Erickson aids Team Tirinzoni in opening win at KIOTI Tractor Champions Cup
REGINA — Rachel Erickson has been brushing up on her sweeping skills and her Swiss German.
Erickson, from Maryfield, Sask., got the emergency call to fill in at lead on Silvana Tirinzoni’s team ahead of the KIOTI Tractor Champions Cup.
Although Erickson admitted her Swiss German is a little rusty, she’s picked up quickly helping the reigning world champions shut out Team Hasselborg 11-0 during the opening draw Tuesday at the Co-operators Centre.
“It’s so fun,” said Erickson, who played with Chelsea Carey’s Manitoba-based club this season. “It was very last minute, I got the call yesterday. It took some convincing to get away that quickly, but I’m happy I could join and seem to be settling in well.”
Team Hasselborg is also playing with a mixed-up roster. Anna Hasselborg is away on maternity leave and Sara McManus has moved up to throw fourth stones with Agnes Knochenhauer, who is also expecting a baby, now playing third and handling skip duties. Alternate Johanna Heldin is subbing at second with lead Sofia Mabergs the only player at their regular position.
Tirinzoni took two in the first end and then rolled away with steals as McManus misfired her last shot in the second to concede one point and then gave up a critical count of five in the third when her shooter rolled right through the rings.
Team Tirinzoni swiped two more points in the fourth as McManus continued to struggle and another steal in the fifth led to early handshakes.
“It’s amazing playing with a team that’s that dialled in,” Erickson said. “If we can build off of that, we’ll have a good week.”
Erickson is also a free agent as Team Carey announced in February they were splitting up and she said her plans for next season are “still up in the air.”
“Nothing’s set in stone, so we’ll see,” said Erickson, who shot 88 per cent for Team Tirinzoni.
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Elsewhere in the opening draw, Japan’s Satsuki Fujisawa topped Eun-Ji Gim of South Korea 8-6.
In men’s play, Calgary’s Brendan Bottcher scored three points in the fourth and seventh ends during a 7-2 win over Regina’s own Kelly Knapp.
Scotland’s Ross Whyte scored a single in the eighth end to edge Italy’s Joël Retornaz.
UP NEXT
Round-robin action continues at the Co-operators Centre with Draw 2 at 3 p.m. local time (5 p.m. ET).
Broadcast coverage begins Thursday at 2 p.m. ET / 11 a.m. PT on Sportsnet, Sportsnet NOW (Canada) and Yare (international).
NOTES
The KIOTI Tractor Champions Cup is the sixth and final Pinty’s Grand Slam of Curling event of the season featuring 12 men’s teams and 12 women’s teams. … Both divisions are split into two pools of six teams for round-robin play. The best six teams overall qualify for Saturday’s quarterfinals with the top two receiving byes to the semifinals. … The finals are scheduled for Sunday.
