Territories battle Northern Ontario for Scotties spot

Teams Yukon and N.W.T. are in Moose Jaw, Sask., hoping to play at the Canadian women's curling championship this weekend but a new rule means they'll first have to compete against one another to qualify. 

The Scotties Tournament of Hearts runs Feb. 14-22 and the roster is mostly set, but one spot remains open.  

For the first time, a pre-qualifying round will determine that spot, with the two territories and Northern Ontario vying for a place in the regular competition. 

"It is new and we're kind of still unsure of what it will be like," says Yukon skip Sarah Koltun.

"It's a little bit unfortunate, obviously we'd like to just get the spot in the main event and have all of Canada represented but it is the situation that we're in so we're just going to go out there and try to make the best of it," she says.

Yukon and N.W.T. used to have a joint entry into the competition, but the rule change allows for separate entries from each of the three territories as well as Northern Ontario.

It's the first time Northern Ontario will have its own team. Nunavut chose not to enter a team this year.

The qualifying round-robin began Thursday in Moose Jaw with the first game in the Scotties getting underway Saturday afternoon. 

"I think most people are considering Northern Ontario to be the stronger team," says Koltun, but she's quick to add team N.W.T. is also expected to be stiff competition. "We know Kerry Galusha has a strong team as well so we're definitely going to have to go out and play our best."