Eight years ago Marie-France Larouche came out of nowhere to come within a whisker of winning the Scotties Tournament of Hearts at the Centrium.
Larouche finished third in the round-robin and eventually dropped a 7-4 decision to Colleen Jones of Halifax in the final.
Returning to Red Deer this year brought back some fond memories and some confidence.
“Yes for sure,” she said. “I played very well and my teammates too, in 2004. We weren’t the top team . . . I think we were a surprise, as we are this year.
“I did have a little confidence coming here although what happens is still on the ice,” she added. “At the beginning of the week we didn’t play so well, not up to my level of play, but there was the good memories and I feel just like I felt in 2004.”
Larouche has been under the radar once again and once again she’s making a serious run at the title.
The 31-year-old, who has three new players on her rink this year, is in a three-way tie for second place at 6-3 following a pair of victories Wednesday, beating Alberta’s Heather Nedohin 6-5 in the afternoon and easily handling Michelle Englot of Saskatchewan 10-6 in the evening.
“I’m happy with our record, but we do have two more games to play.”
They face Tracy Horgan of Ontario (4-5) this morning and Jennifer Jones of Manitoba, who is in first place at 7-2, in the afternoon.
“We’ll look at tomorrow just like this one and try to focus on the right things.”
They were on top of their game most of Wednesday, especially against Englot.
“We played very well tonight, I don’t think we missed a shot, that’s what we want at this time. I am so confident in myself and my teammates.”
She also made the right shots against Nedohin, especially in the 10th end when she laid a perfect draw to the four foot forcing the Alberta skip to attempt a soft tap back. Nedohin’s shot hung out a little and when she tapped back the Larouche rock it gave Quebec a deuce and the game without her throwing her final stone.
“It was amazing there was so many rocks in play . . . it wasn’t easy for my heart,” said Larouche with a laugh. “But my teammates were great and our draw weight was good for us at the end and we made the right shot at the right time.”
Nedohin, who opened the day with an 8-7 win over Englot, put a little more pressure on herself with the loss to Larouche.
“We still control our own destiny and thumbs up,” she said.
“Heading into the last day we wanted to be in position to make the playoffs and we’re there. And I’m going to keep repeating this as the girls in front of me are playing great and you know what we’re going to get a break when we need it. We need some Ws and we’ll work hard tomorrow (today) for those.”
Nedohin faces Heather Strong of Newfoundland/Labrador (3-6) this morning and concludes the round-robin against Heather Smith-Dacey of Nova Scotia (4-5) in the evening.
Nedohin expected a tough game against Larouche, who she previously lost to at the junior nationals.
“We expected it to be a game like this, a last rock affair, and unfortunately I didn’t make my last one. It’s nice when you make the opposing skip make her last shot, so I guess that’s where I’m a bit disappointed. But it was a good game throughout.”
It was a game of steals with Larouche stealing singles on the first three ends. After a deuce in the fourth Nedohin stole one in the fifth and sixth before the teams exchanged singles in the eighth and ninth, setting the stage for the 10th.
Nedohin wasn’t overly upset by the early steals.
“I didn’t feel we started that slow . . . I didn’t mind giving up a steal when you’re looking at getting three or four at times. I’m going to be greedy and patient. You can give up some steals . . . it will come around.”
What didn’t come around was her final shot in the 10th.
“I didn’t think the double was there, so we eliminated that, We just finished nailing the same shot with my first shot, so I was a bit surprised it didn’t react the way it did on the first one.”
If Nedohin wins twice today she’ll still need a little bit of help to make the playoffs. If Larouche, Kelly Scott of B.C. and Amber Holland of Team Canada win their final two games and Jones wins one, the playoffs are set.
Nedohin did receive a little help late Wednesday when Strong beat Rebecca Atkinson of New Brunswick 9-4 and dropped them to 5-4.
drode@www.reddeeradvocate.com