What a difference a year can make. At the 2010 Scotties, Team SK skipped by Amber Holland had a tough time getting out of the hack in the early going, but this year its a complete 180. Holland, Kim Schneider, Tammy Schneider, Heather Kalenchuk and alternate Jolene Campbell are firing on all cylinders. The team has raced out to a 4-0 record and sit at thye top of the standings. Now, the Scotties will be won on Sunday, but you can’t get to the finals without a good record and Team SK certainly has given themselves as good a chance as any.
“Feels good to have more wins in the win column than losses for sure,” said Holland after a 7-6 win over Alberta this morning. Holland had a huge 8th end where she scored four and was in control after that to take the win. Some out there still feel that the team making just its 2nd appearance at the Scotties is still a bit of an underdog, but not this group. Their 4-0 record includes wins over the 3-time reigning champ Jennifer Jones and Shannon Kleibrink’s Alberta group, both who were considered favorites at the start of the week.
Its no fluke that the 306 is where they are. They’ve won the Schmirler classic, beat the best teams in the world and right now, feel they are as much a favorite as anyone. A year after going 6-5, the group seems to have found their comfort zone. “I think we are just more comfortable. We are just focusing on what we can control and managing it all well, on and off the ice,” was Holland’s response when asked what is different from her first appearance as skip last year.
How does she plan to keep the momentum rolling? Well, “Keep doing the things we are doing well. Work towards sharpening some of the things we need to work on. Patience is key in a week like this.”
It seems that her patience is becoming the team’s virtue.
If you want to follow along with the team while they are in PEI, check out Jolene, their 5th & 1/2, on twitter. Jolene is tweeting from rinkside during the action and keeping up to date with all that’s going on. Follow her @Jr_Campbell
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