Barker Wins 2017 Saskatchewan Women's Provincial Title

Penny Barker and her team of Deanna Doig, Lorraine Schneider, Danielle Sicinksi, and Coach Merv Fonger proved that playing with your back against the wall may bring out the best in a team, and boy did it ever! Barker all week long stayed consistent at that .500 record alternating between wins and losses. In her final round robin game, Barker was faced with a tough challenge ahead of her in a must win situation against Team Brett Barber to guarantee her team in a tiebreaker situation. After a last rock hit and stick in the 10th end,Barker found herself in a tiebreaker game against Barber the next morning for a chance to move on in to the playoffs.

If you were not in Melville to witness it yourself, I hope you were able to catch the action on our live stream or television broadcast. What a crazy and thrilling past few days during championship weekend that occurred at the Horizon Credit Union Centre in Melville. After their win in the tiebreaker, Barker found herself in the 3vs4 Page Playoff against Nancy Martin of Saskatoon, where again it came down to the final shot of the 10th end with Martin forced to make a delicate four foot tap to the button. Line was nearly perfect for Martin, but came up a little too heavy giving Barker the win. Next up was former provincial champion Stefanie Lawton in the semi final game. And the reoccurring pattern of a final end nail biter had the fans on the edge of their seats.Lawton was forced in the 10th with her last to draw the four footto pick up the win, but came up heavy sliding past both of Barkers stones, giving Barker the win into the championship final.

Barker and Silvernagle then met in the provincial final Sunday evening in front of a large crowd in Melville. The girls provided some great entertainment and one heck of a finish for the people and guests in the arena, with Barker forced to make a take out on a half frozen Silvernagle stone to count four and claim the provincial title! What a week for Team Barker and Good Luck at the Scotties Tournament of Hearts.

Congratulations to Team Robyn Silvernagle out of the North Battleford Twin Rivers Curling Club on their second place finish. A fantasticyoung and dynamic team that posted a 7-1 round robin record, followed up with a 1vs2 Page Playoff win against Stefanie Lawton. This team will be a constant threat for teams in future provincial championships and will have a very bright future in curling seasons down the road!

Overall fantastic week out in Melville for this years Viterra Scotties Women’s Provincial Championship! Next years contest will take us to Melfort for the 2018 Women’s Provincial!