McCarville tops Fleury to defend Northern Ontario title

Krista McCarville has booked a return trip to the Scotties Tournament of Hearts.

McCarville successfully defended the Northern Ontario title outlasting Tracy Fleury 10-6 during Saturday’s final in Nipigon.

The Thunder Bay-based team of McCarville, third Kendra Lilly, second Ashley Sippala and lead Sarah Potts earned silver at last season’s Scotties and will represent Northern Ontario again at the upcoming nationals running Feb. 18-26 in St. Catharines, Ont.

WE'RE GOING TO THE SCOTTIES!!! Thank you to Nipigon for hosting a great event! #northernontario pic.twitter.com/kYFMLZmIbR

— Team McCarville (@TeamMcCarville) January 22, 2017

It was a rubber match final with Fleury, from Sudbury, and McCarville splitting wins during the four-team, double round-robin portion. Both teams advanced with identical 5-1 records to set the stage for the championship game.

McCarville represented Ontario four times at the Scotties Tournament of Hearts before Northern Ontario was granted its own berth in 2015.

Defending champion Chelsea Carey of Calgary, Eve Belisle of Dollard-Des-Ormeaux, Que., Yukon’s Sarah Koltun, Kerry Galusha of Northwest Territories and Geneva Chislett of Nunavut have already earned their spots to the Scotties Tournament of Hearts with the remaining provincial playdowns to determine the rest of the field.