There have been as many surprising twists in the Canadian provincial women's curling playdowns this year as there have been in recent Super Bowls. And that's saying something.
"This is not the field I would have predicted. There is going to be a lot of youth on display and that's really good for the game," said Chris Atchison, chairman of the organizing committee for the 2009 Scotties Tournament of Hearts national championship which runs Feb. 21-March 1 at Save-on-Foods Memorial Centre.
The dance card is nearly full with 11 of the 12 rinks decided. Last up is Manitoba as the Keystone province holds its provincials this weekend.
The 2009 Scotties will be a good gauge for those wanting a glimpse of the future of Canadian women's curling.
"It represents a bit of the changing of the guard," said Atchison. "There are new faces, but also some with experience, so it's going to be a nice mix."
ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½ champion Marla Mallett will face some pressure as the home rink, but Atchison predicated she will do fine and rates her chances as solid.
If the balance in the field is looking to tip one way, it's toward defending-champion Jennifer Jones. The previous Canadian title holder annually has a guaranteed berth into to the next Scotties as Team ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½, with Jones featuring prominently in the advertising campaign for the 2009 Scotties.
"The tournament is shaping up as Team ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½'s to lose [because of Jones's talent and her experience of having gone through it all before]," said Atchison.
Meanwhile, with the weekend came the turning of the calendar. Atchison and his committee can now finally say "this month's" Scotties national tournament.
"Yeah, that sort of hit home," said Atchison.
"It's getting very busy with lots of the smaller details now to work out."
A rally was held Sunday for the more than 500 volunteers.
"There was a lot of energy in that room," noted Atchison. "They're ready to go."
Atchison added more than 70,000 tickets have been sold with the goal being 100,000. A total of 120,000 would represent a sellout for all sessions. The Scotties organizers hope to follow the strong support shown for recent international events hosted in the capital. The 2007 FIFA Under-20 World Cup drew sold-out crowds of 14,000 to Royal Athletic Park, the 2008 women's Olympic field-hockey qualifier for Beijing sold out for the finals at UVic, crowds in excess of 5,000 attended most sessions of the 2006 Skate ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½ International at the Memorial Centre, and Saanich Commonwealth Place was packed to watch Michael Phelps and the other international swim stars during the 2006 Pan Pacific championships.
The last major curling event hosted at the Memorial Centre was the 2005 world men's championship, in which 17 of the 21 draws sold out.
Atchison was vice-chairman of the 2005 men's worlds before taking over the top spot in the organizing committee for the 2009 Scotties.
"We are confident and comfortable that we too are headed toward hosting a great event," he said.
Atchison is an avid curler yet, perhaps predictably, hasn't had time to hit the ice himself as he is more concerned about smooth sliding for the Scotties rinks headed to town.
"I haven't even thrown a rock this year," he chuckled.
That's OK. There will be no shortage of them thrown at the Memorial Centre later this month.
