Rocque, McDonald qualify for National playoffs through tiebreakers
OSHAWA, Ont. — Edmonton’s Kelsey Rocque and Winnipeg’s Kristy McDonald locked up the final playoff spots in the National.
Rocque stole a point in the final end to edge Kerri Einarson of Winnipeg 8-7 Saturday morning at General Motors Centre and meets Ottawa’s Rachel Homan in the quarterfinals.
McDonald rolled out to an 8-3 victory over Silvana Tirinzoni of Switzerland and will play Tracy Fleury, of Sudbury, Ont.
Edmonton’s Val Sweeting meets Sherry Middaugh of Coldwater, Ont., and reigning Olympic and Scotties champion Jennifer Jones of Winnipeg goes up against Saskatoon’s Stefanie Lawton in the other quarterfinal games.
Watch the women’s quarterfinals live on Sportsnet at 4 p.m. ET / 1 p.m. PT.
The National is the third stop — and second major — of the 2015-16 Pinty’s Grand Slam of Curling season and runs through to Sunday evening at the General Motors Centre. Previously a men’s invitational, the National expanded this year to include a women’s division for the first time in the event’s history.
