Skylar Ackerman is back in the province after leading Team Saskatchewan as skip at the Scotties Tournament of Hearts in Calgary. 

Curl Sask says that 22-year-old Ackerman was the youngest curler to represent Saskatchewan at the national competition. Her other teammates out of the Nutana Curling Club in Saskatoon are Kaylin Skinner (lead), Taylor Stremick (2nd), Ashley Thevenot (3rd), and Amber Holland (alternate). Ackerman’s dad, Patrick Ackerman, was the team’s coach. 

Skylar Ackerman grew up on a farm by Chamberlain, went to school in Moose Jaw, and curls out of Saskatoon, and people in each of those locations want to claim her as theirs. She was asked where the claims to be from. 

“That’s a tough one – I feel all over the place. I feel pretty special to have so many people behind me that support me and want to continue supporting my dreams and goals in curling.” 

Ackerman grew up surrounded by curling, starting off watching her parents in the rink from a young age. “As my brother and I got a bit older, he started competitively curling, so I followed him around the rinks and watched and spared a bit." 

“When I was about 10 or so, I started a little more seriously throwing rocks with my family, and just never quit I guess!” 

The practice paid off in a big way in January, when Ackerman’s team beat Nancy Martin’s rink 10-9 at the provincial final in Tisdale, earning them a spot at the national Scotties Tournament of Hearts. “My whole team and I have dreamed about wearing the green jacket at the Scotties since we were little kids,” said Ackerman.  

“To finally do it with some of my best friends is pretty amazing.” 

She said the experience at the Scotties themselves was surreal. “To have the big crowds, and to play the big shots and to play against those big teams – it was just an unreal experience that I don’t think any of us will ever forget.” 

The team saw success in their first three days at the Scotties, winning their first three games in a row. “The first three games definitely came down to last rock every time. It was a bit of a grind out there," explained Ackerman.  

Her team won 11-8 against DiCarlo’s Team PEI, had an 8-6 win against Lawes’ Team Manitoba, and won 6-5 against McCarville’s Team Northern Ontario.  

“The first two games we ended up giving up four enders, but we just ground down and took things one shot and a time and tried not to get too down on ourselves and focused on the next thing, rather than focusing on the past.” 

The team saw losses during their next three games, falling 7-3 to St-George's Team Quebec, 8-4 to Sturmay’s Team Alberta, and 11-6 to Einarson’s Team Canada.  

“It was definitely a little discouraging after such a hot start for us to lose those next three in a row. I think just as every team out there got a handle on the ice a little better, and got a little more comfortable out there, everyone just got a little sharper. Every game got tougher after, day by day, and every team got tougher day by day,” explained Ackerman.  

“We just ended up on the wrong side of the inch there and just weren’t quite as precise as we needed to be those next three games.” 

They came back with a win in their 6th game against Curtis’ Team Newfoundland and Labrador, 9-6. 

“We stuck with it and came back the next day with a win.” 

During their 8th and final game against Brown’s Team British Columbia, they lost 13-4.  

This isn’t the end of curling for Ackerman, though. She said the team is taking some time to recharge and recuperate after the Scotties, before planning out what they’re doing next year. “[We’re going] to have some practices so that we can keep getting better with the ice time that’s left in the rinks, and then start off on a stronger foot when we start up again in the fall.” 

Ackerman is currently in her last year at the University of Saskatoon studying Kinesiology.