Team Manitoba-Lawes making most of last-chance berth at 2026 Scotties

Kaitlyn Lawes is no stranger to the Scotties Tournament of Hearts.  

She’s played in the event 11 times, taking home six medals (including the gold in 2015), and five Robin Wilson First-Team All-Star Awards. To say the Winnipeg native is comfortable on the national stage would be an understatement. 

This year’s appearance, however, feels a bit different.

“It was a little bit wild how we ended up coming here when the points were so tight,” said Lawes, following her Saturday-night 11-4 win against Quebec’s Jolianne Fortin (0-2; Jonquière) at Paramount Fine Foods Centre. “I’m super proud of our team, regardless of how we got here.” 

After a blank in the first end, the Manitoba foursome took three and stole two, which created enough of a cushion to cruise to a comfortable win and start the week with two wins and no losses.

Team Lawes (2-0; Winnipeg) was the last team to qualify for this year’s Scotties in Mississauga, Ont., and by the slimmest of margins. When the dust settled after the Manitoba provincial championship – where Lawes & Co. lost the final to Team Beth Peterson – the Canadian Team Ranking System was left to decide the final berth. Team Lawes had the highest point total of the non-qualified teams, but only by .225 points over Alberta’s Team Serena Gray-Withers. 

“I was not aware of the situation at all,” said Lawes, who throws fourth stones and is backed by skip/third Selena Njegovan, second Laura Walker, lead Kristin Gordon, alternate Erin Pincott and coach Marcel Rocque. “I just assumed we had to win. I’ve never been a points-counting person. I thought we needed a lot of help. But it turns out we just needed a little bit of help.” 

That help came in the form of Team Taylor Reese-Hansen winning the B.C. title. With the provincial championship, they were now out of the way on the CTRS rankings, and Team Lawes moved into the qualifying spot. 

“At the start of the Manitoba final, I had seen other people had figured it out,” said second Walker. “At that point, I was pretty sure we didn’t have to win, once Team Reese-Hansen won B.C.” 

On top of the nail-biting qualifier, Lawes also had to navigate a short-term lineup change. With regular second Jocelyn Peterman off to the Olympics in Italy for the mixed doubles event, Lawes recruited Walker, a veteran of four Scotties herself, to fill in. 

“I knew from the start of the season that if they made it here, I’d be playing second,” said Walker. “I spent a lot of time with them, watching a lot from the bench, and slotting myself in at practice when we could. I started sweeping a lot more in practice, was judging more in practice, and a lot of things I wouldn’t normally have done, to be ready for this.” 

“She’s been a part of this team in some capacity for four years. She was with us at our first Scotties together,” said Lawes. “She comes to our training camps, and she’s been around us the whole season. It’s been seamless to have her in the lineup.” 

“I think watching so many games from the bench is actually an advantage,” said Walker. “Sometimes it helps having the outsider’s perspective, to have a wider lens and not be so involved in it can be a big help.” 

Elsewhere around the rink, Ontario’s Hailey Armstrong (1-1; Whitby) gave Team Canada’s Kerri Einarson (2-0; Gimli, Man.) a scare, taking the four-time champion to the last rocks in the 10th end. Einarson scored her deuce, however, and completed a come-from-behind 7-6 win. 

Nova Scotia’s Team Taylour Stevens (2-0; Halifax) beat Saskatchewan’s Jolene Campbell (0-1; Regina) 11-3, and the Northwest Territories (1-1; Yellowknife), skipped by Nicky Kaufman, beat the Yukon’s Team Bayly Scoffin (0-2; Whitehorse), 10-5. 

The 2026 Scotties Tournament of Hearts continues Sunday with draws at 9:00 a.m., 2:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. (all times Eastern). 

 Live scoring, standings and statistics for the 2026 Scotties Tournament of Hearts are available at www.curling.ca/scoreboard/. 

 TSN and RDS2 will provide complete coverage of the 2026 Scotties Tournament of Hearts. CLICK HERE for the complete schedule. 

For ticket information for the 2026 Scotties Tournament of Hearts, go to www.curling.ca/2026cotties/tickets/. 

This story will be available in French as soon as possible at www.curling.ca/fr/2026scotties/nouvelles/.