Ashley Messier builds hockey legacy with sights on PWHL, Olympics
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Mark Messier is her distant cousin, but this Sask. hockey product is carving her own path.
The last two provincial women’s curling champions are ready to compete in Melville, come late January.
North Battleford’s Robyn Silvernagle won the championship in 2019 in Humboldt, while Saskatoon’s Sherry Anderson grabbed her fifth career title in 2018 in Melfort.
Both rinks defeated each other in the finals in those two years.
They both were a part of the six pre-qualifiers into the 2020 Viterra Scotties provincials in Melville.
Regina’s Michelle Englot, Lorraine Schneider and Amber Holland along with Moose Jaw’s Penny Barker were also selected through tournament wins and season performances.
The two athletes that curl just 138 kilometres away from each other (Silvernagle and Anderson) are well known to one and other, holding one unique connection on the pebbled ice.
Silvernagle’s mother, Anita, is Anderson’s lead on the senior curling circuit. The two have won national senior championships alongside Anderson, including the last four years in a row.
Although curling excellence runs through Robyn’s veins, experience is one aspect where the two curlers simply don’t match up.
Anderson’s first provincial experience dates back to 1987, the year Silvernagle was born.
Anderson has five career provincial titles, while Silvernagle finally was able to break through with her first in 2019.
The two curlers’ approaches to the annual provincial tournament were different, Silvernagle heading into her first as the defending champion.
She told 650 CKOM it was going to be different, but they have to continue to play their game.
“We’ll know that everyone has their eye on us. That target is definitely on our back. We need to go out there and play, do what we do, and not worry about anyone else.”
Meanwhile, with her experience, Anderson’s approach is a lot different.
“It’s basically another bonspiel. I’ve been to a few. It’s always exciting, it’s always fun. I’m still enjoying it, so that’s the reason I’m still competing. It is basically, just another game.”
During the 2019 Viterra Scotties, Anderson’s rink was a missed throw away from being back-to-back provincial champions.
Anderson said she hopes her rink learned from that, but with her longevity, she said it was part of the game.
“I’ve been there, done that a lot of times. Part of you is saying ‘look, you’ve got to do something different,’ but you’ve got to do something different.”
Silvernagle said when it comes to matching up against the top teams in the provincials, whether it’s the re-emergence of Englot, or long-time standouts in Anderson, Holland or Barker.
“There’s still a lot of really good teams in Saskatchewan – the teams that have been there before, and have the experience and know what it takes to win. We’ll definitely have to play well against all those teams.”
Another factor that will make the provincials a lot more interesting to watch in 2020 is where the prospective winner will go following provincials.
The 2020 Scotties Tournament of Hearts will be held in Moose Jaw from Feb. 15-23.
Silvernagle admitted that it would be “awesome” to represent the province again on the national stage, and have the crowd behind her cheering their rink on.
“There is a little bit of extra pressure, being the reigning champions and then wanting to play in your home province for the Scotties, just knowing how awesome it was in Sydney (last year).”
Anderson playing for more than just titles this season
Coming into the 2019-20 season, Anderson knew she was going to be without her lead, Ally Jenkins, who is pregnant.
What Jenkins didn’t know, was what would happen next.
Jenkins tragically passed away during childbirth in mid-October, leaving a hole in the curling community’s hearts.
Their rink dedicated their season to honour Ally.
Anderson said they already had played several events before her passing this season, but Jenkin’s death put a lot into perspective.
“You realize that life is short and you better enjoy it, and do the things you like to do and enjoy the process. It’s too bad we need that eye-opener, and that wake-up call every once in a while.”
Anderson said they haven’t taken anything for granted as the season continued on, including the birth in provincials.
One thing is guaranteed though, and that’s the fact that when Anderson steps onto the pebbled ice in Melville in January, spectators know what will be going through her mind.
“You’re going out and trying to win no matter what. But it would be special, (to win it) for her.”