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This article was published 20/03/2021 (1149 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Contrary to popular belief, Jennifer Jones doesn’t own every conceivable curling title available to her.

The former Winnipegger is back in the protective confines of the Calgary bubble competing at the 2021 Canadian mixed doubles championship with her husband, Brent Laing.

It’s their third national mixed doubles championship together, their best finish coming in 2017 in Saskatoon when they reached the semifinals but were bumped out by Rachel Homan and John Morris.

Jones is an Olympic women’s champion, two-time world champion and six-time Scotties winner, while Laing boasts three world and Brier men’s titles.

Winning a Canadian crown as a couple would be icing on a colossal cake, she said Sunday.

“I would love to go to a world championship with my husband. Anytime you get to put the Maple Leaf on your back it’s such a huge privilege and we would love to do that together,” Jones said. “But at the end of the day we just want to have some fun and make some shots. No complaints either way, but it would definitely be special to stand on top of that podium.”

A field of 35 teams, split into five pools of seven, is in the chase for a national title, a $50,000 winners cheque and the chance to wear Canadian colours at the 2021 world mixed doubles championship (dates and location to be confirmed).

The Jones/Laing duo, representing the Alliston Club near Barrie, Ont., upped its perfect record in Pool B to 4-0 on Sunday morning with a 7-3 triumph over Laurie St-Georges and Felix Asselin of the Glenmore Club in Dollard-Des Ormeaux, Que. (3-1)

Renowned skips Kerri Einarson of Gimli and Brad Gushue of St. John’s, N.L., have combined on a 4-1 record in Pool B, after Sunday’s 7-3 win over Robert Desjardins and his daughter, Émilie, from Chicoutimi, Que.

After round-robin play is done Tuesday at WinSport Arena, five pool winners plus seven teams with the next best records advance to the playoffs. The final is set for Thursday night.

“We love playing mixed doubles, spending time like this together, and playing well makes it even better,” added Jones.

The twosome earned a place in the field based on the Canadian mixed doubles rankings (results between March 15, 2019, and March 15, 2020).

“We know each other so well, and he’s such a supportive teammate and supportive partner in life, so that part is really great. We know what to say and what not to say. We feel it’s such a privilege being on the ice together, doing what we love to do and creating some memories,” she said.

Mixed doubles is the third Curling Canada event held without spectators in a controlled environment to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 virus.

Last year’s event was cancelled owing to the pandemic, meaning 2019 champions Jocelyn Peterman of Winnipeg and her fiance, Brett Gallant of St. John’s, N.L., are defend their title.

Jones skipped her Winnipeg-based women’s team at the recent Scotties inside the bubble, losing to Alberta’s Laura Walker in a tie-breaker to miss the playoffs. At the Brier, John Epping’s Ontario team — with Laing at lead — also fell short of the playoffs.

Laing said the competitive juices are flowing at an event chockful of Canadian curling notables.

“It’s still a fairly new event — obviously, the Brier and Scotties have a ton of history — but we know what’s on the line here. Canadian championships are hard to win, and a spot at the worlds is something special. Somebody’s going to have to earn Canada’s spot in the Olympics. So, there’s tons on the line here,” he said.

The world mixed doubles will, indeed, determine seven of the 10 countries that will compete at the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing.

Laing said he never ceases to be amazed by his all-star partner.

“I watched her before we were together and admired her for the way she looked at the game, the way she played with no fear, looking for the big shot, wanting to throw the last shot,” he said. “We talk curling a lot in our house, and I have so much respect for her knowledge of the game. There’s not many mixed doubles partners, if any, that have the resume that Jennifer has. I’m pretty fortunate.”

Meanwhile, the Interlake-based team of Colton Lott and Kadriana Sahaidak won in an unusual way Sunday to improve to 3-1 in Pool A. Recent Brier national men’s winner Darren Moulding couldn’t play in the morning draw due to back spasms, and he and his partner, Joanne Courtney, had to default.

Late in the day, Curling Canada confirmed the Alberta duo, which began with three staight wins, had to pull out of the championship.

“It was surprising when we first heard when we got up and it was really unexpected, especially with the importance of that game,” Lott said. “We both hope Darren feels better soon.”

Moulding needs to be back to 100 per cent for the fast-approaching world men’s championship.

“This was not an easy decision, because Joanne and I were doing very well together, and I felt like we could accomplish something special,” said Moulding, in a statement. “But Joanne could not have been more supportive and understanding.

“I’ll be working hard and getting all of the necessary treatments to make sure my back is healthy in time for our opening game on April 2.”

Manitoba’s reigning champions, Krysten Karwacki and Derek Samagalski, were 2-1 in Pool D heading into Sunday’s late draw. Shannon Birchard and Catlin Schneider are 3-1 and had Sunday off.

Selena Njegovan and Reid Carruthers were 2-2 prior to the late draw in Pool C, equal to Briane Meilleur and Mark Nichols.

Kaitlyn Lawes and her nephew, Connor Lawes, posted their first victory in Pool E, edging Ashley Quick and Mike Armstrong of Saskatoon 8-7 in an extra end Sunday afternoon.

jason.bell@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @WFPJasonBell