By Joel van der Veen

REGINA — Jolene Campbell’s oldest daughter stepped onto a curling sheet for the first time this past season. To no one’s surprise, she can’t wait to try it again.

Four-and-a-half-year-old Stella accompanied her mother to a recent practice, and Jolene says she’s asked to come along virtually every time since.

Her nieces and nephews are also starting to pick up the sport, Campbell added, saying, “It’s pretty neat to see the family tradition carry on.”

In this case, the family tradition includes plenty of time at the curling rink, as well as some excellent results on the ice.

Campbell set the bar a little higher last weekend as she and her teammates from Regina’s Highland Curling Club captured their first Viterra Scotties Tournament of Hearts provincial championship in Prince Albert.

Jolene is the daughter of Perry and Ronna McIvor, formerly of Davidson. Her teammates are third Ashley Howard, second Callan Hamon and lead Ashley Williamson.

The team played three games in 11 hours on Jan. 31, defeating Regina’s Michelle Englot 7-5 and then winning 6-4 over North Battleford’s Robyn Silvernagle in the semi-final.

Saskatoon’s Stefanie Lawton — who had the last two provincial women’s championships to her credit — was their challenger in the final. The Campbell rink came out ahead with a 7-4 win.

The win may have struck some observers as an upset, but Campbell chalked it up to a combination of skill, dedication and hard work.

“This team just really clicked well together right off the start,” she said, adding that they were “at the rink all the time.”

She also gave a share of the credit to coach Russ Howard, who is Ashley’s father. A prior men’s world champion and Olympic gold medallist, he currently works for TSN as a curling analyst.

“We went into provincials believing that we could come through winning the championship, and it worked out for us,” said Campbell.

At 34, the wife and mother of two — with a third child on the way — is a decade older than most of her teammates, who range in age from 22 to 26.

“I always joke to them that they are my other three kids,” said Campbell with a laugh, adding that she has felt comfortable taking on a leadership role with the younger players.

Of her teammates, she said, “They’re all mature beyond their years when it comes to getting out and working hard.”

Campbell and her team will represent the province at the Scotties Tournament of Hearts in Grande Prairie, Alta., from Feb. 20 to 28.

She began curling around the age of nine, taking part in the school program in Davidson. Campbell said that teacher Diane Taylor and her husband Gord were both sources of encouragement and support.

Previously, Campbell won the provincial junior title in 2002 and finished in third place at the Canadian Junior Curling Championships. She also won the Schmirler Curling Classic in 2007.

As the alternate for the Amber Holland rink, Campbell played in three past national Scotties tournaments, winning in 2011, and went on to take the silver medal at the Capital One World Women’s Curling Championship in Denmark that year.

Though she’s lived in Regina for the last decade, Campbell said she still feels the support of her hometown in spirit. Going a step further was the local Home Hardware shop, which helped by sponsoring her team this year.

Campbell can also rest assured that she’ll have her family watching and cheering her on at every step.

Her mother Ronna, speaking to the Leader from their home in Regina on Tuesday, said they watch the Scotties every year, but it will have an added appeal this time around.

“It’s going to be extra special to have our own daughter in it,” she said. “We’ll enjoy watching every minute of it.”