Debbie McCormick will once again lead her team at the World Women's Curling Championships which open today at Vernon, British Columbia.
This is the third straight appearance for McCormick and teammates Allison Pottinger, Nicole Joraanstad and Bemidji's Natalie Nicholson. Joining the team as alternate is 2003 world champion Tracy Sachtjen. They are coached by Wally Henry.
The U.S. women seek to improve on their fourth place finish last year at Aomori, Japan after winning the silver in 2006. They expect strong competition from Canada's Jenifer Jones rink of Winnipeg, a team that McCormick has struggled against in World Tournament competition.
Last year's silver medalist from Denmark, two-time Olympic silver medalist Mirjam Ott of Switzerland and Germany's Andrea Schopp, who is making her 15h appearance at the Worlds, will be other top contenders.
Three rookie skips round out the field this year.
ADVERTISEMENT
They are Scotland's Gail Munro, the Czech Republic's Katerina Ubanova and Sweden's Stina Victorsson who defeated the perennial Swedish powerhouse Annette Norberg in the Swedish championships. Also competing are China, Japan, Russia and Italy.
The opening ceremony will take place at 11 a.m. this morning with the opening draw pairing McCormick with Denmark's Angelina Jensen at 1.
McCormick will then face Italy Sunday at 4, Scotland at 8:30 a.m. and Germany at 1 p.m. Monday, China at 1 and Canada at 6 Tuesday, the Czech Republic at 8:30 and Sweden at 6 Wednesday and Switzerland at 8:30 and Russia at 1 Thursday.
Tiebreakers will be at 1 and 6 Friday with the semifinals at 11:30 Saturday and the bronze medal game at 6.
The title match will be Sunday at 10:30.
