North

N.W.T. to face Northern Ontario for Scotties spot

Yukon was defeated in the pre-qualifying round at the Scotties Tournament of Hearts, and N.W.T. will now battle Northern Ontario for the right to play in the national women's curling championship this weekend.

Round-robin winner will play at national women's curling competition

The 2015 Scotties Tournament of Hearts gets underway Saturday in Moose Jaw, Sask. (CBC)

The Yukon will not be part of this year's Canadian women's curling championships, but Northwest Territories and Northern Ontario still stand a chance.

For the first time, a pre-qualifying​ round-robin tournament will determine which of the lower ranked teams will fill the final spot in the Scotties Tournament of Hearts. 

Kerry Galusha's team N.W.T. defeated Yukon in round-robin play. N.W.T. now plays Northern Ontario Saturday and the winner advances to the Scotties. (Facebook)

Friday afternoon N.W.T.'s Kerry Galusha defeated Yukon's Sarah Koltun in Moose Jaw, Sask., kicking Yukon out of the round-robin play.

Koltun tied the match in the 10th end to force an extra end, but Galusha scored in the 11th making the final score 11-10.

Galusha now goes on to face Tracy Horgan of Northern Ontario Saturday afternoon. The winner of that game takes the final space in the Scotties Tournament of Hearts.

The Scotties Tournament of Hearts starts Saturday afternoon in Moose Jaw, Sask.