Former Little Rocker slides to the big time at the Masters Grand Slam
By Gerry Rucchin
Scotia Maltman has made it to the show. The former London Curling Club member and Laurier University student is stepping onto the ice against the top curling teams at the Masters Grand Slam of Curling.
“It’s a very cool and unique experience,” Maltman said. “I’m super excited because you don’t get this opportunity often.”
Maltman, who is part of Team Artichuk, qualified for the event after winning the 2024 National University Curling Championship. She admits there are nerves because it’s a pro event with the top 30 teams in the world participating in London and St. Thomas.
She added her university team will need to overcome big differences they have with the pros. First, the pro teams practice constantly, and for many of them, it’s their full-time job. What’s more, the pro teams choose to play with each other while Maltman and her teammates try out for their varsity squad.
“That’s a huge difference,” Maltman said. “Luckily, we’re friends.”
In preparation for the event, the team has been practicing every day in Waterloo since the beginning of September and have been meeting twice a week to discuss what the team did well last year and what they would like to change. Also, they’ve been discussing goals and expectations for the bonspiel.
“We want to play well, have fun, work together as a team and learn from the top-ranked teams,” Maltman said. “We also want to make the playoffs.”
Besides playing professionals, Team Artichuk is also playing international teams for the first time. They’re scheduled to play teams from Japan, Scotland and Switzerland.
“There’s added pressure, but we’ll make the most of it,” Maltman said.
Watching in the stands will be her parents, Sheri Taylor and Grant Maltman. Taylor said they’re “super proud and excited” to see their daughter in action.
“Scotia has always been a bit of a natural on the ice,” said Taylor. “We knew she could do it.”
The road to the Grand Slam of Curling started at the London Curling Club for Maltman with Little Rocks. At first, she didn’t want to participate but decided to stick with it because she made friends and curling was a different sport.
“I’ve always been competitive and a social butterfly,” Maltman said. “I ended up falling in love with curling.”
She participated in Little Rocks for four years before joining the junior program for an additional five years. Besides athletic development, Taylor said curling has helped their daughter grow as a teammate and as a person.
The Masters of Curling is being held in London while St. Thomas is hosting the Tier II event.
Team Artichuk is comprised of skip, Emma Artichuk, third, Sarah Bailey, second, Scotia Maltman, and lead, Victoria Zemmelink. They’re playing in the Tier II event.
Scotia Maltman watches her rock during the USports Nationals this past February. (Submitted photo)
Team Artichuk celebrates their national championship win at the USports Nationals in Lethbridge, Alberta. Former Little Rocker and London Curling Club member, Scotia Maltman, first row second from the left, plays second for Laurier University. (Submitted photo)
