KENORA – The Northern Ontario Scotties Tournament of Hearts play-downs will not take place next month.
The Northern Ontario Curling Association announced on Wednesday that they’ve cancelled the provincial women’s curling championship in Kenora, but has yet to determine how it will designate a team to represent the region at the Scotties Tournament of Hearts.
Krista McCarville, the favourite to emerge out of the four-team field, said she’s not sure what the decision means.
“Not exactly sure what it means for us right now,” she said in a text message.
The McCarville foursome, which includes Sarah Potts, Ashley Sippala and Kendra Lilly, are the top-ranked Northern Ontario team according to the Canadian Team Ranking System, ranked 10th in the country.
The Scotties Tournament of Hearts is being contested in Thunder Bay, starting on Jan. 28.
The chair of the organizing committee in Kenora confirmed the cancellation of the women’s event.
The eight-team men’s event may possibly be rescheduled, according to a NOCA release.
A co-chair of the local Scotties Tournament of Hearts committee said the competition at Fort William Gardens is still slated to go ahead.
Earlier this month ticket sales for the Thunder Bay Scotties were halted when the Ontario government cut capacity limits at indoor sporting events.
The cancellation was first reported by CBC's Devin Heroux.
