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EDMONTON GRADS TROPHY
for Outstanding Female Team
Kelley Law Team - Curling
Nominated by the Canadian Curling Association
Winning unexpectedly and dramatically. That's what the Kelley Law rink did all season long. The British Columbia foursome of skip Law, third Julie Skinner, second Georgina Wheatcroft, and lead Diane Nelson played together in just one bonspiel before playdowns last January. In a thrilling final, the talented but unproven team pulled an upset to win the provincial championship and earn a ticket to the 2000 Scott Tournament of Hearts. Off to a dismal start at the Hearts, they dug deep to win six straight sudden-death games, starting with the final two round-robin games and including a tiebreaker, playoff, and semi-final before victory in the final. The strength of their play raised hopes that Canada could win its first world title since the late Sandra Schmirler did it for the third time in 1997.
Combined experience is one of the great strengths of the Law rink. A former world junior champion and bronze medallist when curling was a demonstration sport at the 1992 Olympic Winter Games, Julie Skinner won the Hearts in 1991 and was second at the worlds that year. Wheatcroft had won a world title playing third in 1987. Law had four Hearts appearances to her credit, and Nelson one. They also had the services of esteemed coach Elaine Dagg-Jackson, who relished the challenge of coaching such a talented team.
At the world tournament in Glasgow, Law fought her way into a nerve-shattering final against Switzerland. Before 1800 wildly cheering Canadian fans, overcoming a tactical blunder that got them into all kinds of trouble, Law delivered a worlds-winning hit-and-stick, fell to her knees, and lifted her arms heavenward in honour of Schmirler.
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