Very slim margin of error

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This article was published 25/09/2023 (1085 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The most unpredictable curling event of the season begins Wednesday in Oakville, Ont.

It’s the second annual PointsBet Invitational — a single-knockout tournament featuring the top-16 women’s and men’s teams from across Canada — and Manitoba will be well-represented once again.

A year ago, ‘Toba teams skipped by Jennifer Jones and Reid Carruthers each outlasted the competition to bring home $50,000 champions cheques from Fredericton, N.B.

Despite that great run in the inaugural event, Jones can’t help but feel a bit uneasy this time around.

“The single-elimination part is a really different format. And I don’t know, sometimes it’s hard to change the traditionalist in me. But it’s definitely a unique event,” the decorated veteran curler said during a recent interview.

Jones’ No. 3-seeded team from Winnipeg takes on Alberta’s Myla Plett in Round 1 action Thursday at 1 p.m. CT. The winners move on, while the defeated are done.

“It’s hard to go there for one game if you lose your first game,” said Jones.

Gimli’s Kerri Einarson is the top seed and plays Alberta’s Josie Zimmerman Wednesday at 1 p.m. Winnipeg’s Kaitlyn Lawes is ranked fourth and opens against an Alberta’s Abby Marks on the same draw.

TSN begins its curling-season TV coverage Wednesday.

Jones, who missed the playoffs on the weekend at the AMJ Campbell Shorty Jenkins Classic in Cornwall, Ont., will have to try to replicate last season’s success without the help of Mackenzie Zacharias. The 24-year-old from Altona is taking a step back from the sport this season.

“I think she really just wanted to focus on other things in her life and just re-evaluate what she wanted to do. So, I totally respect that decision and support her. Now we’re just trying to move ahead with all of us and just see what we can do together,” said Jones, who is supported by third Karlee Burgess, second Emily Zacharias and lead Lauren Lenentine.

“We’re gonna work hard. We had a ton of fun last year and, hopefully, we’ll have even more fun this year and just try to plug away and see what happens. Make some shots, keep working hard, and usually good things happen.”

Three Winnipeg teams on the men’s side include third-ranked Matt Dunstone, fifth-ranked Carruthers, and ninth-ranked Ryan Wiebe.

On Wednesday at 6 p.m., Carruthers squares off with Alberta’s Johnson Tao, while Wiebe meets Ontario’s John Epping. Dunstone plays Thursday night at 6 p.m. against Sam Mooibroek of Ontario,

“We knew we were in the mix at the end of the (2022-23) season. The top-10 teams get in and we were kind of right around that 10 mark so we weren’t sure,” said Wiebe. “And there were some team shakeups so we weren’t sure if new teams would have all the points transferred and whatnot. But we got an email from (Curling Canada) in July that we were one of the invitees and that we basically just slipped in as the ninth or 10th ranked team, so we were super excited.”

For the 23-year-old skip and his Fort Rouge crew of third Ty Dilello, second Sean Flatt and lead Adam Flatt, this is the biggest stage they’ve competed on.

If they get past Epping, they’ll likely play two-time reigning Brier champion Brad Gushue of St. John’s N.L., in Round 2.

“I think we’re capable of beating some of these good teams if we stick to our game and put some good ends together. I think the goal for us this week is obviously win Game 1 and see where it goes from there,” said Wiebe. “I know we hope to rattle off a few wins, but coming from our position, you look down the road and you’re like, ‘Oh, Gushue (in) Game 2, and then (Kevin) Koe or someone Game 3.

“It’s definitely a tough road, but we’re looking to have a really solid first game and then carry the momentum from there.”

taylor.allen@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @TaylorAllen31