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Lindsay Makichuk off to Scotties

Can they play with the big girls?

That’s a question people are asking as Valerie Sweeting’s rookie rink prepares to represent Alberta at the 2010 Scotties Tournament of Hearts. The event is Jan. 30-Feb. 7 in Sault Ste. Marie, Ont.

Lead Lindsay Makichuk – a bachelor of commerce student at Lakeland College’s Lloydminster campus – believes they have the team and the game to compete at the national level. After all, they defeated former Canadian champion Cathy King and Olympian Shannon Kleibrink at provincials.

“I’m not concerned what people will say about our rink. Yes, we’re rookies but we beat some very good teams to get to nationals,” says Makichuk, who joined the rink of skip Sweeting, third Megan Einarson and second Whitney More in October.  The team only played one event together before the Northern Alberta playdowns in December, an event that they went 4-0 at to qualify for provincials.

“We went into provincials with nothing to lose. No one knew who we were and no one expected us to win,” she said. The same holds true for the team’s appearance at the Scotties. Attention is focused on veterans such as Kelly Scott of British Columbia, Jennifer Jones’ Team Canada rink and Krista McCarville of Ontario. That suits the Alberta reps just fine.

The team plays out of the Saville Sports Centre in Edmonton. With Makichuk attending Lakeland, she’s only been able to make weekend practices but she continues to practice weekdays with Lakeland’s curling teams and plays on a mixed team in Lloydminster.

Used to playing skip or third, Makichuk’s new role as lead has her hitting the gym to improve her core strength and her aerobic fitness so she can sweep two 10-end games a day at the Scotties. She also jokes that she’s working on her signature as the team is required to take part in an autograph session Feb. 2. “That cracks me up. I can’t believe we’ll be signing autographs.”

The Scotties begin Friday, Jan. 29 with the Ford Hot Shots competition and games start on Saturday. Alberta’s first game is against Scott of British Columbia. Lindsay’s parents Dusty and Laurie will be among her many friends and family in the stands supporting the team. She also knows there will be lots of people cheering for them at home.

“People have been so supportive of our team,” said Makichuk, noting that she’s gotten lots of phone calls, text messages and emails. “Peter Wilkinson, my college coach, and the instructors at the college have been great.  When I told my instructors that I had to be gone for a week, they said we’d work it out. They’ve been more than accommodating, which I think is the Lakeland way.”

One thing Makichuk has heard from so many people is to make sure she takes time to enjoy the entire Scotties experience, which she intends to do. However, she and her teammates are going there first and foremost to curl.  “We want to do Alberta proud,” she says.