Canada's Einarson set for long-awaited trip to Sweden seeking 1st world curling title

Kerri Einarson looked at Facebook on Friday and saw a memory flash on the screen from March 2020, before life as she knew it came to a halt due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

There she was standing in Winnipeg's Fort Rouge Curling Club, preparing to embark for Sweden and her first women's world curling championship.

Turns out her trip was delayed by three years.

"All of a sudden, it was cancelled," Einarson said Friday after practice at the very same curling club to prepare for the 2023 women's world curling championship in Sandviken, Sweden.

"When we got the phone call, we were pretty upset. I had quite a few tears and felt very angry. But now, having this opportunity, It's an absolutely amazing feeling."

Fresh off winning a record-tying fourth Canadian women's championship, Einarson, third Val Sweeting, second Shannon Birchard and lead Briane Harris are jetting off to Sweden in pursuit of their first world title.

WATCH | Einarson talks worlds on CBC Sports' 'That Curling Show':

Canada opens the tournament on Friday, March 18 in the first match of round-robin play against host Sweden. The playoffs start on March 25.

"Our No. 1 goal is to bring gold back to Canada," said Einarson, of Gimli, Man. "We have some unfinished business to take care of."

The Einarson foursome missed out on the chance to compete at worlds in 2020 due to the pandemic, then placed a disappointing sixth at the 2021 world championships held inside the Calgary bubble.

Einarson and her crew settled for bronze.

"The bronze medal last year was another kind of step up the ladder for them," said Colleen Jones, skip of the only other Canadian women's team to win four consecutive Scotties Tournament of Hearts (2001-2004). "And the world championships are just