Scotties field is set

The 16-team field for the Scotties Tournament of Hearts is officially set in Penticton.

On Friday night, in a wild card game that was free for fans, Kerri Einarson beat Chelsea Carey to earn the 16th and final berth at the bonspiel, which is the female national curling championship. 

Friday’s game was the first ever wild card game in the bonspiel's history, as it expanded this year from 15 to 16 teams. More than 3,000 spectators filled the South Okanagan Events Centre to take in Friday's action.

Kerri Einarson is now the third rink from Manitoba taking part in this year's Scotties tournament.

The other two are Michelle Englot, the top-ranked rink at this year's Scotties as well as Jennifer Jones which won gold at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi.

The home-province rink at the Scotties this year is Kesa Van Osch, which plays out of Nanaimo. 

The tournament officially begins with four games on Saturday at 2 p.m. at the SOEC.

In one of those games, Kesa Van Osch of Team B.C. will play Michelle Englot of Team Canada.

The entire draw schedule between Jan. 27 and Feb. 4 can be found here.