Team Arsenault faces Manitoba to kick off the 2022 Scotties Tournament of Hearts

Photo: CurlBC

(l to r) Mary-Anne Arsenault, Jeanna Schraeder, Sasha Carter, Renee Simons

The draw has been set for the 2022 Scotties Tournament of Hearts, which kicks off a week from Friday in Thunder Bay, ON.

This years field, expanded to 18 teams, will include three wild cards, the defending champions and Northern Ontario, to go along with 13 provincial and territorial representatives.

Teams have been split into two nine-team pools. Teams will play a full round robin within their respective divisions, with the top three in each advancing to an expanded six-team playoff round.

B.C. champion Mary-Anne Arsenault and her Kelowna Curling Club rink have been slotted into a pool including Team Canada, Alberta, Manitoba, Ontario, Northwest Territories, Nova Scotia, Quebec and Yukon.

Arsenault, third Jeanna Schaeder, second Sasha Carter and Renee Simons, will kick off the event Saturday, Jan. 30 at 11 a.m. Pacific time against Manitoba (Mackenzie Zacharias).

The Scotties will begin without fans in attendance, however, after Thursday's announcement of a limited reopening of Ontario beginning at the end of the month, 500 fans will be permitted in the venue for the final six days.

The winner of this year's Scotties will represent Canada at the World Women's championships March 19-27 in Prince George.