regina Highland Spiel. Their success this year on tour crowned them as the SWCT Champions & a spot into provincials. They also welcome former coach of Switzerland’s Team Silvana Tirinzoni & Brier Competitor representing Team Saskatchewan in ’99, ’07 & ’08, Gerry Adam.

Skip: Michelle Englot
Third: Sara England
Second: Shelby Brandt
Lead: Nicole Bender
Coach: Gerry Adam
Home Club: Regina Highland C.C.

A brand new team that hit the women’s circuit this year was Team Schneider out of Regina! Lorraine & Ashley have both represented Saskatchewan at the Scotties Tournament of Hearts, while Larisa is fresh off a stint out in Alberta competing with Rhonda Varnes. Lead Jill de Gooijer is new to the women’s circuit after recently finishing up her junior career a couple seasons ago.

Schneider & team got off to a hot start, claiming the first SWCT Spiel at the Regina Caledonian Curling Club, defeating fellow provincial competitor Team Rae-Ann Williamson also of Regina. There they qualified in one more SWCT event, up at the Saskatoon Nutana, and also a World Curling Tour (WCT) event out in Medicine Hat back in October! They earned their berth to Melville by claiming the SWCT Runner-Up spot. The team welcomes Lorraine’s dad, Jamie Schneider as coach, who recently attended the Tim Hortons Brier in 2017 with son Catlin Schneider, and notably winning the Canadian Junior Title back in 1983 with Saskatchewan.

Skip: Lorraine Schneider
Third: Larisa Murray
Second: Ashley Williamson
Lead: Jill de Gooijer
Coach: Jamie Schneider
Home Club: Regina Highland C.C.

Team Penny Barker are returning with the same lineup as one year ago in Humboldt, where they finished with a 4-4 record falling just short of the playoffs. Penny, Deanna & Danielle attended the 2017 Scotties Tournament of Hearts out in St. Catharines, Ontario, as they will look to go on a run in Melville getting back to the national championship with teammate Christie Gamble.

A season to remember for Barker & team, finishing with three first place victories, all coming on the SWCT. Their win up at the Saskatoon Nutana “Direct” Spiel earned a direct spot into Melville. They followed their victories up with a third place finish at the Regina Callie SWCT, as well as a quarter-final finish at the Boundary Ford Curling Classic in Lloydminster. The ladies welcome longtime coach Merv Fonger back at this years championship.

Skip: Penny Barker
Third: Deanna Doig
Second: Christie Gamble
Lead: Danielle Sicinski
Coach: Merv Fonger
Home Club: Moose Jaw Ford C.C.

A new foursome in Team Streifel landed a spot into this years provincial championship. These ladies out of the Swift Current Curling Club brought on Kelly Schafer who recently earned her eligibility to take on the women’s scene here in Saskatchewan, after moving from Scotland to Swift Current nine years ago. This team also welcomed Kristen Streifel back to her home province, former Canadian & World Junior Champion representing Team Alberta. And most recently, Amelie Blais, the newly crowned Canadian Mixed Champion, will join the team at the second position.

A successful weekend out at the Viterra Challenge Spiel in Unity, had Streifel winning three straight games taking the A-qualifier spot! They welcome former provincial women’s champion Jolene Campbell as coach heading into this years championship.

Skip: Kelly Schafer
Third: Kristen Streifel
Second: Amelie Blais
Lead: Dayna Demers
Coach/5th Player: Jolene Campbell
Home Club: Swift Current C.C.

A team made up of former provincial women’s champions combined forces heading into this curling season. Ashley Howard welcomed the Fesser twins, who attended the 2018 Scotties Tournament of Hearts out in Prince George, B.C. with skip Sherry Anderson. These three ladies welcome Kaylin Skinner of Saskatoon at lead, freshly off her days as a junior competitor.

These ladies earned a couple third place finishes at the Moose Jaw SWCT as well as the Medicine Hat Charity Classic, but recently earned themselves the B-Qualifier spot out at the Viterra Challenge in Unity, ultimately booking their ticket to Melville! Olympic & Brier Champion Russ Howard will join Ashley for the fifth year in a row at a Saskatchewan provincial championship as coach.

Skip: Ashley Howard
Third: Kourtney Fesser
Second: Krista Fesser
Lead: Kaylin Skinner
Coach: Russ Howard
Home Club: Saskatoon Sutherland C.C.

Jana & Ellen competed in this spot one year ago, but on different teams. As Jana competed with Regina’s Chantelle Eberle & Ellen competing with Prince Alberts Sherry Just.

Team Tisdale only competed in three events throughout the season, but made it count when they did hit the ice. Finishing with a pair of third place finishes at both the Regina Highland & Viterra Women’s Challenge in Unity (which gave them their provincial berth). But they also made a fantastic run up at the Saskatoon Nutana SWCT Event, making it all the way to the final losing out to Moose Jaw’s Penny Barker.

Jana & Ellen welcome first time Viterra Scotties Provincial competitors Krista Ellingson & Brett Day.

Skip: Jana Tisdale
Third: Krista Ellingson
Second: Ellen Redlick
Lead: Brett Day
Coach: TBD
Home Club: Saskatoon Nutana C.C.

Shalon Fleming returns with longtime coach Bob Doerr of Estevan, but welcomes a brand new team in front of her as she headed into the 2019-2020 curling season. Third Candice Newkirk, recently competed on Team Saskatchewan as third for Moose Jaws Elaine Osmachenko at the 2018 Canadian Curling Club Championships.

Fleming & team competed in six events on both the SWCT & WCT. After a marathon of tiebreaker games in the Medicine Hat Charity Classic, they ended up qualifying and making a quarter-final appearance. The ladies representing the Regina Highland, claimed the A-Qualifer and first spot out of the Viterra Last Chance Spiel down in Estevan Jan. 3-5!

Skip: Shalon Fleming
Third: Candace Newkirk
Second: Sherilee Orsted
Lead: Jasmine Kerr
Coach: Bob Doerr
Home Club: Regina Highland C.C.

Team Selzer last competed at a Viterra Scotties Provincial, as a team, when it was hosted in this very building back in 2017! Finishing with a 3-5 record at the Horizon Credit Union Centre.

Mandy, Erin & Megan were part of Team Canada when they competed at the World Junior Championships back in 2006! They then represented the Balgonie Curling Club. Selzer & team on tour competed in three SWCT events, with their best finish coming in the quarter-finals at the Saskatoon Nutana Direct Spiel event. These ladies earned their provincial berth by winning the B-Qualifier spot down in Estevan at the Viterra Last Chance Spiel.

Skip: Mandy Selzer
Third: Erin Barnhart
Second: Megan Selzer
Lead: Sarah Slywka
Coach: Ken Bakken
Home Club: Regina Highland C.C.

These four ladies are a brand new, young team as they start their venture into women’s play! A ton of experience at the junior level, with Rae-Ann & Amanda representing Saskatchewan at the Canada Winter Games back in 2011 in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Second, Chantel Martin competed with provincial competitior Shalon Fleming one year ago. As they head into Melville, third Alexandra Williamson has the only Women’s Provincial experience, playing third with former provincial champion Lana Vey down in Assiniboia at the 2015 Viterra Scotties Tournament of Hearts!

Team Williamson had a great start to the season, earning a finalist spot at the first SWCT event of the year, losing to Schneider. After spending the rest of the season competing here in Saskatchewan, they claimed the final C-Qualifier spot down in Estevan at the Viterra Last Chance Spiel.

Skip: Rae-Ann Williamson
Third: Alexandra Williamson
Second: Chantel Martin
Lead: Amanda Kuzyk
Coach: TBD
Home Club: Regina Highland C.C.