Einarson embraces challenge of changing lineups

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This article was published 14/11/2024 (563 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Call it a carousel, a roller-coaster or some other attraction, Kerri Einarson is ready to get off this twisted ride.

Icing a team on the curling sheet has been a never-ending game of musical chairs for the Gimli skip this season. It’s been a relief to have the same lineup in consecutive events.

Einarson, along with third Val Sweeting and alternate Krysten Karwacki, have welcomed three different spares since the campaign started in September, with regular lead Briane Harris and second Shannon Birchard out of the lineup.

“Definitely haven’t faced this in any of my curling career, having to juggle players. But I think we’ve had some success with it,” said Einarson, who has still managed to win twice this season— ironically, two more times than last year when her team was at full strength.

“I don’t really want to do it too much longer, but I just hope that we’ll have our full squad back soon.”

Harris continues to serve a suspension that dates back to the eve of February’s Scotties Tournament of Hearts when she was informed that she tested positive for trace amounts of Ligandrol, a banned substance.

Harris, who won four straight Canadian women’s championships with Einarson, Sweeting and Birchard, is not allowed any contact with the team while she is suspended.

The situation remains muddy 10 months later. Einarson still hasn’t heard an update on her lead’s appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

“Nothing, which is crazy. I don’t know what is happening there,” she said. “It’s been definitely challenging.”

Things took another turn for the worse during a training event in mid-August when Birchard tweaked her knee while sliding out to throw a rock. There wasn’t much concern at the time, but the pain persisted a couple of weeks later as the team prepared for its first event of the season in Edmonton.

“We went a few days early to practice, and she slid out and she was like, ‘Yeah, I can’t do it.’ I was like, ‘What?,’” said Einarson.

“She went and had an MRI — everything’s fine,” she said. “She went to see someone in Winnipeg and she said that was really helpful, and it is feeling better, so that’s a good sign. And she was able to throw with minimal pain so that’s a good sign. We’re just hoping she can get back out onto the ice and just practise more before any other event.”

Birchard’s spot has since been a revolving door, beginning with renowned mixed-doubles player Laura Walker of Alberta, who filled in for one event.

Then came Dawn McEwen, an Olympic and two-time world champion with Jennifer Jones, who helped the team win at the HearingLife Tour Challenge in Charlottetown last month. It was the sixth grand slam title of Einarson’s career and a major confidence boost for a team that wasn’t sure what this season would hold without two regulars.

“We were all pretty upset (when Birchard got hurt),” said Einarson. “We brought Dawn and Dawn brought a new light to us and kept it light out there, and that was one thing that we decided to do, is just let’s go back to the basics of loving the game again and just going out there and having fun and embracing every moment, and that’s what we did.”

Most recently, it was Joanne Courtney of Alberta, a former world champion who retired last year and was recruited from the broadcast booth. Courtney, who played third for Sweeting from 2011-14, filled in admirably and helped Team Einarson win again at the Saville Grand Prix in Edmonton earlier this month.

It’s been a difficult balancing act at times, acclimating to the differing play styles, but Einarson has embraced the challenge.

“We’re just going in it and putting no pressure on ourselves,” said Einarson, who credited Walker, McEwen and Courtney for their easygoing attitude. “I think that’s key. I know at the beginning, I was starting to put a little too much pressure on myself, feeling like we had something to prove, but we don’t.

“We just are going out there playing the game that we love.”

There’s no time to get comfortable, though. Another change is on the horizon.

With Birchard still unlikely to play in the Grand Slam of Curling National event in St. John’s later this month and Courtney unavailable, Einarson is unsure who will throw with the team next.

“We’re not sure what we’re going to do yet.”

The crazy ride carries on.

joshua.frey-sam@freepress.mb.ca

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