Staff
The new kids on the block were hanging tough until the more experienced band showed they still have the right stuff.
Tracy Fleury led her Sudbury-based rink, which includes Devlin native Jenna Walsh (nee Enge) at second, to a runaway 14-5 victory over a Thunder Bay squad skipped by Fort Frances native Hailey Beaudry last night in the opening draw at the 2017 Scotties provincial women’s championship in Nipigon.
Beaudry, with former Muskie teammate Erin Tomalty of Nestor Falls at lead, staggered the two-time provincial champs with steals of one in the first end and two in the second.
Fleury steadied herself by scoring a deuce in the third, but gave those two right back in the fourth to trail 5-2.
The ice tilted heavily away from Beaudry after that as Fleury nabbed a four-ender in the fifth to lead 6-5.
She the stole points the rest of the way, including one in the sixth and a whopping five in the seventh.
Fleury stole two more in the eighth to induce Beaudry to shake hands.
The night’s other game saw defending champ Krista McCarville dump fellow Thunder Bay skip Larissa Mikkelson 9-2 in just five ends.
McCarville and Beaudry faced off this afternoon while Fleury tangled with Mikkelson (scores were unavailable at press time).
Tonight’s action will see Fleury square off against McCarville, the co-favourites in the four-team field, while Beaudry clashes with Mikkelson.
The double round-robin event continues through Saturday.
The winner will represent Northern Ontario at the Scotties Tournament of Hearts national women’s championship Feb. 18-26 in St. Catharines.
