Latest spare at St. John’s Slam
The revolving door of teammates continues for Kerri Einarson.
The Curling News has learned that Calgary’s Brittany Tran is the latest player to jump into the Team Einarson lineup for this week’s National Grand Slam in St. John’s.
Einarson has played with a multitude of players this season, as second Shannon Birchard nurses an injury and regular lead Briane Harris awaits word on her appeal of a doping suspension.
The team has found great success with two of their spares: Dawn McEwen came out of retirement to help Einarson win the Tour Challenge Slam in Charlottetown, PEI and Joanne Courtney then followed, whereupon Einarson won a tour cashspiel in Edmonton and made the playoffs at the next Slam at Nisku, Alta.
Tran has flown into the capital of Newfoundland and Labrador after competing at the mixed doubles Olympic Trials qualifier in Guelph, Ont. She had won the previous qualifier at Maple Ridge, B.C. with her teammate Rylan Kleiter, which gave them a berth at the Trials that are coming up fast—next month—in Liverpool, N.S.
Tran also plays third for Saskatchewan’s Team Ashley Thevenot. She has competed in three previous Scotties Tournament of Hearts championships, in 2023 with Alberta champ Kayla Skrlik, in 2021 with Winnipeg’s Beth Peterson and with Territories skip Kerry Galusha in 2019.
The retooled Team Einarson starts the Canadian Open on Tues. Nov. 26 with a 6:30 p.m. (NL time) match against Team Christina Black of Halifax.