Thunder Bay’s team, Krista McCarville, has declined the Northern Ontario Curling Association’s invitation to represent the region at the Scotties Tournament of Hearts 2021.
As Northern Ontario defending champions, the team of Skip McCarville, third Kendra Lilly, second Ashley Sippala and lead Sarah Potts received an invitation from NOCA earlier this month after provincial playdowns were canceled. However, they were forced to decline the invitation to participate in the Calgary curling bubble, citing travel restrictions and family and work commitments. McCarville works as a teacher in Thunder Bay.
“It is heartbreaking to announce that our team will decline the invitation to represent Northern Ontario to the Scotties. That decision made us cry because we love the Scotties,” the team said on Twitter. “It is a very special event and our lifelong dream to win it. Our decision is the result of travel restrictions in our community and the impact that returning home would have on our families and our jobs.
“We’d like to thank NOCA for nominating our team. It’s always an honor to wear green and gold. We appreciate Curling Canada and all the hard work they have done this year to make the Scotties a reality. We have every confidence that your Calgary Bubble plan will be successful!
“As difficult as that is, we also recognize that many people have suffered significant losses from Covid. Our thoughts go out to all families who have lost loved ones … and our heartfelt appreciation goes to all of the staff on the front lines. Thank you very much, you to our family, friends and fans for your continued support. “
With McCarville out of the picture, NOCA must now decide who their agent will be. Team Krysta Burns lost to Team McCarville in the final against Northern Ontario last year and could be an option.
Team Brad Jacobs, Northern Ontario’s defending champion in the men’s race, has already accepted his invitation and will travel to Calgary.
Team McCarville was looking forward to the 2020-21 season as the Canadian Championship was to take place in their hometown of Thunder Bay. The Scotties as well as the Tim Hortons Brier in Kelowna, BC, where both moved into the bladder due to the global pandemic. Thunder Bay will now host the Scotties in 2022.
Participation in this year’s Canadian Championships is an important obligation for any participating team, as there are additional restrictions on competing in the Calgary Bubble and a possible quarantine period after returning home.
Earlier this month, Curling Canada announced that the Markin MacPhail Center at WinSport’s Canada Olympic Park in Calgary would act as the hub for major curling events this season, including the Scotties, Brier, the Men’s World Curling Championship and the Canadian Mixed -Doubles Curling Championship. The Grand Slam of Curling also hopes to host two events in the Calgary Bubble after the Season of Champions events. Everything is expected to start with the Scotties in February and end with the Grand Slams in April or May.
McCarville, 38, has made eight career appearances with the Scotties, half of them representing Northern Ontario. McCarville’s current foursome has been together since 2015 and has played the playoffs four times in a row. In the 2016 final he lost to Chelsea Carey from Alberta.
They fell to Ontario’s team Rachel Homan in the 3-on-4 playoffs last year in Moose Jaw, Sask.
