Jennifer Jones gunning for seventh Scotties title, facing calls to 'unretire'

CALGARY — Curling great Colleen Jones has an important message she’s circulating this week at the Scotties. 

“I’m working hard, saying everything I can: ‘Don’t go, Jen,’” the six-time Scotties champion said, standing at ice level at WinSport Arena. “I’m starting a campaign right now. Jennifer should not retire.” 

A week or so before this Scotties Tournament of Hearts, Jennifer Jones announced she’s stepping back from women’s curling at the end of this season. This is her incredible 18^th Scotties, and nobody has won more games or championships here than she has. And Jennifer Jones is now just two wins away from a record seventh title.  

“Yay!” the 49-year-old skipper said, after her 8-4 win over Team Alberta on Friday afternoon. It means her Team Manitoba will play the undefeated Ontario team skipped by Rachel Homan on Saturday afternoon, and the winner will head straight to Sunday’s final. The loser of that Saturday game will stay alive in the playoffs. 

“Really exciting,” Jones said. “It's just hard, like all these teams are so good. So anytime you get a win and kind of move yourself along in the process, it's everything. This was a massive game for us and we're pretty, pretty proud of ourselves.”

The turning point Friday against Team Alberta was a three Jones made on a takeout in the third end to give Team Manitoba a 4-2 lead, which they never relinquished. After that shot, Jones threw up both arms and cheered right along with a raucous Friday daytime crowd of 3,100. That included her daughters, 12-year-old Isabella and eight-year-old Skyla, who’ve been in the stands all week long with a sign that says: Go Mommy Go. 

Jones already owns the record for most Scotties titles, and she shares it with her long-time second Jill Officer and with Colleen Jones, who’ve also won six titles. No. 7 is now well within Jones’ grasp.

“Oh, it would be the icing on the cake,” said Team Manitoba coach and curling legend, Glenn Howard, looking skyward, imagining a win here on Sunday. “If she could ever pull this off, if the girls pull this off and win her a seventh Scotties the year she’s retiring would be, just what a swansong. What a way to end a career. 

“And I got news for you: She’s gunning for it.” 

That’s plain to see as Jones pumps her fists after big shots, and wraps all of her teammates in group hugs on the ice after wins here. 

Team Manitoba third Karlee Burgess says it’s not necessarily pressure that she and lead Lauren Lenentine and second Emily Zacharias feel, given what’s on the line for their skipper. “I think we wanted to go into this week to just have fun and play well. And I think with Jen retiring, it’s even more just trying to enjoy the moment for her and for the four of us — like, we are very lucky to have this opportunity to play in Jen’s last Scotties,” Burgess said. “And not a lot of people get to play with Jen Jones. So it’s really cool that we get to finish her career and hopefully finish on a high note.”  

Well, if you ask Colleen Jones, the Manitoba skip has many more high notes to hit, still. She has said as much to Jennifer too: “Unretire. It’s a big mistake!” 

“She’s too great a player, and she just keeps making incredible shots. If she had lost any of her ability I would say, ‘Oh yeah, may as well go.’ But she hasn’t,” Colleen said. “And I think it’s too big a loss for women’s curling.” 

Just as Colleen was explaining her Don’t Go Jen Campaign, the members of Team Jones walked by, and she filled them in. Burgess immediately got on board with the plan.

“She should not retire!” Burgess said. “The way she’s played this week? Did you see the shot she made just now?”

Burgess was also quick to point out a key fact about the Manitoba skip: “She’s very indecisive, so she might change her mind. She can still be the Tom Brady of curling, right?” 

So, Jennifer Jones, are you really, truly done?

“I don’t know…. I think so,” Jones told Sportsnet, with a smile. “But I’m here with my team this week and I’m having so much fun, and I just love playing with my team.” 

She thinks of Isabella and Skyla and decides again that, yes, this is it. She’ll continue in mixed doubles, but this is her final season of women’s curling, her last Scotties. 

To go out with a seventh career win makes Jones misty-eyed, as do many curling topics these days. 

“That’s the fairytale, right?” she said. “That would be more than I could ask for. But if it doesn’t happen, no regrets…

“I mean, obviously that would be the dream ending.” 

Well, not quite if you ask some. Colleen Jones would love to see a seventh title win from Jennifer, but that ending part? Not so much. 

“Don’t go, Jen,” Colleen said, repeating her message, like any good campaign manager would. “I think she should reconsider.”