CurlingZone: Walker wins Alberta Curling Series Avonair

Laura Walker with victory in all-Alberta event with provincial championship looming.

By: Cameron Sallaj

Alberta Curling Series Avonair came to a close Sunday afternoon at the Avonair Curling Club in Edmonton, with Walker taking on Casey Scheidegger in the championship game. Scheidegger earned a bye to the final as they were the number one seed in the round-robin. Walker had to fight their way through the semifinal, where they defeated Adele Kezama 8-3.

Scheidegger, throwing the blue rocks, began the game with hammer and blanked the opening end.

With the red stones, Walker took a steal of one in the second end. In the third, Scheidegger responded with a single of their own, tying the game at one a piece heading into the fourth.

Laura Walker and her team scored the only multiple point end of the game in the fourth with a deuce to lead 3-1 at the break. They added to their total in the fifth with a single point steal to take a commanding three-point lead.

Scheidegger cut into Walker's lead in the sixth with a single, but it wasn't enough as Walker took another point in the seventh to lead 5-2, heading into the final frame. Laura Walker's rink out of Edmonton then ran Scheidegger out of rocks in the eighth end to secure the event title.

This was a big win for Team Walker as not only was it their first event title of the 2021-22 season, but it also gives them significant momentum heading into the 2022 Alberta Scotties Tournament of Hearts, set to be held January 3 - 9 in Grande Prairie.

Walker’s previous best event was at the Saville Shoot Out, where they lost to Kim Eun-jung in the final at the beginning of the season. The team posted a disappointing 3-5 record at the Olympic Trials, failing to qualify for the playoffs. Laura Walker is backed up by third Kate Cameron, second Taylor McDonald, and lead Nadine Scotland.

Many of the teams that competed in Edmonton this weekend will be part of the provincial championship in January. Notable teams that missed the playoffs include Selena Sturmay (2-2) and Kelsey Rocque (1-3). Krysta Hilker (2-2), Marla Sherrer (1-3) and Melissa Pierce (1-3) rounded out the field of eight.

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