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Good day to all.
It’s kind of a big deal to remain objective in my line of work. During a nearly 35-year career split between news and sports writing, it’s been an easy standard to hit.
Indeed, a reporter might quietly pull for a certain outcome because it makes for a better story to tell. But in truth it’s no skin off my back how events ultimately unfold.
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I covered the Winnipeg Jets for the better part of five seasons, hoping only for no protracted pre-game ceremonies and no overtime or shootouts.
Root, root, root for a regulation victory, the optimal outcome when you’re writing to a tight deadline.
But I must admit I broke the cardinal rule earlier today. Pulverized it, actually.
Kadriana and Colton Lott, a married couple from Gimli, curled in the final of the Canadian mixed doubles championship in Fredericton, N.B., earlier today.
The Manitobans, who represent the Winnipeg Beach Curling Club, had been in a pair of previous national finals, losing both. They also finished third another time.
Well, the Lotts were golden today, staking claim to the title with a thrilling 7-5 win over Laura Walker and Kirk Muyres, who play out of Sherwood Park, Alta. And it came with some major final-end drama, which I was fortunate to watch live on a Curling Canada livestream.
After a back-and-forth battle through six ends, the Lotts scored two in the seventh end to lead by one coming home. In the eighth, Walker needed to make a ridiculously difficult triple-takeout with her last rock — and nearly pulled it off. She removed a couple of yellow Lott stones but left one in the back four-foot. A Walker-Muyres red rock was at the top of the four-foot, and the view from the overhead camera looked like the stones were dead even.
But after not one but two measures by an umpire, the Lotts had a steal of one and the victory.
I fist-pumped the air. Might have yelled “Yes!” too. My office door was closed but likely a few in the newsroom heard it.
Whatevs.
I’m absolutely delighted for Kadriana and Colton, who combined to form one of the country’s finest mixed-doubles duos for the last six or seven years and now finally have a title to show for it.
Kadriana and Colton Lott earned a 7-5 win over Laura Walker and Kirk Muyres Friday. (Rob Blanchard / Curling Canada)
They have committed plenty of time and energy into mastering this challenging and fast-paced form of the game, which continues to gain popularity in all corners of the curling world.
And they’re incredibly nice people.
I talked to them after they lost the 2021 final to the “super team” of Kerri Einarson, also from the Gimli area, and Brad Gushue. A lot of heartache that day for the Lotts. A bittersweet triumph for Kerri, as well, who shed tears of joy but was a bit torn because it came at the expense of friends.
Away on vacation, she was thrilled the Lotts had finally broken through.
“So happy for them. They’ve lost a couple of finals and to finally win their first is always an amazing feeling,” Kerri said by text. “I can’t wait to cheer them on at worlds.”
Right, the worlds.
The Lotts will head to Sweden in late April to compete with the Maple Leaf on their backs. They’ve also punched their ticket — along with silver medallists Walker/Muyres and bronze winners Jocelyn Peterman and Brent Gallant — to the national mixed doubles Olympic Trials in late 2024 in Liverpool, N.S.
So, there was lots on the line for the Lotts today.
Good-news story, right? I thought so.
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