The Halifax rink of skip Christina Black, third Jill Brothers, seconds Jen Baxter and Marlee Powers and lead Karlee Everist are playing in the Points Bet Invitational beginning Wednesday in Calgary. Photo by ContributedArticle contentThis week’s Points Bet Invitational will give the Christina Black rink a close-up look at its main competition for the Montana’s Canadian Curling Trials, being hosted in Halifax in November.THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY.Subscribe now to access this story and more:Unlimited access to the website and appExclusive access to premium content, newsletters and podcastsFull access to the e-Edition app, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment onEnjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalistsSupport local journalists and the next generation of journalistsSUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES.Subscribe or sign in to your account to continue your reading experience.Unlimited access to the website and appExclusive access to premium content, newsletters and podcastsFull access to the e-Edition app, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment onEnjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalistsSupport local journalists and the next generation of journalistsRegister to unlock more articles.Create an account or sign in to continue your reading experience.Access additional stories every monthShare your thoughts and join the conversation in our commenting communityGet email updates from your favourite authorsSign In or Create an AccountorArticle contentThe Halifax Curling Club rink opens play on Wednesday at the Points Bet event in Calgary that features seven of the qualified teams for the Canadian Olympic trials and two teams in the pre-trials qualifying event in Wolfville, Oct. 20-26.Article contentArticle contentArticle contentBlack, lead Jill Brothers, second Marlee Powers and lead Karlee Everist are in a pool with two-time world champion Rachel Homan, Kaitlyn Lawes, Beth Peterson and Myla Plett, the Canadian junior champion. Homan and Lawes are trials-qualified, while Peterson is in the pre-trial event.Article contentThe other pool features the trials-qualified teams of Kerri Einarson, Kayla Skrlik, Kate Cameron, Corryn Brown, and Selena Sturmay, who is in the pre-trial tourney.Article contentArticle content“I think it’s really great practice for all the trials teams,” said Black. “All the top Canadian teams. Let’s see where you are at and what you still need to work on over the next month and a half. Really a great prep event.”Article contentThe Points Bet Invitational marks the second straight week that the Black rink has faced some of the best curling competition in the world.Article contentThey finished 2-2 at the AMJ Masters Grand Slam event in London, Ont. They missed the playoffs after a 6-1 loss to Sweden’s Anna Hasselborg, the 2018 Pyeonchang Olympics gold medallist, and two-time world curling silver medallist.Article contentArticle content“We feel very lucky to have these opportunities,” said Black. “But we have worked hard to get here. We know we belong with the best in the world.Article content“It’s a ton of fun and getting to play the best teams on arena ice, it’s all great practice for us for the trials and the Scotties.”Article contentBlack said the AMJ Masters event was a good warm-up for the Point Bet Invitational.Article content“Last week, we played well and really had good games,” said Black. “It’s all practice for us to be prepared for the trials. “We are taking our confidence from our performance last week and also a lot of learning into this week.”Article contentBlack opens play on Wednesday against Lawes (9:30 p.m. Atlantic time), followed by a Thursday matchup with Plett (4:30 p.m.). On Friday, they play Peterson (4:30 p.m.) with their final match against Homan on Saturday (9:30 p.m.).Article contentThe final goes on Sunday (2 p.m.).Article contentThe Halifax rink earned its Olympic trials’ position with a stellar 2024-25 season. The team finished fourth in the Canadian Team Ranking System and had a strong run at the Canadian Tournament of Hearts, which ended in a heartbreaking 9-8 loss to Einarson in the semifinal.Article contentThe Montana’s Canadian Curling Trials will be held Nov. 22-30 at the Scotiabank Centre.Article content
Points Bet Invitational gives Christina Black a look at Olympic trials competitors
