Kerry GalushaSA国际影视传媒檚 last Canadian womenSA国际影视传媒檚 curling championship is about the next generation in the NWT.
Her 18 appearances at the Scotties Tournament of Hearts is tied for second all-time with Jennifer Jones behind leader Colleen Jones (21).
Galusha, 47, thought she would retire last year. The chance to play a Tournament of Hearts with her 15-year-old daughter Sydney as a teammate kept the mother playing to 2025.
SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 pretty special,SA国际影视传媒� Galusha said. SA国际影视传媒淚SA国际影视传媒檝e heard a lot of people say that ISA国际影视传媒檓 passing the torch off to the younger generation, and I think thatSA国际影视传媒檚 how it should be.
SA国际影视传媒淭hereSA国际影视传媒檚 not a lot of curlers up in the North and NWT and ISA国际影视传媒檓 not sure whoSA国际影视传媒檚 going to follow in my footsteps, even Sydney. She probably wonSA国际影视传媒檛 move on to ladies right away, so weSA国际影视传媒檒l see what happens.SA国际影视传媒�
Curling Canada states that Sydney is believed to be the youngest competitor ever at a Tournament of Hearts.
SheSA国际影视传媒檚 accustomed to SA国际影视传媒減laying up.SA国际影视传媒� Sydney was 13 at the 2023 Canadian under-18 championship. She was 14 last year in the national under-20 tournament.
Sydney and GalushaSA国际影视传媒檚 16-year-old alternate Ella Skauge, who will get ice time rotating in for lead Shona Barbour, will represent NWT in next monthSA国际影视传媒檚 under-20 championship in Summerside, P.E.I.
SA国际影视传媒淚SA国际影视传媒檓 super-excited to compete against the best curlers in Canada, and itSA国际影视传媒檒l help me get experience for the U-20s that ISA国际影视传媒檓 going to in March,SA国际影视传媒� Sydney said.
Sydney throws second stones, but is her motherSA国际影视传媒檚 vice in Thunder Bay, Ont.
SA国际影视传媒淪ydney is pretty young. She doesnSA国际影视传媒檛 always listen to me, so itSA国际影视传媒檚 interesting, but she holds the broom for me and we work really well in the house together,SA国际影视传媒� Galusha said.
SA国际影视传媒淧laying second, itSA国际影视传媒檚 a bit less pressure for her than throwing last rock or playing third. And at 15, sheSA国际影视传媒檚 an amazing curler. SheSA国际影视传媒檚 going to be a way better curler than I ever was, and ISA国际影视传媒檓 excited to be on the ice with her.SA国际影视传媒�
The teenager said she wasnSA国际影视传媒檛 nervous in her debut Saturday, which was an 8-4 loss to ManitobaSA国际影视传媒檚 Kate Cameron.
SA国际影视传媒淚t was intense, but it was good,SA国际影视传媒� Sydney said. SA国际影视传媒淭hereSA国际影视传媒檚 less misses than in juniors. If a team misses, you really have to capitalize on their miss.SA国际影视传媒�
Curling Canada doesnSA国际影视传媒檛 count the years of the play-in tournament from 2015 to 2017, nor times as an alternate as official appearances.
Add those in and GalushaSA国际影视传媒檚 been in on 22 national championships over a span of 27 years.
SydneySA国际影视传媒檚 first memory of her mother competing in the Hearts was at age seven, when she was in Penticton, B.C. to watch her compete.
SA国际影视传媒淪heSA国际影视传媒檚 such a good leader and I canSA国际影视传媒檛 wait to learn from her,SA国际影视传媒� Sydney said. SA国际影视传媒淒uring games, it goes pretty smoothly. During practice, I donSA国际影视传媒檛 always listen, but during games, itSA国际影视传媒檚 good.SA国际影视传媒�
GalushaSA国际影视传媒檚 brother Kevin Koe has won four Canadian menSA国际影视传媒檚 championships curling out of Alberta and her other brother Jamie has played in 17 Briers. The Koe family is synonymous with curling in the NWT.
But the travel, time and expense of competing on the tour in southern provinces are hurdles for northern teams. They arrive at national championships with less experience on arena ice.
Galusha has lost more games than sheSA国际影视传媒檚 won at the Hearts, but only a handful of women have played more.
SheSA国际影视传媒檚 been a tough competitor too, with upsets of Rachel Homan (2021), Jennifer Jones (2009), Amber Holland (2012) and Heather Nedohin (2012, 2013) along the way. She also took down Kerri Einarson of Manitoba, a four-time Scotties champion, on Tuesday morning by a score of 9-6.
Her team won a tiebreaker to reach the championship round of six in Thunder Bay in 2022.
GalushaSA国际影视传媒檚 expectations in Thunder Bay are more modest this time. SheSA国际影视传媒檚 back to throwing fourth stones after three years at lead rocks.
SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 going to be different. ISA国际影视传媒檝e had a team where the last few years, our goal was playoffs,SA国际影视传媒� Galusha said. SA国际影视传媒淲eSA国际影视传媒檙e just here to help Ella and Sydney learn.SA国际影视传媒�
SydneySA国际影视传媒檚 other sport is basketball. SheSA国际影视传媒檒l be a shooting guard for the NWT in the Canada Summer Games in August.
If her daughter wants to take on the mantle of womenSA国际影视传媒檚 curling in the NWT, the mother is ready to mentor her from the coachSA国际影视传媒檚 bench.
SA国际影视传媒淚SA国际影视传媒檓 content to retire and maybe moving onto coaching and pass my knowledge on there,SA国际影视传媒� Galusha said. SA国际影视传媒淵ouSA国际影视传媒檒l see me again. Just in a different capacity.SA国际影视传媒�
See photos of the team in action on page 11.
SA国际影视传媒擝y Donna Spencer, The Canadian Press
