The 1998 Scott Tournament of Hearts, the Canadian women's national curling championship, was held from February 21 to March 1 at the AgridomeRegina Leader-Post, 21 Feb 1998, pg C9 in Regina, Saskatchewan. This was the last major tournament in which Sandra Schmirler participated in prior to her death in 2000. The total attendance for the week set a record 154,688 which broke the previous mark set in by exactly 66,666. As of , this remains the attendance record for the event.
Team Alberta, who was skipped by Cathy Borst won the championship as they defeated Ontario in the final 7–6 in an extra end. This was Alberta's fifth title overall and their first since . This was also the only title skipped by Borst as well. Borst's rink would go onto represent Canada at the 1998 Ford World Women's Curling Championship on home soil in Kamloops, British Columbia where they won the bronze medal.
Both the defending champions and the Saskatchewan provincial champions came from the Caledonian Curling Club in Regina, Saskatchewan making the Caledonian the first curling club to have two teams in the same tournament since the introduction of Team Canada in .
Teams The teams were listed as follows: Team Canada British ColumbiaManitoba Caledonian CC, Regina Skip: Sandra Schmirler Third: Jan Betker Second: Joan McCusker Lead: Marcia Gudereit Alternate: Atina Ford Ottewell CC, Edmonton Skip: Cathy Borst Third: Heather Godberson Second: Brenda Bohmer Lead: Kate Horne Alternate: Rona McGregor Kamloops CC, Kamloops Skip: Sue Garvey Third: Jan Wiltzen Second: Allison MacInnes Lead: Val Lahucik Alternate: Lindsay Kosteniuk Brandon CC, Brandon Skip: Lois Fowler Third: Betty Couling Second: Sharon Fowler Lead: Jocelyn Beever Alternate: Maureen BonarNew BrunswickNewfoundlandNova ScotiaOntario Thistle St. Andrews CC, Saint John Skip: Kathy Floyd Third: June Campbell Second: Allison Franey Lead: Jane Arseneau Alternate: Mary Harding St. John's CC, St. John's Skip: Heather Strong Third: Kelli Sharpe Second: Michele Renouf Lead: Karen Thomas Alternate: Peg Goss Mayflower CC, Halifax Skip: Mary Mattatall Third: Angie Bryant Second: Lisa MacLeod Lead: Heather Hopkins Alternate: Hayley Clarke Rideau CC, Ottawa Skip: Anne Merklinger Third: Theresa Breen Second: Patti McKnight Lead: Audrey Frey Alternate: Christine McCradyPrince Edward IslandQuebec SaskatchewanNorthwest Territories/Yukon Charlottetown CC, Charlottetown Skip: Tammi Lowther Third: Susan McInnis Second: Shelley Muzika Lead: Julie Scales Alternate: Donna Lank Riverbend Alma CC, Alma Skip: Marie-Claude Carlos Third: Nathalie Gagnon Second: Julie Blackburn Lead: Sylvie Fortin Alternate: Maude Martel Caledonian CC, Regina Skip: Cathy Trowell Third: Kristy Lewis Second: Karen Daku Lead: Keri-Lynn Schikowski Alternate: Nancy Inglis Yellowknife CC, Yellowknife Skip: Kelly Kaylo Third: Dawn Moses Second: Sharon Cormier Lead: Cheryl Burlington Alternate: Kerry Koe
Map of teams
Round Robin Standings Final Round Robin standings KeyTeams to PlayoffsTeams to Tiebreaker
TeamSkip Cathy Borst 10 1 73 33 43 29 8 18 80% Anne Merklinger 8 3 81 56 43 47 3 6 79% Sandra Schmirler 7 4 74 57 44 39 7 11 80% Sue Garvey 6 5 67 65 46 46 3 13 75% Cathy Trowell 6 5 63 63 37 42 12 9 75% Kathy Floyd 5 6 70 73 47 45 3 10 73% Kelly Kaylo 5 6 56 78 41 46 11 4 70% Heather Strong 4 7 50 63 40 44 6 9 69% Lois Fowler 4 7 65 72 43 48 3 6 72% Mary Mattatall 4 7 70 79 45 51 3 7 75% Tammi Lowther 4 7 62 67 43 48 7 11 77% Marie-Claude Carlos 3 8 51 76 45 46 5 10 67%
Round Robin Results All draw times are listed in Central Standard Time (UTC-06:00).
Draw 1 Saturday, February 21, 1:00 pm
Draw 2 Saturday, February 21, 6:30 pm
Draw 3 Sunday, February 22, 9:00 am
Draw 4 Sunday, February 22, 1:00 pm
Draw 5 Sunday, February 22, 6:30 pm
Draw 6 Monday, February 23, 9:00 am
Draw 7 Monday, February 23, 1:00 pm
Draw 8 Monday, February 23, 6:30 pm
Draw 9 Tuesday, February 24, 9:00 am
Draw 10 Tuesday, February 24, 1:00 pm
Draw 11 Tuesday, February 24, 6:30 pm
Draw 12 Wednesday, February 25, 9:00 am
Draw 13 Wednesday, February 25, 1:00 pm
Draw 14 Wednesday, February 25, 6:30 pm
Draw 15 Thursday, February 26, 9:00 am
Draw 16 Thursday, February 26, 1:00 pm
Draw 17 Thursday, February 26, 6:30 pm
Tiebreaker Friday, February 27, 9:00 am
Playoffs
3 vs. 4 Friday, February 27, 1:00 pm
1 vs. 2 Friday, February 27, 6:30 pm
Semifinal Saturday, February 28, 1:00 pm
Final Sunday, March 1, 12:30 pm
Statistics Top 5 player percentages Final Round Robin Percentages KeyFirst All-Star TeamSecond All-Star Team Leads % Heather Hopkins 85 Marcia Gudereit 84 Julie Scales 81 Audrey Frey 81 Kate Horne 78 Jocelyn Beever 78 Seconds % Brenda Bohmer 82 Patti McKnight 78 Karen Daku 77 Shelley Muzika 77 Joan McCusker 76 Thirds % Jan Betker 85 Theresa Breen 80 Heather Godberson 80 Jan Wiltzen 77 Susan McInnis 76 Skips % Cathy Borst 80 Anne Merklinger 76 Sandra Schmirler 75 Cathy Trowell 72 Tammi Lowther 72
Perfect Games Player Team Position Shots Opponent Skip 8
Awards The all-star team and award winners were as follows.
All-Star teams Team Canada third Jan Betker became the first curler to be selected to the all-star team on four separate occasions as Betker was previously selected in , , and (first team).
First Team Position Name Team Skip Cathy Borst Third Jan Betker Second Brenda Bohmer Lead Marcia Gudereit
Second Team Position Name Team Skip Anne Merklinger Third Heather Godberson Second Patti McKnight Lead Heather Hopkins
Marj Mitchell Sportsmanship Award The Marj Mitchell Sportsmanship Award is presented to the curler who best embodies the spirit of curling at the Scotties Tournament of Hearts. The winner was selected in a vote by all players at the tournament. Beginning in 1998, the award was permanently named after Marj Mitchell who skipped her team to a Canadian championship in before dying from cancer in 1983.
Name Team Position Anne Merklinger Skip
Most Valuable Player Award The Most Valuable Player Award is presented to the curler chosen by TSN commentators for their outstanding play during the playoff round.
Name Team Position Brenda Bohmer Second
Ford Hot Shots The Ford Hot Shots was a skills competition preceding the round robin of the tournament. Each competitor had to perform a series of shots with each shot scoring between 0 and 5 points depending on where the stone came to rest. The winner of this edition of the event would win a two-year lease on a Mercury Mystique LS.
Winner Runner-Up Score Allison Franey Kate Horne 17–15
Shot of the Week Award The Shot of the Week Award was voted on by TSN commentators and presented to the curler who had been determined with the most outstanding shot during the championship.
Name Team Position Anne Merklinger Skip
Notes
References