1997 Scott Tournament of Hearts

1997 Scott Tournament of Hearts
Host cityVancouver, British Columbia
ArenaPNE Agrodome
DatesFebruary 22– March 2
Attendance35,390[1]
Winner Saskatchewan
Curling clubCaledonian CC, Regina
SkipSandra Schmirler
ThirdJan Betker
SecondJoan McCusker
LeadMarcia Gudereit
AlternateAtina Ford
Finalist Ontario (Alison Goring)
« 1996
1998 »

The 1997 Scott Tournament of Hearts, the Canadian women's national curling championship, was held from February 22 to March 2, 1997 at the PNE Agrodome[2] in Vancouver, British Columbia.[3] The total attendance for the week was 35,390, which was the lowest since 1990.[1]

Team Saskatchewan, who was skipped by Sandra Schmirler won the tournament after beating Alison Goring's Ontario rink in the final 8–5. This was Saskatchewan's tenth title overall (eleven including Team Canada) and the third and final one skipped by Schmirler before her death in 2000. At the time, Schmirler joined Connie Laliberte and Vera Pezer as the only skips to win three championships.

Schmirler's rink would go onto represent Canada at the 1997 Ford World Women's Curling Championship in Bern, Switzerland, which they also won. Additionally, they also qualified for the 1997 Canadian Olympic Curling Trials, which they qualified for the 1998 Winter Olympics where they captured the gold medal.

  1. ^ a b "2023 Scotties Tournament of Hearts Media Guide" (PDF). Curling Canada. p. 85. Retrieved 17 March 2023.
  2. ^ Vancouver Province, 24 Feb, 1997, pg A43
  3. ^ 1997_Scott_Tournament_of_Hearts.pdf (web-archive)