If you are waiting in a lift lineup at one of the ski hills in Thunder Bay Ont., there's a good chance you will see lots of young people, many wearing racing bibs. Coaches say ongoing pandemic restrictions on other sports might be the reason why.

It was an evening with moments of celebration, tension and concern, with the final in the 2022 Scotties Tournament of Hearts in Thunder Bay, Ont., pitting Krista McCarville's Team Northern Ontario rink against the two-time defending champions skipped by Kerri Einarson.

Team Northern Ontario may have home ice advantage at the Fort William Gardens at the 2022 Scotties in Thunder Bay, Ont., but two other teams have players who also feel at home at the Gardens.