The members of Patti Knezevic's rink don't get to see each other very often, but they've managed to book another reunion.

Knezevic, whose rink features two players from Prince George and two from Kamloops, beat Kamloops' Karla Thompson 7-5 in the B final of a provincial women's qualifier at McArthur Island Curling Club on Sunday. The victory means Knezevic has earned a berth at the Scotties B.C. women's championship, scheduled for Jan. 23-29 in North Vancouver.

Jen Rusnell, also of Prince George, won the A event earlier Sunday and also will attend provincials.

Knezevic and lead Rhonda Camozzi live in Prince George, while Brenda Garvey and Chelan Cotter - along with coach Ken Brown - live in Kamloops.

That makes for an interesting dynamic - since the players live 500 kilometres apart, they don't get to see each other very often. In fact, because of work and families and everything else associated with real life, the rink only gets together for cashspiels and playdowns.

"It's definitely a challenge, there's no doubt about it," said Knezevic, who throws fourth stones but lets Garvey hold the broom. "You're not seeing each other from week to week . . . and you really have to work on communication because of that."

There still are two provincials spots - the last ones - up for grabs. The final qualifier event will be held in Chilliwack from Dec. 16-18.

In the Kamloops qualifier, Rusnell, curling with Kristen Fewster, Blaine Richards and Amber Cheveldave, won all three of her games, including a 6-4 eight-end victory over Knezevic in the A final.

"In the ninth, between our lack of execution and fantastic execution on (Rusnell's) end, we got stung," Knezevic said. "It was at the point where we had no shot to get one," so the rinks shook hands.

In the B final, Knezevic cracked open a 2-2 tie with three in the fifth end. Thompson, playing with Roberta Kuhn, Christen Wilson and Lanette Nordick, fought on, and was down 6-5 heading into the 10th.

Facing two Thompson counters, Knezevic made a nice draw to the button to secure the victory.

"I felt good going into that shot," Knezevic said.

Joining Rusnell and Knezevic at provincials will be defending champion Kelly Scott of Kelowna, New Westminster's Kelley Law, Kamloops' Allison MacInnes, Richmond's Kelly Thompson, Victoria's Roselyn Craig and New Westminster's Nicole Backe.

It likely will be the next time the members of Knezevic rink get to see each other again.

"We'll be playing in our respective leagues," Knezevic said. "And we'll be trusting each other to maintain the same practice schedule."

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In Cranbrook, Jennifer Jones and Kevin Martin secured berths at the 2013 Olympic curling trials in Winnipeg by winning their sides at the Canada Cup of Curling.

Jones's Winnipeg rink scored a 9-4 victory over Chelsea Carey of Morden, Man., in Sunday's women's final, while Martin and Co. of Edmonton topped Glenn Howard of Coldwater, Ont., 7-4 in the men's final.

The Olympic trials will determine who represents Canada at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia.

mhunter@kamloopsnews.ca