Kerri Einarson gets curling worlds redo in in Prince George, B.C.

Kerri Einarson and Prince George, B.C., are about to get a women's world curling championship do-over.

Einarson, third Val Sweeting, second Shannon Birchard and lead Brianne Meilleur had just arrived in that city two years ago fresh off their first Canadian championship as a team and ready to curl for a world title.

The 2020 women's championship was among the early international sporting events engulfed by the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Canadians and the rest of the international teams quickly headed home when it was cancelled and the sporting world went dark.

Curling Canada compensated Prince George with the hosting of the 2022 women's tournament.

Claiming a third straight national women's championship in February brings Einarson back to the city for another shot at world championship gold there.

Her Gimli Curling Club foursome from Manitoba opens Saturday against Italy and Norway at the 6,000-seat CN Centre, where there will be unmasked fans to cheer on the host country.

"As soon as we found out that it was in Prince George, we're like 'we need to get back there where it all started,"' Einarson said.

"We missed out on that opportunity in 2020, so we're going to take full advantage and give it our all there for Canada."

Canada is among 13 countries playing a round robin with the top six advancing to playoffs March 26.

WATCH | Einarson wins Scotties again:

The first and second seeds get byes to the semifinals with third to sixth duking it out to join them. The medal games are March 27.

Einarson finished sixth in last year's world championship held in Calgary's curling bubble with no spectators.

After opening 1-5, her team won six straight to reach the playoff round and secure an Olympic berth for Canada in