Music: {allcanada} JONES, OVERTON-CLAPHAM TO MEET AT SCOTTIES TONIGHT ON TSN

Wednesday, February 23, 2011

{allcanada} JONES, OVERTON-CLAPHAM TO MEET AT SCOTTIES TONIGHT ON TSN

CHARLOTTETOWN -- The showdown of the Scotties Tournament of Hearts is nigh. Whether the game lives up to its billing is another matter.

Jennifer Jones and her Team Canada rink will face former third Cathy Overton-Clapham and her Manitoba foursome Wednesday night at the Canadian women's curling championship. It will be the first time the two have played each other since Jones fired Overton-Clapham last April.

You can watch the game live on TSN at 6:30pm et/3:30pm pt.

Jones won four Canadian championships with Overton-Clapham as her vice. They also won a world title together in 2008.

Overton-Clapham, or "Cathy-O" as she is known in curling circles, formed a new team last summer, won the Manitoba women's title, and with it, a berth in this year's Scotties.

The two Winnipeg teams managed to avoid each other in World Curling Tour events this winter. Jones had an automatic berth in the Scotties as defending champion and didn't have to participate in Manitoba playdowns.

There's been little communication between the two women since they parted ways, although Jones says the pair has spoken here in Charlottetown.

How the two skips will interact with each other Wednesday is a compelling enough draw for viewers and host broadcaster TSN hasn't been shy about promoting that game.

The buildup has been deflated by Manitoba's performance, however. Overton-Clapham, Karen Fallis, Leslie Wilson and Raunora Westcott were virtually eliminated from playoff contention with a 1-6 record heading into Wednesday.

Jones, new third Kaitlyn Lawes and front end Jill Officer and Dawn Askin were in playoff contention at 5-2 after a pair of victories Tuesday.

Overton-Clapham will have to be satisfied with playing the role of spoiler against teams in playoff contention, including Jones.

"I thrive on these kinds of things so we'll hopefully come out and play well," Overton-Clapham said. "I don't want to come here to win one game or two games. We wanted to make the playoffs and that's not going to happen so we want to finish off on a strong note for sure."

Jones will need the win over Manitoba to either secure a playoff berth or improve her seeding. The two skips played together for so long that they should have a strong sense of the other's strategy, but Jones doesn't think it will have much of an impact Wednesday.

"We know what to expect from most of these teams out here so it's really no different," Jones said. "You don't change your game based on who you're playing. Obviously we played together for a long time, but I'm sure it will be a good game."

It's not unusual for teams to break up and form new rinks after a season concludes, but a team that has a run of success like Jones' usually stays together until that run is over. That's why Jones cutting Overton-Clapham created a stir in curling circles.

Overton-Clapham felt blindsided by the move, pointing out the bonuses that were taken from her when she was ousted -- an automatic berth in this year's Scotties as defending champion and the chance to play in the Continental Cup and $150,000 Canada Cup.

Jones says she's personally heard no criticism about her decision and says any controversy is a media creation.

"I have not had one person come up to me and say anything negative outside of the media," she said. "It's been amazing. The support we've received. We've gotten so many emails and so many people texting and phoning us."

Jones says she's felt no trepidation over facing her former teammate.

"I honestly can say I haven't lost any sleep over it," she told reporters. "I don't dread coming to talk to you guys. I think it's been good for this event."

Overshadowed by the Canada-Manitoba hype are the strong starts of Saskatchewan and Ontario at this year's Scotties.

Saskatchewan skip Amber Holland says she's been cut from teams before and can understand how Overton-Clapham might feel about playing Jones.

"It's probably harder for Cathy than Jen," she observed.

Holland will take advantage of a rare evening off to have dinner with family and doesn't intend to watch the game. She doesn't deny the interest the Canada-Manitoba matchup has generated.

"People at home want to see it," she said. "They were talking at home when we left that they couldn't wait to watch that game."