Two years late but the wait just has one day to go.
The start of the COVID-19 pandemic meant the 2020 world women’s curling championship in Prince George was canceled just two days before it was set to begin.
Organizers, volunteers, fans, and teams were crushed but in the back of their mind, they knew P.G. would get that rare opportunity to showcase the world.
For the next nine days starting Saturday afternoon at 2:00, the city of Prince George gets to put its best foot forward by having the honor of hosting such a prestigious event at CN Centre.
Whether you are a curling fan or not, one has to appreciate the magnitude of this championship.
13 countries have their champions ready to compete at the highest level.
Considering what the world is going through and the challenges of travel, we can all appreciate having so many nations and cultures represented.
It will be special to see participants representing the USA, Italy, South Korea, Norway, Denmark, Germany, Scotland, Switzerland, Sweden, Japan, Turkey (for the first time), the Czech Republic, and of course, Canada all in the same building.
(The Czech Republic was a late entry replacing Russia).
How many of those countries have you been to?
It is only fitting that Kerri Einarson and her Manitoba team of Val Sweeting (third), Shannon Birchard (second), and Briane Meilleur (lead) will wear Canadian colors.
In 2020, they had already arrived in P.G. and even held practice sessions before being informed through no one’s fault, the championship would not proceed.
Einarson was by no means given a free ride as she had to earn her way back to Prince George and that she did by winning a third straight national title in Thunder Bay, Ontario.
Canada has won the world women’s title more than any other country with 17 followed by Switzerland and Sweden with eight each, Scotland, Norway and Germany with two apiece and Denmark, China and the USA with one each.
Switzerland has won six of the last nine, including 2019 and 2021.
Silvana Trinzoni and her Zurich-based team are the defending champions.
Einarson gained valuable experience at the world championship last year in Calgary, posting a 7-6 round-robin record before being eliminated by Sweden in the qualification round.
In a Zoom call this week, the Canadian skip said, “This year is a little different, there is no Olympic spot on the line so there is not that added extra pressure. We just learned to feel what it is like out there and what it is like to represent Canada on the world stage.”
Einarson is well-spoken but isn’t offering up much more than clichés: “Well, we are definitely going to take one game at a time and build off of that by getting better and better each game. Our first goal is to make the playoffs and then we are going to go from there but we want to bring home the gold.”
.@EinarsonTeam skip @KEinarson hoping third time is the charm at World Women’s Curling Championship at @CNCentre in @CityofPG @worldcurling @CurlingCanada | #cityofpg https://t.co/v6KQi3KQwN #PrinceGeorge #northernbc #sports pic.twitter.com/X2aBDZzcaw
— My Prince George Now (@mypgnow) March 15, 2022
The Canadian team has round-robin games Saturday and Sunday at 2:00 and 7:00 p.m., Monday and Tuesday afternoon at 2:00, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday at 9:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m.
Qualification games are scheduled for Saturday, March 26th at 1:00 in the afternoon with the semi-finals that night at 7:00.
Medal games go Sunday, March 27th at 11:00 a.m. (for bronze) and 4:00 p.m. (for gold).
The entire draw is right here.
The 80-page Media Guide to the championship is right here.
Memories are made from moments.
Prince George is about to enjoy what should turn out to be a memory of a lifetime.
Cat Scan podcast:
CAT SCAN: @Hartley_Miller chats with @PGCougars Manager of Merchandise Tanya Lamb in this week’s episode | #cityofpg https://t.co/cZKu6xCfyK #PrinceGeorgeBC #northernbc #sports pic.twitter.com/wqZnnUODZR
— My Prince George Now (@mypgnow) March 17, 2022
FROM THE QUOTE RACK:
Tiger Woods is hitting golf balls again. He is just hitting with his three-wood and irons. Given his recent history, he’s going to stay away from a driver.
*Comedy writer Alex Kaseberg
Four-time majors champion and former no 1 Naomi Osaka tearfully addressed the crowd at the BNP Paribas Open tennis tournament in Indian Hills, California after being heckled during her match. Wow, it’s a good thing for her the tourney wasn’t in Philadelphia.
*Contributor Bill Littlejohn of South Lake Tahoe, California
Russell Wilson, 33, is now introduced as the new Denver Broncos QB. My goal is to play 10 or 12 more years. So he wants to retire at the same time eventually as Tom Brady?
*Comedy writer Janice Hough of Palo Alto, California www.leftcoastsportsbabe.com
Atlanta Falcons receiver Calvin Ridley has been suspended for the 2022 season for betting on NFL games. Evidently, he didn’t get the express written consent of the NFL’s official betting partners, Caesars, DraftKings, and FanDuel.
*Dwight Perry of the Seattle Times http://www.seattletimes.com/author/dwight-perry/
In Case You Missed It:
The women’s world curling championships begin on March 19, two days after Saint Patrick’s Day. So good news ladies: you’ll be throwing real rocks not shamrocks.
*Western Canadian comedy writer RJ Currie www.Sportsdeke.com
Hartley Miller is the news and sports director/supervisor plus morning news anchor for 94.3 the GOAT and Country 97fm. He also is the radio color commentator for P.G. Cougars’ home games. Hartley has been on the Prince George airwaves since 1979 and is the author of You Don’t Say (sports quotes).