Mackenzie Zacharias of the Altona Curling Club will compete at the 2021 Scotties Tournament of Hearts in Calgary later this month.

Zacharias and her 2020 World Junior Championship team of third Karlee Burgess, second Emily Zacharias and lead Lauren Lenentine were awarded one of three Wild Card berths based on their standing on the 2019-2020 Canadian Team Ranking System.

The other two Wild Card spots went to Tracy Fleury of East St. Paul and Beth Peterson of Winnipeg.

Chelsea Carey will replace Fleury at the skip position in Calgary. Fleury will stay home with her young daughter Nina who is receiving treatment for a medical condition.

Morden's Katherine Doerksen throws second rocks for Peterson's team.

To claim a Wild Card berth, three of the four players who compiled the points during the 2019-2020 season must still be on the team.

Five Manitoba teams will be competing at the Scotties which will be held February 19th - 28th at the Markin MacPhail Centre at WinSport's Canada Olympic Park in Calgary.

Zacharias, Team Fleury and Peterson will join reigning Canadian champion Kerri Einarson of Gimli and Jennifer Jones of Winnipeg who will represent Manitoba.

Mike McEwen of Winnipeg, Kevin Koe of Calgary and Glenn Howard of Toronto are the Wild Card teams for the Brier.

2020 Viterra champion Jason Gunnlaugson will represent Manitoba at the Canadian Men's Curling Championship which will also take place in Calgary.


photo courtesy WCF/Richard Gray