The Soo will have to do for Middaugh

The playdowns for the Scotties are underway across the country and Sherry Middaugh and her rink, fresh off a runner-up finish at the Trials, are headed to Jacobs Country to try and get the consolation prize for the 2014 curling year, an Ontario berth in the Canadian women's final.

Mike Koreen of the Toronto Sun got to eat some delicious airport food while chatting with the effervescent Ontario skip who said her team won't be letting up.

"This was still one of the goals we had at the start of the year," the cheerful Middaugh 47, said before flying to Sault Ste. Marie for the Ontario Scotties, where 10 teams will vie for this province's national berth, beginning Monday. 

"Before the final (a loss to hometown favourite Jennifer Jones at the Roar of the Rings), we got some really good games in where we faced pressure situations on arena ice. The fact we put ourselves in the position to play pressure games is going to help us."

Middaugh and her rink will be in the field for what will be the final all-Ontario Scotties. Next year, Northern Ontario gets its own entry into the shootout while some poor weakling provinces get to sit on the sidelines, a victim of the new relegation.

You can follow the Ontario playdowns here.