YORKTON - It was close but not close enough for the Nancy Martin foursome who carried the Saskatchewan colours at the Scotties Tournament of Hearts from Feb. 14-23 in Thunder Bay, Ont.
The team finished with a solid 5-3 record on the week, but key losses left the team of skip Martin, third Chaelynn Stewart, second Kadriana Lott, and lead Deanna Doig out of the playoffs.
“We lost in an extra end to B.C.,” recalled Martin, adding a win in that game, “we get to the playoffs.”
The situation is one Martin said reaffirms curling is “a slippery sport.”
The extra-end loss not withstanding, Martin said the team played well, after a big first game win against Northern Ontario, which was essentially the home team in Thunder Bay.
Martin said “right from the first game against Northern Ontario . . . the crowd was intense,” adding her team was “so dialed in” during the week.
From there “it was a few shots here or there,” said Martin.
While the team was outside the playoffs Martin herself was in for some special recognition as she was awarded the Marj Mitchell Sportsmanship Award which is the sportsmanship award at the annual Scotties Tournament of Hearts. Mitchell, for who the award is named curled for Saskatchewan and captured the 1980 World Curling Championships, and the 1980 Canadian Ladies Curling Association Championship, the forerunner to the Scott Tournament of Hearts.
“I think for me curling has always had a special place in my heart,” Martin told Yorkton This Week. “. . . There is a bigger part than winning.”
Martin reminded that an event like the Scotties there is ultimately only one winner “. . . Only one happy team,” and even they – this year the Rachel Homan rink – are immediately looking toward worlds “always chasing the next win.”
So it’s important to take the process as a positive.
“You’ve got to enjoy the road, because it’s a long road,” said Martin.
Martin said that she tries to enjoy every game and that is recognized by teammates and competitors with the award “it is very meaningful.”
On four previous occasions the award was presented to Sherry Anderson (2004, 2014, 2015, 2018), who was coach for team Martin this year, and someone Martin had curled with in the past, something that added to her being selected this year.
“I think playing with Sherry, it really taught me there is more to the sport,” said Martin, adding while Anderson was fiercely competitive “she was also one of the most social curlers you’ll ever meet.”
So now Martin will be watching team Homan at the worlds, adding have played her she is keenly aware they are at the top of their game.
“It was really cool to play a team like that when they’re at that level . . . It was really inspiring to be on the ice with her,” said Martin, adding it gave her and her team insights into what they need to focus on as they look to next year.
But now Martin will just be a fan.
“We’re excited to watch her (Homan) . . . We’re super-excited for curling in Canada,” she said.
The LGT World Women’s Curling Championship 2025 starts March 15 in Uijeongbu, South Korea.
