Team Silvernagle pictured L-R: Skip, Robyn Silvernagle; Third, Jessie Hunkin; Second, Kristen Streifel; Lead, Dayna Demers. (Submitted photo/Robyn SIlvernagle)

By Martin Martinson

Sights on 2022

Team Silvernagle ready for Saskatchewan Scotties in new year

Dec 17, 2021 | 1:00 PM

The 2022 Viterra Scotties Provincial Women’s Championship may be just-under three weeks away, but North Battleford’s Team Silvernagle is already chomping at the bit for the opportunity ahead.

Named to the tournament earlier this month, which will be held in Assiniboia January 5-9, Robyn Silvernagle said the tournament has felt like a long time coming.

Following a tough year in 2020, that saw the team only able to compete in just a single tournament prior to the COVID pandemic shutdown, she said it’s been a real joy just to be able to return to the game and competition again this year.

“I think everybody’s just so happy to be back actually competing, that we’re really loving it,” she said. “It was difficult not playing in 2020 as we only got one weekend in, but we just tried to work on the things we could focus on that were off-ice such as physical training, our mental training and still getting together over zoom to build that team chemistry.”

Establishing that bond amongst the team was perhaps as important as ever for the local-based rink, as the team saw some personnel changes in the last year, with two new players of the four on the ice. Silvernagle and third, Jessie Hunkin were joined by second, Kristen Streifel and lead, Dayna Demers on a new look for the team.

Donation for new shelter build

Rotary steps up with $50,000 donation to Battlefords Humane Society

10h ago

Volleyball hardware

Battlefords duo win provincial gold with 16U Sask Stealth

11h ago

Ekweskeet Healing Lodge

Province announces new detox spaces at Onion Lake Cree Nation

14h ago

“Having two new team members come on board was really exciting, but that made it really hard throughout 2020, as you’re excited to have a new team and really want to get out there and start building as a team, but COVID obviously didn’t allow for that,” she said. “So we tried to build in other areas, and we felt we were really steps ahead going into this year just from that preparation we were able to do off-ice during the pandemic.”

Practicing this week, prior to about a week’s break for the holidays, Silvernagle said the team will likely then have just a single team practice following Christmas, prior to the tournament, due to its early placement on the calendar.

Team Silvernagle is looking to pick up where they left off, after winning the provincial best-on-best tournament in 2019. This year’s event will determine which Saskatchewan club will represent the province at the 2022 Scotties Tournament of Hearts in Thunder Bay, in early February.

—

Martin.Martinson@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @MartyMartyPxP1