Black's Bluenosers Undefeated at Stu Sells Halifax

Christina Black (photo: Michael Burns, Curling Canada) and her Halifax based rink at 3-0 at the Stu Sells Halifax 1824 Classic, taking on Switzerland's Silvana Tirinzoni for top of pool (WATCH NOW). Christina Black vice-skip Jenn Baxter feels her Halifax-based foursome has the ability to be in the mix with the top women's teams in the sport. The squad is hoping to prove it at this week's Stu Sells 1824 Halifax Classic and again next week at the Grand Slam of Curling's KIOTI National. "I think we have a lot of potential," Baxter said. "We're working hard and willing to do what it takes and work as hard as anybody else. I think in that regard we're definitely right there." Black, Baxter, second Karlee Everist and lead Shelley Barker reached the quarterfinals at the recent Tier-2 Grand Slam in Niagara Falls. The team also made the playoffs at the Scotties Tournament of Hearts last season. Black defeated Tanya Hilliard 8-3 on Friday at the Halifax Curling Club to improve to 3-0, tops in Pool A with top-ranked Silvana Tirinzoni of Switzerland. Black's squad formed after veteran skip Mary-Anne Arsenault moved out west a few years ago. "Christina has definitely performed really well," Baxter told CurlingZone. "I've been really incredibly impressed by how well she's taken on the skip's role. I played with Mary-Anne and she played with Mary-Anne for a bunch of years." "It's always nervous to enter into new positions and enter into a new team and have a new leader. She's done it flawlessly and very well. She's able to make the big shots." Black is one of seven Canadian entries in the 16-team women's draw at the upcoming Slam. She'll be the lone team from Nova Scotia at the Pictou County Wellness Centre. "We're really excited about that," Baxter said. "We're glad that we got in on our own merit. We're excited to be able to perform at home and we got in based off our own performance from last (season) and the beginning of this (season)." One of the team's highlights this year was reaching the semifinals at the PointsBet Invitational last September in Oakville. She lost to Homan, who went on to beat Einarson for the title. "We were very happy with our performance because last year we lost in the first round," Baxter said. "So it was nice to get a little further this year. And of course it's always great to play with the cameras on, the lights on, and the big fancy show. We love that. That's what we go for at the Scotties." Black, 36, has made five career appearances at the nationals, winning bronze in 2018 as a third for Arsenault. She guided the team to the Page Playoff 3-4 game at last season's Scotties before falling to Einarson, who went on to win her fourth straight Scotties title. "I believe everything that she's selling," Baxter said of her skip. "I'll buy everything. I'm all here for it and I'm all in. She's performing great. We have a great bond and a good trust with each other ... she's at the top of her game." The Stu Sells competition continues through Sunday. Select games are live-streamed on YouTube with links available on the CurlingZone website (www.curlingzone.com).