Penny Barker

Barker was the alternate on the Mandy Selzer rink that represented Canada at the 2006 World Junior Curling Championships. The team won the silver medal that year. She represented the University of Regina at five Canadian university championships, including winning a silver in 2007.{{Cite web|url=http://www2.canada.com/reginaleaderpost/features/curling/story.html?id=5d76abf1-b2b0-47d6-9ae5-69d61b867355|title=Roy rising to the surface|publisher=.canada.com|date=September 29, 2008|access-date=December 15, 2013}}

Barker began skipping a women's team in 2007, after playing third for Karen Purdy in the 2006–07 season.{{Cite web|author=Leader-PostJanuary 11, 2008|url=http://www.canada.com/story_print.html?id=dbf014c0-7066-440c-ab05-e531d26e13c8&sponsor=|title=Rookie skips at playdowns|publisher=Canada.com|date=January 11, 2008|accessdate=December 15, 2013}} Barker played in her first Grand Slam of Curling event at the 2012 Colonial Square Ladies Classic. Her then rink of third Susan Lang, second Melissa Hoffman and lead Danielle Sicinski lost all three of their games in the triple knock-out tournament. Barker formed a new team in 2013 with Deanna Doig at third, Tamara Haberstock at second and Sarah Slywka at lead. They played in the 2013 Colonial Square Ladies Classic, where her team made it all the way to the quarterfinals. Barker also played in the 2011 and 2013 Saskatchewan Scotties Tournament of Hearts.{{Cite web|author=Matthew Gourlie Published on January 23, 2013|url=http://www.mjtimes.sk.ca/Sports/Curling/2013-01-23/article-3162029/Barker-looking-forward-to-return-to-Scotties/1|title=Barker looking forward to return to Scotties - Curling - The Moose Jaw Times Herald |publisher=Mjtimes.sk.ca|accessdate=December 15, 2013}} At the 2011 Saskatchewan Scotties Tournament of Hearts, her team of third Amanda Craigie, second Sicinski and lead Haberstock finished the event with a 1–4 record. At the 2013 event, Barker and her team of Lang, Hoffman and Sicinski finished with a 2–3 record.

Barker began the 2014–15 season by playing in the 2014 Colonial Square Ladies Classic, failing to advance to the playoffs. She was however able to win two Saskatchewan Curling Tour events, qualifying her rink for the 2015 Saskatchewan Scotties Tournament of Hearts, where they finished 2–3. The next season, her rink of Doig, Hoffmann and Sicinski finished 3–3 at the 2016 Saskatchewan Scotties Tournament of Hearts, once again failing to advance.

Barker won the 2017 Saskatchewan Scotties Tournament of Hearts the following season despite entering the tournament as an underdog. Her team finished 4–4 through the round robin before winning the tiebreaker and three straight playoff games to claim the title.{{Cite news|url=https://leaderpost.com/sports/curling/moose-jaws-penny-barker-wins-saskatchewan-womens-curling-championship|title=Moose Jaw's Penny Barker wins Saskatchewan women's curling championship|publisher=Regina Leader-Post|author=Murray McCormick|date=January 30, 2017|access-date=October 8, 2020}} She defeated heavily favored teams Stefanie Lawton in the semifinal and Robyn Silvernagle in the final by scoring four in the tenth end.{{Cite news|url=https://leaderpost.com/sports/curling/curling-dream-comes-true-for-moose-jaws-penny-barkers-team|title=Curling dream comes true for Moose Jaw's Penny Barker's team|publisher=Regina Leader-Post|author=Murray McCormick|date=January 31, 2017|access-date=October 8, 2020}} At the 2017 Scotties Tournament of Hearts, they were one of two teams making their debut appearance at the hearts and it showed as they finished the round robin with a 1–10 record, only defeating Nova Scotia's Mary Mattatall.{{Cite news|url=https://www.curling.ca/blog/2017/02/23/northern-ontario-takes-big-step-towards-2017-scotties-playoffs/|title=Northern Ontario takes big step towards 2017 Scotties playoffs|publisher=Curling Canada|date=February 23, 2017|access-date=October 8, 2020}}

With her Saskatchewan Scotties championship rink Doig, Schneider and Sicinski, Barker had a good start to the 2017–18 season, winning the DEKALB Superspiel on the World Curling Tour.{{Cite news|url=https://discovermoosejaw.com/local-sports/mj-s-barker-wins-wct-dekalb-superspiel|title=MJ's Barker Wins WCT Dekalb Superspiel|publisher=Discover Moose Jaw|author=Marc Smith|date=November 22, 2017|access-date=October 8, 2020}} They also finished runner-up at the Medicine Hat Charity Classic and won two Saskatchewan Curling Tour events. She would not defend her provincial title however, losing in the 3 vs. 4 page playoff game at the 2018 Saskatchewan Scotties Tournament of Hearts to Sherry Anderson, who went on to win the event.{{Cite web|url=https://curlsask.ca/scoreboard/#!/competitions/3090/games/4e13218c-fa80-b996-4a38-a84b33e0b4df|title=2018 Saskatchewan Scotties Tournament of Hearts|website=Curl Sask|access-date=October 8, 2020}} The rink added Christie Gamble to the lineup for the 2018–19 season, replacing Schneider.{{Cite news|url=https://www.discovermoosejaw.com/local-sports/barker-rink-preparing-for-upcoming-season|title=Barker Rink Preparing for Upcoming Season|publisher=Discover Moose Jaw|author=Marc Smith|date=August 22, 2018|access-date=October 8, 2020}} They qualified for the 2019 Saskatchewan Scotties Tournament of Hearts, but failed to advance to the playoffs after a 4–4 round robin record.{{Cite web|url=https://curlsask.ca/scoreboard/#!/competitions/4413/standings|title=2019 Saskatchewan Scotties Tournament of Hearts Standings|website=Curl Sask|access-date=October 8, 2020}} The team stayed intact the following season and won three more Saskatchewan Tour events. Their successful results qualified them for the 2020 Saskatchewan Scotties Tournament of Hearts, which was held in a triple knockout format this year.{{Cite news|url=https://curlsask.ca/2020/01/17/2020-viterra-scotties-womens-provincial-championship-event-preview-1/|title=2020 Viterra Scotties Women's Provincial Championship: Event Preview|publisher=Curl Sask|date=January 17, 2020|access-date=October 8, 2020}} They qualified for the playoffs through the C side before losing to the Sherry Anderson rink in 3 vs. 4 game, like in 2018.

Following the departure of Deanna Doig, Team Barker added Jenna Enge to their lineup as their new second, moving Christie Gamble up to third on the team. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Saskatchewan, the 2021 Saskatchewan Scotties Tournament of Hearts was cancelled. Team Sherry Anderson was invited to represent Saskatchewan at the 2021 Scotties Tournament of Hearts, as they had the most points from the 2019–20 and 2020–21 seasons combined, which they accepted.{{Cite news|url=https://www.cbc.ca/sports/olympics/winter/curling/saskatchewan-provincials-covid-19-1.5873270|title=Saskatchewan cancels curling provincials after health officials reject curling bubble|work=CBC Sports|author=Devin Heroux|date=January 14, 2020|access-date=February 20, 2022}} This ended the abbreviated 2020–21 season for the Barker rink.

With their successful results over the past few seasons, Team Barker had enough points to qualify for the 2021 Canadian Olympic Curling Pre-Trials.{{Cite news|url=https://www.curling.ca/blog/2021/08/10/big-events-in-ottawa/|title=Big events in Ottawa!|publisher=Curling Canada|date=August 10, 2021|access-date=February 20, 2022}} There, the team finished with a 3–3 record, just shy of qualifying for the playoff round.{{Cite news|url=https://www.curling.ca/blog/2021/10/29/womens-playoffs-determined/|title=Women's playoffs determined!|publisher=Curling Canada|date=October 29, 2021|access-date=February 20, 2022}} On the Saskatchewan tour, the team picked up tour wins at the SaskTour Women's Moose Jaw and the SaskTour Women's Weyburn.{{Cite news|url=https://www.curlingzone.com/post.php?postid=4407#1|title=Carey looking for first Saskatchewan Championship in Assiniboia|publisher=CurlingZone|date=January 3, 2022|access-date=February 20, 2022}} Team Barker entered the 2022 Saskatchewan Scotties Tournament of Hearts as the second ranked team, only behind Team Chelsea Carey. In the triple knockout event, the team lost the A Qualifier game to the Carey rink before defeating Amber Holland in the B Qualifier.{{Cite news|url=https://www.curlingzone.com/post.php?postid=4541#1|title=Barker wins Saskatchewan Scotties B Qualifier|publisher=CurlingZone|date=January 8, 2022|access-date=February 20, 2022}} This qualified them for the 1 vs. 2 page playoff game which they would drop to the Carey rink. Following a win in the semifinal against Team Holland, Barker faced Carey for the third time in the championship in the provincial final. This time, Team Barker would win the match 7–5, winning the provincial title and qualifying for the 2022 Scotties Tournament of Hearts as Team Saskatchewan.{{Cite news|url=https://leaderpost.com/sports/curling/carey-barker-to-meet-in-final-at-saskatchewan-womens-curling-championship|title=Moose Jaw's Penny Barker captures 2022 Saskatchewan women's curling championship|publisher=Regina Leader-Post|author=Murray McCormick|date=January 10, 2022|access-date=February 20, 2022}} At the Hearts, Barker led her team to a 4–4 round robin record, just missing out on the championship round.{{Cite web|url=https://www.sportsnet.ca/curling/article/2022-scotties-tournament-hearts-standings-schedule-results/|title=2022 Scotties Tournament of Hearts: Standings, schedule and results|website=Sportsnet|date=January 28, 2022|access-date=February 20, 2022}}

Team Barker had a successful 2022–23 season tour season, allowing them to easily qualify for the 2023 Saskatchewan Scotties Tournament of Hearts. To start the season, the team played in the inaugural PointsBet Invitational where after an opening game win against Hollie Duncan, they dropped their quarterfinal game to Kaitlyn Lawes.{{Cite news|url=https://www.curling.ca/blog/2022/09/23/6th-seed-upset/|title=6th seed upset!|publisher=Curling Canada|date=September 23, 2022|access-date=May 14, 2024}} On the Saskatchewan tour, the team won three events: the Moose Jaw SaskTour Spiel, the Regina Highland SWCT Event and the SaskTour Women's Players Championship.{{Cite web|url=https://www.curlingzone.com/team.php?teamid=160791&profileid=31160|title=Team Penny Barker: 2022–23|website=CurlingZone|access-date=May 14, 2024}} They also had a strong showing at the 2022 Western Showdown, reaching the quarterfinals where they lost to world champions Team Silvana Tirinzoni.{{youTube|yQHEW3GDFLg|Video (full game): Silvana Tirinzoni vs. Penny Barker - QUARTERS - RBC Dominion Securities Western Showdown}} Despite their tour dominance in their home province, they were not able to defend their provincial title, finishing 2–3 through the triple knockout.{{Cite news|url=https://swiftcurrentonline.com/articles/silvernagle-and-anderson-set-for-scotties-semi-final-martin-moves-to-final|title=UPDATE: Silvernagle and Anderson set for Scotties semi-final, Martin moves to final|publisher=Swift Current Online|author=Colin Powers|date=January 29, 2023|access-date=May 14, 2024}} The following season was not as successful for the team as they were unable to win any tour titles. However, their multiple quarterfinal finishes earned them enough points to qualify directly for the 2024 Saskatchewan Scotties Tournament of Hearts. In the round robin, the team had a 3–2 record which earned them a spot in the final four.{{Cite news|url=https://www.moosejawtoday.com/local-news/ackerman-barker-into-playoffs-at-viterra-scotties-womens-curling-championship-8139458|title=Ackerman, Barker into playoffs at Viterra Scotties women's curling championship|publisher=Moose Jaw Today|author=Randy Palmer|date=January 20, 2024|access-date=May 14, 2024}} Facing Michelle Englot in the 3 vs. 4 game, they lost 9–6 and were eliminated from contention. After the season, the team disbanded.{{Cite news|url=https://www.facebook.com/teampennybarker/posts/pfbid0gAvimnZEuAU53ByFYBBZ9FBrGFVLnFgzpHJXnvqAJ9oHGh7WFQbVRJgdeNza4W4Bl|title=Team Barker will be parting ways after this season. We all love this sport and intend to continue competing. While we might be playing against each other next year, we'll remain close friends on and off the ice.|publisher=Team Barker|website=Facebook|date=February 25, 2024|access-date=May 14, 2024}}

Barker is employed as an actuarial statistician,{{Cite news|url=https://www.humboldtjournal.ca/sports/number-geeks-on-team-barker-hope-the-result-is-1-1.23608599|title='Number geeks' on Team Barker hope the result is #1|publisher=Humboldt Journal|author=Devan Tasa|date=January 22, 2019|access-date=October 10, 2020}} and is the director of actuarial services pricing at SGI Canada.{{Cite web|url=https://www.curling.ca/files/2022/01/2022-Scotties-Tournament-of-Hearts-media-guide-2.pdf|title=2022 Scotties Tournament of Hearts Media Guide|website=Curling Canada|access-date=January 26, 2022}} She is married and has two children.{{Cite web|url=https://www.curling.ca/files/2021/10/2021-Home-Hardware-Curling-Pre-Trials-media-guide-1.pdf|title=2021 Home Hardware Curling Pre-Trials Media Guide|website=Curling Canada|access-date=October 22, 2021}}

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Category:Curlers from Saskatchewan

Category:Living people

Category:Canadian women curlers

Category:Sportspeople from Moose Jaw

Category:1985 births

Category:21st-century Canadian sportswomen