By Jim Bender
The greatest women’s curler in Canadian history – and arguably the world history – is heading back to the Olympics.
Winnipeg’s Jennifer Jones needed an extra end to nip East. St. Paul’s Tracy Fleury 6-5 in an all-Manitoban Canadian Curling Trials final in Saskatoon on Sunday to book a trip to the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing, China, Feb. 9-20.
With third Kaitlyn Lawes and lead Dawn McEwen, Jones won the gold medal at the 2014 Olympics.
“Going to the Olympics is a dream-come-true and getting to do it twice is just such a privilege,” Jones told TSN. “And to get to do it with these girls – we’ve had our ups and downs and we’ve worked our butt off this last year just to see what we can do on the ice, and the support we show each other is just phenomenal. It’s truly a privilege to share the ice with them.”
Jones also shares the ice with second Jocelyn Peterman, who is heading to her first Olympics, and alternate Lisa Weagle, who played lead for Rachel Homan at the 2018 Olympics.
Jones actually blew a chance to win the game when she missed her last shot in the 10th end, then watched Fleury wreck on a guard with the hammer in the extra to steal the victory.
“I couldn’t believe I missed that shot in 10 and I never would have forgiven myself,” Jones said. “So, maybe my Dad was looking down on us (in the extra end).”
Her father, Larry Jones – who had coached Jennifer for years – passed away in 2019.
“This is the first time I’ve won without my dad,” Jones told reporters. “He would have been so proud … I just love him so much and wish he could have been here.”
It was a heart-breaking loss for the Fleury foursome that had posted an unblemished 8-0 record at the trials.
“It’s disappointing, for sure,” Fleury said. “We thought we had lost (in the 10th). Jen makes that shot 99% of the time. It was hard to calm ourselves back down. We felt lucky to be able to go to an extra and we really wanted to pull it off there, but I didn’t make my last two shots.”
Fleury is still the top-ranked women’s squad in the world.
“We’re very proud of ourselves,” said third Selena Njegovan. “It’s just unfortunate that we went undefeated and lost that final game.”
Jones, who defeated Northern Ontario’s Krista McCarville 8-3 in the semifinal, has also won a record-tying six Canadian crowns and two world championships.
Lawes, meanwhile, also won Olympic gold in Mixed Doubles with Winnipeg-born John Morris at the 2018 Olympics.
“Pinch me, I’m in shock,” Lawes said. “I’m so happy.”
McCarville had eliminated Gimli’s Kerri Einarson, the reigning two-time Scotties champ, in another tie-breaker.
On the men’s side, Newfoundland’s Brad Gushue edged Northern Ontario’s Brad Jacobs 4-3 in the final to earn a second trip to the Winter Olympics. With third Mark Nichols, Gushue won Olympic gold back in 2006.
“It’s incredible,” said Gushue, who now has Geoff Walker and Brett Gallant on his front end. “I love these guys … They’ve stuck with me. We’ve had a great run over these last eight years and hopefully, it’s going to continue.”
Gallant, by the way, is engaged to Peterman.
Jacobs had beaten Alberta’s former Olympian Kevin Koe in the semifinal.
West St. Paul’s Mike McEwen had finished short of the playoffs with a respectable 4-4 record.
