Amber Holland

Amber Holland (born July 10, 1974 in Yorkton, Saskatchewan) is a Canadian curler. Holland skipped Saskatchewan's team to a national women's championship in 2011 by defeating defending champion Jennifer Jones in the Scotties Tournament of Hearts. She also won a national championship at the junior level in 1992, and captured a silver medal at the World Junior Curling Championships in 1993 after losing in the final.

Curling career

1992-2010

Holland's first experience curling at the national level came at the 1992 Canadian Junior Curling Championships in Vernon, British Columbia, where she skipped her Saskatchewan team to a national championship. Her teammates at the event included Angela Street, Tracy Beach and Cindy Street.^[1] Holland and her rink represented Canada at the 1993 World Junior Curling Championships, where they captured the silver medal.^[2]

After beginning play on the women's circuit after her junior career was finished in 1993, Holland did not have immediate success. She has played in Saskatchewan's provincial playdowns ten times,^[3] but did not appear at the Scotties Tournament of Hearts until 1999, when she served as an alternate for her former junior teammate Cindy Street. She also served as an alternate for Tracy Streifel's team at the 2006 event.^[4] Holland competed in Canada's Olympic curling trials in 2001 and 2005. She skipped her own entry in 2001, and played as an alternate with Sherry Anderson's rink in 2005.^[3]

Holland's rink, including third Kim Schneider, second Tammy Schneider and lead Heather Kalenchuk have been together since 2005. In 2008 they won the World Curling Tour Players' Championships.^[2] The team is coached by Merv Fonger and the alternate is Jolene Campbell.^[4]

2010-2012

On January 10, 2010, Holland advanced to her first Scotties Tournament of Hearts as a skip by defeating Sherry Anderson 9-6 in the final of the Saskatchewan championship in Eston. Skipping team Saskatchewan, Holland's rink finished the 2010 Scotties Tournament of Hearts with a 6-5 record, out of the playoffs. Holland captured the Ford Hot Shot skills competition at the 2010 tournament, defeating Ontario lead Kari MacLean to win a two-year lease on a 2010 Ford Taurus.^[5]

Holland and her rink again represented Saskatchewan at the 2011 Scotties Tournament of Hearts. They started the round robin portion of the tournament with an eight game winning streak, and finished in first place overall. Holland played defending champion Jennifer Jones in the final. The final was tied at seven heading into the final end. Holland stole a single point to win after Jones missed her final shot. After the tournament, Holland was awarded the Sandra Schmirler Most Valuable Player Award. Sandra Schmirler skipped the last team from Saskatchewan that won the national championship in 1997.^[6] At the 2012 Scotties Tournament of Hearts, Holland and her team would have a difficult time, finishing round robin with a 6-5 record. They would not make the playoffs, marking the first time since 2008 Team Canada would not be in the playoffs.

After seven years of playing with her Canadian Championship winning team, Holland announced that she would leave her squad (Kim Schneider, Tammy Schneider, Heather Kalenchuk). Holland told her team she wants to go in another direction. Kalenchuk has decided to step away from the game for a few years, and the Schneider sister have not made any decisions about their future. This split has left the four players ineligible for $72,000 worth of federal funding earned from winning the 2011 Scotties Tournament of Hearts, and they will forfeit their sport earned in the Olympic Curling Pre-Trials.^[7]

2012-Current

For the 2012/2013 curling season, Holland has formed a new team consisting of long time alternate Jolene Campbell at third, Brooklyn Lemon at second, and Dailene Sivertson, who previously played for Kelly Scott, at lead. ^[8]

Team history

Personal life

Holland started curling when she was 11.^[2] She served as the technical director for the Saskatchewan Curling Association from 1997 to 2009. In 2009, she was appointed executive director of the organization.^[4]

Grand Slam record

External links

• Team Website
• Team profile on Curling Scoops
• World Curling Tour profile

References