Team Saskatchewan opened the 2023 Scotties Tournament of Hearts with a loss Friday.
Team Silvernagle — consisting of skip Robyn Silvernagle, third Kelly Schafer, second Sherry Just and lead Kara Thevenot — lost 12-7 to Nova Scotia’s Christina Black and her rink in the first game for both at Canada’s women’s curling championship in Kamloops.
Black, third Jennifer Baxter, second Karlee Everist and lead Shelley Barker scored four in the seventh end and then three in the ninth to pull away from the Saskatchewan rink.
After Nova Scotia scored one in the first end and then another single in the second, Silvernagle answered with three in the third.
Once again Black’s team scored singles in the next two ends before Silvernagle responded with two in the sixth.
But the seventh and ninth ends proved to be the dagger for the Saskatchewan champs in their first game. Black also stole one more in the 10th.
Saskatchewan is to take on Kayla Skrlik’s Alberta rink on Saturday with an 8 p.m. start time.