Team Nunavut wrapped up its second appearance at the Scotties Tournament of Hearts with a 1-7 record, but skip Julia Weagle called it a valuable learning opportunity. The Iqaluit Curling Club rink lost its final game 10-4 to Manitoba but secured one win against Prince Edward Island. Weagle and coach Colin Hodgson expressed pride in the team's progress against top Canadian competition.
The Scotties Tournament of Hearts, Canada's premier women's curling championship, concluded its round-robin phase in Mississauga, Ontario, with Team Nunavut gaining insights despite falling short of playoff qualification.
Representing the Iqaluit Curling Club, skip Julia Weagle led her rink—third Sadie Pinksen, second Leigh Gustafson, and lead Alison Taylor—to a final record of one win and seven losses. Their sole victory came early in the tournament, an 8-5 defeat of Prince Edward Island, providing a highlight in an otherwise challenging week. The team ended on Thursday with a 10-4 loss to Manitoba.
Weagle, reflecting on the event that ran from January 23 to early February, emphasized the educational value. "We had a good week," she said. "I think we hung in there with the best teams in the country. So we’re pretty proud of how we did."
This marked an improvement from their debut last year, when they went winless in eight games. "I think every game is a good learning experience for us," Weagle noted. "We don’t get to play on tour or anything like that. So we’re really learning every game as we go."
She appreciated the familiarity this time around: "I had a better idea of what to expect and how to manage the week. I think every experience just kind of builds on what we did before. So, I was definitely less nervous coming in this year."
Coach Colin Hodgson shared positive feedback from peers. "I had a lot of great comments from some great coaches of other teams in the locker room that they’re noticing change and they’re really impressed," he said.
The 18-team tournament showcased elite competition, and while more wins were hoped for, Weagle acknowledged the high bar: "You need to do all the little things really, really well, really, really consistently to hang in with these teams."
Overall, the squad views the outing as a step forward in their development.
