‘Not exactly where we have envisioned we would be’: Lotts 2-2 overall at Canadian mixed doubles curling trials

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This article was published 31/12/2024 (637 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Colton and Kadriana Lott are sliding on thin ice.

Another 1-1 day at the Canadian mixed doubles curling trials on Tuesday leaves the couple from Winnipeg Beach at 2-2 overall and with little room for another slip-up over their remaining four round-robin games.

“Not exactly where we have envisioned we would be but we know what we need to do and the backs are up against the wall going forward here,” Colton told the Free Press Tuesday evening.

They’re looking up at Brett Gallant and Jocelyn Peterman of Alberta (4-0) and Lisa Weagle and John Epping of Ontario (3-1), while tied for third with British Columbia’s Jaelyn and Jim Cotter and New Brunswick’s Jennifer Armstrong and B.C.’s Tyrel Griffith in Pool B.

The top three teams in each pool earn a berth to the playoffs, which begin Thursday evening.

The Lotts, playing in their first Olympic trial for mixed doubles, have looked the part of its No. 5 national ranking to begin each of the first two days in Liverpool, N.S. but have followed with underwhelming performances in the evening draw.

Tuesday started with a convincing 8-5 victory over Taylor Reese-Hansen and Corey Chester of B.C. that saw the Manitobans have their best outing of the tournament. Kadriana shot 88 per cent on 16 rocks while Colton tossed at an 85 per cent efficient on 24 stones.

The deciding moment came in the fifth end when the B.C. tandem’s power play produced only one point against the Lotts’ stout defence. The Manitobans activated their power play in the following end and scored three to take a two-point lead into the final frame.

They thwarted any attempt at a late comeback by stealing one in the eighth end.

Reese-Hansen and Chester are 1-3 and at risk of missing the playoffs, as are Riley Sandham and Brendan Craig of Ontario, and Alex Robichaud and Melissa Adams of New Brunswick, both of which are at 1-3.

Later, it was an 8-5 defeat against Armstrong and Griffith that saw the Lotts dig a 5-0 hole in the first three ends that they were never able to recover from. They shot a combined 68 per cent on their 40 stones.

The Lotts will ring in the new year against Sandham and Craig at 8 a.m. CT and Weagle and Epping at 3 p.m on Wednesday. They wrap up the round-robin against Gallant and Peterman on Thursday at 8 a.m.

Games can be watched on Curling Canada’s YouTube channel and TSN+.

Elsewhere, Rachel Homan and Brendan Bottcher of Alberta are undefeated at the top of Pool A at 4-0. They lead Laura Walker and Kirk Muyres, and Rylan Kleiter and Brittany Tran, each at 3-1.

Winnipeg-born curling legend Jennifer Jones and her husband Brent Laing, out of Ontario, have experienced some uneven play and are 2-2 alongside Evan Van Amsterdam and Paige Papley of Alberta.

Jessica Zheng and Victor Pietrangelo, and Nancy Martin and Steve Laycock are both at 1-3 while Quebec’s Robert Desjardins and Anne-Sophie Gionest are effectively eliminated from playoff contention at 0-4.

joshua.frey-sam@freepress.mb.ca

Joshua Frey-Sam
Reporter

Josh Frey-Sam reports on sports and business at the Free Press. Josh got his start at the paper in 2022, just weeks after graduating from the Creative Communications program at Red River College. He reports primarily on amateur teams and athletes in sports. Read more about Josh.

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