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Jones looking forward to 2003 Colleen Jones gives the sweep call at last year‘s Scott tournament. urrent Canadian and World women‘s curling champion Colleen Jones joked that she enjoyed her last Scott Tournament of Hearts experience in Waterloo in 1994 so much that she almost forgot what she was here for. Playing in her record 15th Scott Tournament of Hearts later this month in Brandon, Man., she asked local orgaâ€" nizers of the 2003 tournaâ€" ment, coming to . the Kitchener Auditorium next February, for one small conâ€" sideration. "I only ask that you make it not as fun this time," chided Jones at a press conference Monday at the Four Points Sheraton in Kitchener to kick off advance ticket sales for next year‘s Canadian Women‘s Curling championship. "We had so much fun we lost. "We did more losing that year, but it was a great Scott." The CBC_ Newsworld broadcaster and threeâ€"time Scott Tournament winner said that local organizers will have their work cut out for them to top the 1994 tournaâ€" ment stop. But she was impressed by By Bos VrBANAC Chronicle Staff und <i5‘= .. S@2k00""_, 'Rflw.k-bt.b FREE Lasgch Howr Lood _ Calling 12â€"1 pm. _ _ the support the tournament is receiving from local levels of government. And she said she was excitâ€" ed Isy the prospect of playing at a bigger venue at the Kitchener Memorial Aud. "This event gets better every time," said Jones. "The curling has really improved since 1994." Local organizers of the 2003 tournament are also excited by the prospects of next year‘s tournament, and expect more than 85,000 peoâ€" ple to pass the turnstiles at the That‘s why they want to give local curling fans a chance to catch the action by making exclusive fullâ€"event ticket packages available locally before going on sale to a Canadaâ€"wide audience after the upcoming Scott Tournament of Hearts in Brandon. Full week ticket packages will cost $250, $300 and $350 depending on the seating selected, and will be available through Ticketmaster or at the Memorial Auditorium box office. For more information people can visit the official event website, also launched on Monday, at www.tournaâ€" Continued on page 22 Members of the Kâ€"W Skating Club‘s Royales on Ice, pictured above, are off to their first international competition in Milan next week Getting the ‘Royale‘ treatment _ siting one of the fashâ€" \ / ion capitals of the world could prove to be disâ€" tracting for most teenage girls. But the Kâ€"W Skating Club‘s Royales on Ice synchronized skating team are determined to make strides at their first major international meet in Milan Feb. 16â€"17. Warriors can‘t spoil Hawks‘ party Head _ coach _ Karen Hinnegan, now in her 10th year with the club, said her team‘s focus will be on the competition and not on the catwalks of northern Italian City. fter only winning three Afimm up to this point in e season, the Waterloo Wartiors men‘s hockey team didn‘t have much to play for except for pride. Pride and maybe a chance to spoil the Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks‘ postâ€"season After all, it was the same Hawks who beat the Warriors in a special qualifying series to eam a berth a last year‘s Canadian University hockey championship played at the Kitchener Memorial Auditorium. And the Hawks are in a tight race for another shot at the big dance, leading Brock by a couâ€" ple of points for the final playoff spot. â€" But a 7â€"5 Wariors loss to the Hawks last week at the SPORTS By Bos VrBanac Chronicle Staff By Bos Vreanac Chronicle Staff f‘:%fl‘l‘deu m now uurarmnenes 8801477 (z"2!; The club‘s first junior synâ€" chronized skate team to qualâ€" ify for an international comâ€" petition, the Royales are lookâ€" ing to peak in time for the event that will serve as a preâ€" cursor for the national chamâ€" pionships being held at the Kitchener â€" Auditorium _ in March. And it‘s an impressive accomplishment considering that the team has only been together for a year. "What makes this so excitâ€" ing is that we were able to qualify for an international event in our first year togethâ€" er," said Hinnegan, whose team finished sixth at last Waterloo Memorial Recreation Complex ended Waterloo‘s hopes of playing party pooper. And the loss encapsulated The Hawks beat the Warriors 7â€"5 in an important game for Laurier. Warriors this season. Youth and inexperience the year‘s nationals to earn the honour. Hinnegan said the team was able to gel together so quickly because of the camaâ€" raderie they share both on and off the ice. They are friends first, which gives them some extra cohesiveness on the ice. "A great number of these girls have been skating together since they were eight or nine years old," said Hinnegan. "They form the core of this group. "And that‘s what makes the team cohesive, and makes it work on the ice." Even on their bad days, the seemn to be the main culprits as the Warriors let another lead slip away from them. And while the effort was there, the misâ€" takes killed a young Warrior "That‘s been the story," said Sat. 9â€"5 hW e 9 9 after $100 programming credit. Free Install â€" $150 value www.vwwaterioo.com T ELU S mobility ~ CLICK HERE Volkswagen New & Cortified Preâ€"owned Cors Volkswagen Waterloo bonds are strong enough to overcome the hurdles of comâ€" petition. Success at the novice level has also help inspire this team. Most members of the Royales won bronze at the Nationals as novice skaters, and are looking for another medal at the junior level. Hinnegan _ thinks â€" the potential is there for her relaâ€" tively young team, which should remain intact over the next couple of years. "That rapport is crucial for future success," she said. "They have that group goal to succeed, and put their skating Wartiors‘ captain Brett Turner. "We play well enough to be in games, but were just young and haven‘t learned how to win yet. "We‘re just trying to start building something for next While the Warriors are in rebuilding mode, the Hawks are within a couple of points of the Guelph Gryphons for secâ€" ond place. No matter the outâ€" come of the OUA playoff race, the Hawks will face the Gryphons in a super series to decide a national champiâ€" "The way we won it tonight wasn‘t pretty.. but you have to win those games," he said. "This was all Waterloo had to play for, to ruin our parade. "This game had me worâ€" ried, but we managed to win." But first they have to qualify for the playoffs, and head coach Tony Martindale thinks his club is in good shape.