Shannon Birchard out for season
Less than a day after quitting Team Chelsea Carey, Karlee Burgess has joined the Kerri Einarson squad to replace injured second Shannon Birchard.
“Karlee Burgess has agreed to join us for the rest of the season and will be playing second,” read part of today’s Team Einarson news release.
“Shannon’s injured sliding knee has not responded to treatment the way she had hoped,” the statement continues. “She tried her hardest to get back in the lineup, and played with us at (a WCT event) last month in Swift Current, but she couldn’t finish the event, and the decision was made for her to step aside and focus on rehabbing her knee to be ready for next season.”
Curling Canada granted Team Einarson an injury exception, which allowed the squad to seek a replacement—and they recruited Burgess.
Team Einarson is enduring or enjoying—depending on your perception—a wild curling season.
Former alternate Krysten Karwacki is in the lineup full time; they’ve had a rotation of spare players throughout the season; they’ve won a Grand Slam title and scored paycheques at most events—and all of this without suspended lead Briane Harris whose playing status remains in limbo.
Burgess will be with Team Einarson at the next Grand Slam tournament, Jan. 14-19 in Guelph, Ont.
The news of the past 24 hours must be devastating for Team Chelsea Carey. Curling Canada has now confirmed that Edmonton’s Team Sturmay will receive next month’s Scotties berth in place of Team Carey, and also that Team Einarson will get Carey’s berth at November’s Olympic Trials in Halifax.