In the House
TEAM NEW BRUNSWICK
Home: Fredericton Curling Club.
Skip: Andrea Kelly, age 23.
Third: Denise Nowlan, 38.
Second: Jodie de Solla, 23.
Lead: Lianne Sobey, 24.
Coach: Daryell Nowlan.
Last Scotties Appearance: 2006 at London. Finished with 5-6 record and out of the playoffs.
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Kelly represented New Brunswick at the 2004 Canadian junior men's and women's championship which were held at Juan de Fuca, now the West Shore Recreation Centre. Kelly led her team into the playoffs before losing 6-5 in the semifinal to Marine-Christine Cantin of Quebec. Jill Mouzar of Nova Scotia then defeated Quebec in the final.
"When I was in Victoria for the juniors, it was January and people were golfing,'' said the 23-year-old Kelly, who is a human resources adviser for the province of New Brunswick. "There was green grass and lovely scenery.''
Kelly, backed by third Denise Nowlan, second Jodie de Solla and lead Lianne Sobey, will be back in Victoria next week for the Scotties Tournament of Hearts at Save-on-Foods Memorial Centre. Action begins Feb. 21 and wraps up with the final on March 1. In 2004, de Solla and Sobey were also with Kelly.
Kelly won her second New Brunswick women's title with a 5-4 victory over three-time junior champion Mary Jane McGuire. Along the way to posting a perfect 8-0 record at the provincials, Kelly defeated legendary Heidi Hanlon and 2008 champion Sylvie Robichaud. The provincials were an eight-team round robin with the top three reaching the playoffs.
"I'm pretty pumped about returning to the Scotties,'' said Kelly. "At this event, you are treated like queens and everything is about you. I don't remember being so excited about a curling event. We plan on taking in as many activities as possible.''
Kelly also won the New Brunswick junior crowns in 2002 and 2005. She was the Canadian champion in 2005 and placed third at the worlds. In 2006, Kelly was still eligible for juniors but she lost out in the provincial playdowns.
"2006 was a bit of a weird year for us,'' said Kelly. "I had been to five straight nationals [including Canada Games] and we were the defending Canadian champions in our playdowns. It was devastating when we lost but we regrouped and went on to win the New Brunswick women's title.''
At the 2006 Scotties in London, Ont., the Kelly team finished with a 5-6 record and out of the playoff picture.
"We have had a very good year so far and we just want to keep building on it and make a run at the playoffs. We have changed our strategy this year as we have more of a balanced attack. We are defensive without the hammer and very aggressive with it. If we can get two points with the hammer and only allow one without it, there is no need to go all out for the steal. I like playing on the big stage like the Scotties and I'll be excited to be out there.
"There is another great field at the Scotties and Jennifer Jones [defending champion from Winnipeg] and Marie-France Larouche [from Quebec] always seem to be around the top of the standings.''
Nowlan joined the Kelly foursome this year while de Solla and Sobey have been with her since 2004.
The Kelly team has been busy on the cashspiel
circuit, playing in Regina, Ottawa, the New Glasgow Sobeys Slam and several other Maritime events.
"We never qualified in any of the bigger events but the experience was good for us."
