Nancy McConnery opens the Scotties Tournament of Hearts Canadian women’s curling championship against Manitoba on Saturday night in Victoria.
McConnery’s Dartmouth rink, featuring third Jennifer Crouse, second Sheena Gilman and lead Jill Thomas, is coming off an upset victory over Mary Anne Arsenault of Mayflower in the provincial Scotties last month.
It’s been a remarkable year for McConnery, who quickly recovered after surgery for a torn meniscus in her knee in December that forced her to take three weeks off.
The 45-year-old is making her fourth trip to the Scotties. She represented New Brunswick in 1993 and 1995 and carried the colours for Nova Scotia in 2003.
Defending champion Jennifer Jones, Saskatchewan’s Stefanie Lawton, Alberta’s Cheryl Bernard and Quebec’s Marie-France Larouche are the early favourites.
McConnery’s opening match is at 11 p.m. against Barb Spencer. She faces Jones and Bernard on Sunday.
The round robin concludes next Thursday and the championship game is on Saturday at 9 p.m. on TSN.
