Sahaidak, Lott advance to mixed doubles championship game

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This article was published 24/03/2021 (1838 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Kadriana Sahaidak and Colton Lott already have a pair of medals proving their elite capability in Canadian mixed doubles.

But it’s the trinket with the gold hue they crave most.

Sahaidak and Lott, the Interlake’s “it” couple when it comes to curling, ran the table Wednesday to book a spot in the national championship finale tonight at 8 p.m.

“It would mean everything to finally break through,” said Lott, 25. “We had such a close run there in 2018, and to be able to have a second go at it, we’ll be ready to go.”

The twosome, representing Winnipeg Beach, awaits the survivor of an afternoon semifinal at Calgary’s WinSport Arena, set for 3 p.m. Two curling giants, Kerri Einarson of Gimli and Brad Gushue of St. John’s, N.L., battle the Alberta duo of John Morris and Danielle Schmiemann.

Sahaidak and Lott posted a 7-6 triumph over Morris and Schmiemann in the evening 1 vs. 2 Page playoff game.

The partners, engaged to be married in July, 2022, took home a silver medal in 2018 after losing the national final to Laura Walker and Kirk Muyres in Leduc, Alta. A year later, they settled for bronze at the event in Fredericton.

Is this the week they ascend to the throne?

“It would prove ourselves as a team,” said Sahaidak, 21. “We’re here every time to show everyone what we have and what we’ve got. I think we’re a strong team and it shows that each year, and we’re just looking forward to being in the final once again.”

They’ve now registered seven straight wins and are 9-1 since the 35-team championship began last Thursday inside the competitive bubble. That ups their remarkable record to 26-4 in three appearances.

It’s what they do. They’re darned good at it. And they cherish the bond that strengthens, seemingly, with every performance.

“We try to leave our curling game and our (life together) separately. Sometimes, it doesn’t go that way. But just being with him, I even said (Wednesday) morning it’s just such an awesome opportunity to play with your partner in life,” said Sahaidak, demonstrably emotional.

Earlier in the day, the Manitobans defeated Jocelyn Peterman and Brent Gallant 8-7 in an extra end, ousting the reigning champions to solidify a spot in the four-team Page playoffs.

Sahaidak’s closing delivery was sheer perfection, nestling her yellow stone to the nail hole of the button to out-count a pair of reds.

“I had full confidence in her making that shot. There’s nobody else that I’d rather be throwing that shot, for sure,” Lott said. “She’s made so many of them and I just know she’s going to be really close all the time.”

Hours later, they pinned an 8-5 defeat on Einarson and Gushue, a union of the two-time reigning Scotties champion and a three-time Brier winner.

The victory came with a substantial perk: a berth in the Canadian mixed doubles Olympic trials.

“Are you serious? Thank you very much… awesome,” said Lott.

Sixteen teams will compete in early ‘22 for the chance to represent Canada at the 2022 Winter Games in Beijing.

Lott and Sahaidak don’t possess the curling resumes of many of the all-stars here, however, they’ve spent more time than most honing their skills in the mixed doubles.

“Through our accomplishments and through the time we’ve been playing, we’ve learned so much about the game,” Lott said. “Personally, the strategy I call during the game is way different than when we started. It’s a little bit more aggressive and really trying to get the best angles as possible.”

Canada’s champions will travel to the aptly nicknamed Granite City for the world mixed doubles championship in late spring.

The port city of Aberdeen, located in northeast Scotland, will host the championship, May 17-23, with strict COVID-19 protocols in place, not unlike the Calgary bubble.

Einarson and Gushue rebounded in the evening 3 vs. 4 game, sidelining Walker and Muyres with an 8-6 decision.

It’s the first time they’ve joined forces and certainly made the experience count, securing the second Olympic trials berth on the line.

“I’ve learned a lot this entire week, the whole strategy of it. Brad points out shots and I’m like, ‘Oh, yeah. Let’s play that.’ But in women’s I’m pretty aggressive as well. I know my angles pretty well. Brad and I have been getting along really good out there,” said Einarson, winner of a second straight Canadian women’s title just weeks ago.

The team blasted former Winnipegger Jennifer Jones and her husband, Brent Laing, 11-2 in the early draw Wednesday.

“The ice has been great all week, and we were just a little bit heavy in the first end and missed everything on the high side, they got their rocks in really good spots and had us in massive trouble,” said Jones.

The couple plays out of the Alliston Club south of Barrie, Ont. “They ended up getting five and it’s hard to come back.”

Schmiemann and her regular partner, Jason Ginter, were first on the wait list for the event. But then Morris, whose most recent partner, Rachel Homan, is due to have a baby, came calling.

“I had to beg, borrow and plead to get her on the team,” said Morris, who, with Winnipeg’s Kaitlyn Lawes, captured the first mixed doubles Olympic gold medal ever (2018).

Morris and Schmiemann edged Shannon Birchard of Winnipeg and Catlin Schneider 8-7 in a morning quarter-final game.

jason.bell@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @WFPJasonBell