Tiebreaking formula takes Ackerman out of Scotties playoff picture

Five of the six playoff teams have been determined at the Scotties Tournament of Hearts, but the tiebreaking formula means Saskatchewan’s Skylar Ackerman isn’t one of them.

Round-robin play in Pool A wrapped up Thursday afternoon in Calgary, with defending champion Kerri Einarson (7-1), Alberta’s Selena Sturmay (7-1) and Manitoba’s Kaitlyn Lawes (4-4) all qualifying for the playoffs at the Canadian women’s curling championship.

Ackerman completed her round-robin schedule Wednesday night, falling to 4-4 after a 13-4 loss to B.C.’s Corryn Brown. It was Ackerman’s fourth loss in her last five games after a 3-0 start.

With the bye in Thursday’s afternoon draw, Ackerman and her Saskatoon Nutana team of Ashley Thevenot, Taylor Stremick and Kaylin Skinner had to wait to see if they would earn one of the pool’s three playoff spots.

In that draw, Lawes beat Northern Ontario’s Krista McCarville 6-5, Brown lost 8-5 to Sturmay and Quebec’s Laurie St-Georges downed P.E.I.’s Jane DiCarlo 9-6. That left five teams — Ackerman, Brown, Lawes, McCarville and St-Georges – with 4-4 records.

Lawes earned the final playoff spot based on cumulative draws to the button, the tiebreaker that applies when multiple teams are tied.

With Saskatchewan’s elimination, the province’s title drought at the Scotties will reach 13 years.

The last rink from Saskatchewan to win the Canadian women’s championship was skipped by Amber Holland in 2011. Holland was the alternate on Ackerman’s team this year.

The round-robin portion of the tournament is to conclude with games in Pool B on Thursday night. Ontario’s Rachel Homan and Manitoba’s Jennifer Jones already have clinched playoff spots out of that pool.

The playoff round is to begin Friday. The final is set for Sunday.