Peacock graduate Skylar Ackerman's rink went 1-and-3 in their first bonspiel of the new season on the Saskatchewan Women's Curling Tour.

The event, which took place at the Saskatoon Sutherland curling club, is the first one since the new return to play rules have gone into effect.

Ackerman talked about what they've learned as curlers now that they have this first tournament in their back pocket.

“I think we’ve kind of got a good handle on things, and just kind of good back into the flow of everything after a few months off,” she said. “It was just really great to be back on the ice. And I’m just glad at this time that Curl Sask has done all they can do to ensure that we can all play the sport that we all love.”

Ackerman’s team includes third Emily Haupstein, second Taylor Stremick and lead Abbey Johnson. They defeated the Sherrilee Orsted rink 8-1, and then lost three in a row: 7-4 to Saskatoon Nutana’s Jessica Mitchell, 6-4 to Nutana’s Sherry Anderson and 8-2 to Biggar’s Brett Barber.

Moose Jaw’s Candace Newkirk is a third on the Orsted rink that also went 1-3 on the weekend.

Ackerman said the new rules took some time to get used to, but they all managed well.

“The one sweeper thing is definitely a lot different, just to figure out the best way who’s going to sweep which rock, because people have dominant sides, so you have to figure out the best strategy to handle that,” she said. “Just the flow of the game, where do you stand when.”

Ackerman is attending her second year at the University of Saskatchewan. All of the classes in Saskatchewan’s two major universities are online-only, which Ackerman says has its pros and cons.

“But it actually works well with our curling schedule,” she said. “We can kind of be a little more flexible that way, and learn on the road. If there are competitions to go to, we can learn as we drive I guess.”