By Roger White

New look for Team Silvernagle for 2018-19 season

Mar 29, 2018 | 8:00 AM

When Team Silvernagle hits the pebbled ice this curling season, fans will notice significant changes which the North Battleford skip hopes will lead to the provincial curling title that has eluded the team for the past two years.

Gone are two members of last year’s foursome who made it to the finals of the Viterra Scotties Tournament of Hearts in January, including third Jolene Campbell and Dayna Demers, who was a part of the team for three years. Both Demers and Campbell opted not to return to Team Silvernagle for the next season, choosing instead to join skip Kristen Striefel and lead Breanne Meakin in forming a new team.

Skip Robyn Silvernagle told battlefordsNOW the departure of Demers and Campbell was a surprise, but it also provided an opportunity to change the direction of the team.

“When things kind of unfolded after the season was over last year, we realized that changes had to be made,” Silvernagle said. “We asked ourselves, who do we want to play with this year and who would be a good fit for us, both on and off the ice?”

One of the first players Silvernagle contacted was four-time provincial champion Stefanie Lawton, considered by many to be one of the premier curlers in Saskatchewan.

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“We reached out to see what her plans were for this season,” Silvernagle said. “She said she wasn’t sure if they were even going to play, so we jumped at the chance to add her to our team.”

Lawton’s curling accomplishments include four provincial titles which earned trips to the Scotties Tournament of Hearts in 2005, 2009, 2014, and 2015, two Canada Cup of Curling Championships in 2008 and 2010, four Grand Slam curling titles and trips to the 2009 and 2013 Canadian Olympic trials.

Having Lawton join the team meant that Lawton would have to switch from playing skip to throwing the third rock, something Silvernagle said she was comfortable with.

“Stefanie said there were only certain people she would move down the lineup for, and she said ‘I will play third for you, Robyn,’ so that was exciting,” she said. “She is such a great player and she seems really excited to take on her new role.”

Prince Albert’s Kara Thevenot will remain as lead for the rink. She said having Lawton on the team is significant, and hopes the change helps the rink take their next big step.

“I have a ton of respect for Stefanie and her accomplishments,” Thevenot said. “When I started playing women’s, I always thought she was the best in the province and I am thrilled to be chasing our team goals with her.”

The final piece to the puzzle was the addition of Jessie Hunkin, who will move into the second stone position. Hunkin, who has played skip most of her career, is no stranger to success. She won four events on the World Curling Tour and made two appearances at the Alberta Scotties Tournament of Hearts in 2011 and 2012.

“I talked to the team I had last year and we decided that we really didn’t have the same goals going forward,” the Stony Plain, Alberta native said. “So I contacted Robyn, and luckily they were looking for a player, so it worked out.”

Hunkin said she was familiar with the Silvernagle rink, having filled in for Jolene Campbell last year at the Boundary Ford Classic in Lloydminster, an event they won.

“Playing in Lloydminster I got a chance to get to know the girls and make sure the dynamic was there,” Hunkin said. “I like this team; they are very driven and talented and I can only hope to add to the lineup.”

Kara Thevenot said Hunkin brings a new spirit to the team, and that bodes well for the team’s chances of reaching their ultimate goals.

“Jess is a fierce competitor and a great all-around player,” Thevenot said. “When she spared for us in Lloydminster she shot the lights out and she is a lot of fun to be around, so she is a great addition.”  

The Silvernagle rink also announced the Twin Rivers Curling Club of North Battleford will once again be their home rink for the upcoming curling season.

Roger.white@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @RJWtheReporter