Accomplishments: World Junior Women’s Curling Champions, 2003.
The Marliese Miller Junior Women’s Curling Team of Saskatoon holds the distinction of being Saskatchewan’s first ever women’s world junior curling champions.
Miller along with teammates, third Teejay Surik, second Janelle Lemon, lead Chelsey Bell and alternate Tammy Schneider under the guidance of coach Bob Miller, accomplished the feat by capturing the 2003 Star Choice Junior Women’s World Curling Championship in Films, Switzerland capping off an outstanding curling season.
The Miller foursome began their quest to the 2003 World Junior Women’s Curling title by winning the Target Junior Women’s Provincials at the Moose Jaw Hillcrest Curling Club. At the provincials in Moose Jaw, Marliese Miller was named the Sandra Schmirler All-Star Skip, Teejay Surik was named the Jan Betker All-Star Third and Chelsey Bell named the Marcia Gudereit All-Star Lead.
Miller and her teammates moved on to the Karcher Junior Womens’ Canadian Championships in Ottawa, where the team finished round robin play in second spot. After defeating Alberta in the semifinal, the Miller Team downed the team from Nova Scotia in the championship final. Miller, Surik, Lemon and Bell were all named to the First All-Star team for their outstanding play during the round robin action. The victory marked the ninth overall junior women’s title for a team from Saskatchewan and the second Canadian Championship for Marliese Miller, who played third for her sister Stefanie Miller who won the 2000 championship.
Miller and her teammates continued their outstanding play at the world championships in Films, Switzerland where the team advanced to the finals after going undefeated during round robin play. In the finals, the Miller Team defeated the reigning World Junior champs from the United States in dramatic fashion by a score of 5-4. With her last stone, Miller executed an astounding angle raise double takeout for one to clinch the goal medal. Miller and her foursome enjoyed a phenomenal week of curling being the first team since 1995 to win all nine games of the round robin event and first team ever to win the world junior championships with an undefeated record, going 11-0 during the competition. The outstanding play of the entire team once again earned Miller, Surik, Lemon and Bell a First All-Star team selection.
Marliese Miller also received the World Junior Curling Championship Sportsmanship Award given to the player who best combines sportsmanlike conduct with curling ability during the round robin as voted on by the participating players.
The Marliese Miller Team was also named the SaskSport Team of the Month for February 2003 and the SaskSport Team of the Year for 2003. The team was also named to the Saskatchewan Curling Association Legends of Curling Honour Roll for their accomplishment.
Installed in the Saskatchewan Sports Hall of Fame on June 16, 2007.
Left to Right:
Front Row: Chelsey Bell (lead), Tammy Schneider (fifth), Marliese Miller (skip).
2nd Row: Janelle Lemon (second), Bob Miller (coach), Teejay Surik (third).
