MOOSEJAWTODAY.COM -- With everything she’s accomplished in her career as one of Canada’s top wheelchair curlers, it would be easy for Moose Jaw’s Marie Wright to rest on her laurels and not worry too much about picking up another title.
But if there’s anything that rings true in any sport, it’s that winning Canadian championships never gets old -- especially when you have something a little extra to play for.
So Wright will be back on the ice this Sunday afternoon as Saskatchewan 1 begins their run at the Canadian Wheelchair Curling Championship at the Moose Jaw Curling Centre.
Wright will play third on the team and joins skip Gil Dash in going for their fifth national title, while second Moose Gibson will be shooting for his fourth championship and lead Sheryl Pederson her first.
“It’s still very cool to be a part of this and it’s really nice to be able to play at home again,” Wright said during a practice session shortly after the Saskatchewan teams were announced.
“We’re out there to defend the title, but we know we have to keep pushing to get there, and we know people will be out to get us. There will be some different teams and different players that we haven’t seen before but we know it’ll be a challenge again and hopefully we can do really well.”
The event will mark the second year in a row wheelchair curling nationals will be held in Moose Jaw, with the Dash-skipped crew winning the title on home ice last spring.
One of the things that made that event so fun was the local crowd support, especially in the final when the entire upstairs viewing area was filled with Saskatchewan supporters cheering on Wright and crew.
“That’s always so much fun,” Wright said. “When you’re wheeling down the ice you look up and see all the people up there and it’s amazing. It’s incredible to have that kind of support, especially when we usually play far away from home. It’s always nice to see familiar faces in the stands.”
A couple of especially familiar faces are one of the reasons Wright is hoping a fifth title is in the mix during their 10-plus games this week.
“I think the big thing keeping motivated this year is with the grandkids (Kinley and Bria Gottselig) living in town, they have been telling their teammates and teachers and everyone wants to come out and watch,” Wright said with a huge grin. “So we want to do well for them for sure… They got to skip school last year to come and watch so they were pretty excited about that.”
It all begins on Sunday at 3 p.m. at the Moose Jaw Events Centre, whey they take on Rod Pederson and Saskatchewan 2 in the tournament’s opening draw.
Tickets are $15 for a single draw, $25 for a day pass and $80 for an event pass, and here’s a quick look at Saskatchewan’s games throughout the coming week.
You can keep up to date with all the scores at www.curling.ca and be sure to keep an eye on moosejawtoday.com and sasktoday.com for regular updates.
Saskatchewan 1
Sunday, Mar. 24
3 p.m. - Saskatchewan 2 (Rod Pederson)
Monday, Mar. 25
1:30 p.m. - Bye
7 p.m. - Ontario 2 (Chris Rees)
Tuesday, Mar. 26
1:30 p.m. - Ontario 1 (Doug Morris)
6:30 p.m. - New Brunswick (Mike Fitzgerald)
Wednesday, Mar. 27
1:30 p.m. - B.C. (Gerry Austgarden)
6:30 p.m. - Manitoba (Dennis Thiessen)
Thursday. Mar. 28
1:30 p.m. - Newfoundland (Cecilia Carroll)
6:30 p.m. - Alberta 2 (Don Kuchelyma)
Friday, Mar. 29
10 a.m. - Quebec (Carl Marquis)
3 p.m. - Alberta 1 (Jack Smart)
Sunday, Mar. 30
10 a.m. - Semifinal
2:30 p.m. - Final
Saskatchewan 2
Sunday, Mar. 24
3 p.m. - Saskatchewan 1 (Gil Dash)
Monday, Mar. 25
1:30 p.m. - B.C. (Gerry Austgarden)
7 p.m. - Manitoba (Dennis Thiessen)
Tuesday, Mar. 26
1:30 p.m. - Alberta 1 (Jack Smart)
6:30 p.m. - Quebec (Carl Marquis)
Wednesday. Mar. 27
1:30 p.m. - Alberta 2 (Don Kuchelyma)
6:30 p.m. - Ontario 1 (Doug Morris)
Thursday, Mar. 28
1:30 p.m. - Ontario 2 (Chris Rees)
6:30 p.m. - Newfoundland (Cecilia Carroll)
Friday, Mar. 29
10 a.m. - New Brunswick (Mike Fitzgerald)
3 p.m. - Bye
Sunday, Mar. 30
10 a.m. - Semifinal
2:30 p.m. - Final
