{{short description|Canadian curler (born 1991)}} {{Infobox curler | name = Michelle Shea | image = | image_size = | birth_name = | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1991|7|30}} | birth_place = Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island | Curling club = Montague CC <br> Montague, PEI<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.curling.ca/scoreboard/#!/competitions/6777/teams/29288/team_athletes/29288-lead-17712|title=Michelle Shea Profile|website=Curling Canada|access-date=February 17, 2021}}</ref> | Skip = Suzanne Birt | Third = '''Michelle Shea''' | Second = Meaghan Hughes | Lead = Sinead Dolan | Alternate = | Member Association = {{PE}} | Hearts appearances = 8 ({{STOH|2015}}, {{STOH|2017}}, {{STOH|2018}}, {{STOH|2019}}, {{STOH|2020}}, {{STOH|2021}}, {{STOH|2022}}, {{STOH|2023}}) | Top CCA ranking = 9th (2019–20) | medaltemplates = }}
'''Michelle Dianne Shea'''<ref name="Canada Games">{{Cite web|url=http://cg2007.gems.pro/Result/ShowPerson.aspx?Person_GUID=ed2a1fea-fd3a-4db0-85c0-0dec413dae6a&SetLanguage=en-CA|title=Whitehorse 2007 Canada Games Profile: Michelle McQuaid|date=2007|publisher=2007 Canada Games|access-date=February 22, 2021}}</ref> (born July 30, 1991, as '''Michelle McQuaid''') is a Canadian curler from Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island.<ref name="Media Guide">{{Cite web|url=https://www.curling.ca/files/2020/02/2020-Scotties-Tournament-of-Hearts-Media-Guide-3.pdf|title=2020 Scotties Tournament of Hearts Media Guide|publisher=Curling Canada|access-date=September 2, 2020}}</ref> She currently plays third on Team Suzanne Birt. She is a three-time PEI junior champion and eight-time PEI Scotties champion.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://stats.curling.io/players/mcquaid-michelle|title=Michelle McQuaid Statistics|website=Curling Canada|access-date=September 2, 2020}}</ref>
==Career== Shea competed at the 2007 Canada Winter Games as third for the Sarah Fullerton rink. They finished with a 1–5 record. She represented PEI at three Canadian Junior Curling Championships also as third for Fullerton from 2010 to 2012. In 2010, they finished seventh with a 6–6 record.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://cdn.curling.ca/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/Junior_Women_2010.pdf?e81271|title=2010 Canadian Junior Curling Championships|access-date=September 2, 2020}}</ref> In 2011, they improved from their previous season finishing in eighth with a 7–5 record.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://cdn.curling.ca/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/2011_Junior_Women.pdf?e8127|title=2011 Canadian Junior Curling Championships|access-date=September 2, 2020}}</ref> At her final trip to the juniors in 2012, they finished eighth, once again with a 6–6 record.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://peicurling.com/2012/01/03/fullerton-foursome-wins-third-straight-provincial-title-guardian/|title=Fullerton foursome wins third straight provincial title|publisher=PEI Curling|date=January 3, 2012|access-date=September 2, 2020}}</ref> While still in juniors, Team Fullerton entered the 2012 Prince Edward Island Scotties Tournament of Hearts. They finished round robin play with a 4–1 record and clinch second place. In the semifinal they played Kim Dolan. Starting off quite comfortably, Team Fullerton was up 6–1 after the fourth end, however after giving up four stolen points in ends eight and nine, they tied the game in the tenth. After some troubles in the extra end, without hammer, Team Fullerton ultimately lost the game 10–9.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://peicurling.com/2012/01/22/dolan-beats-fullerton-in-extra-end-to-advance-to-scotties-final-against-hughes/|title=Dolan beats Fullerton in extra end to advance to Scotties final against Hughes|publisher=PEI Curling|date=January 12, 2012|access-date=September 2, 2020}}</ref>
Out of juniors, Shea joined the Suzanne Birt rink for the 2013–14 season with Shelly Bradley and Susan McInnis at third and lead. They won the Royal LePage OVCA Women's Fall Classic World Curling Tour event<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.curlingzone.com/event.php?view=Team&eventid=3064&teamid=71523&profileid=|title=Birt wins 2013 Royal LePage OVCA Women's Fall Classic|website=CurlingZone|access-date=September 2, 2020}}</ref> and finished second at the Curl Atlantic Championship.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.curlingzone.com/event.php?view=Team&eventid=3190&teamid=69784&profileid=|title=Birt Runner-Up at 2013 Curl Atlantic Championship|website=CurlingZone|access-date=September 2, 2020}}</ref> At the 2014 Prince Edward Island Scotties Tournament of Hearts, they missed the playoffs with a 1–3 record. The next season they were able to win the 2015 Prince Edward Island Scotties Tournament of Hearts by defeating Kathy O'Rourke in the semifinal. They finished in ninth place with a 4–7 record at the 2015 Scotties Tournament of Hearts in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan. The team disbanded after the season.
After taking a season off, Shea joined the Robyn MacPhee rink as lead for the 2016–17 season. They won the Royal LePage OVCA Women's Fall Classic<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://cornwallcurling.com/2016/11/07/former-cornwall-junior-members-winning-on-the-world-curling-tour/|title=Former Cornwall junior members winning on the World Curling Tour!|website=Cornwall Curling Club|date=November 7, 2016|access-date=September 2, 2020}}</ref> and finished runner-up at the Lady Monctonian Invitational Spiel.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.curlingzone.com/event.php?view=Team&eventid=4482&teamid=101360&profileid=|title=MacPhee Runner-Up at 2016 Lady Monctonian Invitational Spiel|website=CurlingZone|access-date=September 2, 2020}}</ref> The team was successful at the provincial championship, defeating Veronica Smith in the semifinal of the 2017 Prince Edward Island Scotties Tournament of Hearts. They finished 3–8 at the 2017 Scotties Tournament of Hearts. Team MacPhee also won the provincial championship the following season, and finished 2–6 at the 2018 Scotties Tournament of Hearts. Birt returned to competitive curling after the season and took over as skip for the team.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.tsn.ca/season-of-change-a-roundup-of-curling-s-roster-movement-frenzy-1.1031814|title=Season of Change: A roundup of curling's roster movement frenzy|publisher=TSN|date=April 4, 2018|access-date=September 2, 2020}}</ref>
Team Birt had a very strong 2018–19 season, not missing the playoffs in any of their tour events. They won the WFG Jim Sullivan Curling Classic, finished runner-up at the Tim Hortons Spitfire Arms Cash Spiel and had semifinal finishes at both the Stu Sells Oakville Tankard and the New Scotland Clothing Ladies Cashspiel. The team won five straight sudden-death elimination games at the 2019 Prince Edward Island Scotties Tournament of Hearts to claim the provincial title.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.pe.ca/sports/other-sports/birt-claims-10th-peiscotties-275432/|title=Birt claims 10th PEI Scotties|work=The Guardian|author=Eric McCarthy|date=January 13, 2019|access-date=September 2, 2020}}</ref> The team did improve their record at the 2019 Scotties Tournament of Hearts, finishing in sixth place with a 6–5 record.
Team Birt played in nine tour events the following season and qualified in eight of them, only missing the playoffs at the 2019 AMJ Campbell Shorty Jenkins Classic. This year, they won the Tim Hortons Spitfire Arms Cash Spiel and were finalists at the Atlantic Superstore Monctonian Challenge and the Jim Sullivan Curling Classic. They had semifinal finishes at The Curling Store Cashspiel, the New Scotland Clothing Ladies Cashspiel and the Dave Jones Stanhope Simpson Insurance Mayflower Cashspiel and a quarterfinal appearance at both the Stu Sells Oakville Tankard and the Tour Challenge Tier 2. They defended their title at the 2020 Prince Edward Island Scotties Tournament of Hearts. The team had an eighth-place finish at the 2020 Scotties Tournament of Hearts, finishing with a 5–6 record.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.curling.ca/scoreboard/#!/competitions/6241/standings/7430|title=2020 Scotties Tournament of Hearts|website=Curling Canada|access-date=September 2, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.curling.ca/2020scotties/2020/01/23/meet-the-teams-prince-edward-island/|title=2020 Scotties Meet the Teams: Prince Edward Island|website=Curling Canada|access-date=September 2, 2020}}</ref>
Team Birt began the 2020–21 season with two runner-up finishes at the 2020 The Curling Store Cashspiel and the 2020 Dave Jones Stanhope Simpson Insurance Mayflower Cashspiel.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://peicurling.com/2020/09/27/team-birt-loses-close-the-curling-store-cashspiel-final-in-extra-end/|title=Team Birt loses close The Curling Store Cashspiel final in extra end|website=PEI Curling|date=September 25, 2020|access-date=February 27, 2021}}</ref> Due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Prince Edward Island, many teams had to opt out of the 2021 Prince Edward Island Scotties Tournament of Hearts as they could not commit to the quarantine process in order to compete in the 2021 Scotties Tournament of Hearts. This meant that only Team Birt and their clubmates Darlene London's rink entered the event.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://peicurling.com/scoreboard/#!/competitions/6748/teams|title=Teams|website=PEI Curling|date=12 November 2015 |access-date=February 27, 2021}}</ref> In the best-of-five series, Team Birt defeated Team London three games to zero to earn the right to represent Prince Edward Island at the 2021 Scotties in Calgary, Alberta.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://peicurling.com/2021/01/30/team-birt-sweeps-pei-scotties/|title=Team Birt sweeps PEI Scotties|website=PEI Curling|date=January 30, 2021|access-date=February 27, 2021}}</ref> At the Tournament of Hearts, they finished a 4–4 round robin record, failing to qualify for the championship round.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.sportsnet.ca/scotties-tournament-hearts-scores-standings-schedule-results-2021-bubble/|title=Scotties Tournament of Hearts: Scores, standings, schedule|website=Sportsnet|access-date=February 27, 2021}}</ref>
The Birt rink had two appearances in finals to begin the 2021–22 season. The team lost in the final of the 2021 Oakville Fall Classic to Team Jamie Sinclair<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.curlingzone.com/event.php?eventid=6865&eventtypeid=82&view=Main#1|title=2021 Oakville Fall Classic|website=CurlingZone|access-date=February 20, 2022}}</ref> and the final of the 2021 Oakville Labour Day Classic to Team Tracy Fleury.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.curlingzone.com/post.php?postid=3425#|title=Fleury wins Oakville Labour Day Classic|website=CurlingZone|access-date=February 20, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/teamtracyfleury/videos/1045266632894397/|title=2021 Oakville Labour Day Classic – Women's Final – Live Stream|publisher=Team Tracy Fleury|website=Facebook|access-date=February 20, 2022}}</ref> Due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Canada, the qualification process for the 2021 Canadian Olympic Curling Trials had to be modified to qualify enough teams for the championship. In these modifications, Curling Canada created the 2021 Canadian Curling Trials Direct-Entry Event, an event where five teams would compete to try to earn one of three spots into the 2021 Canadian Olympic Curling Trials.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.curling.ca/blog/2021/02/04/2021-trials-process-revised/|title=2021 Trials proceess revised|work=Curling Canada|date=February 4, 2021|access-date=February 20, 2022}}</ref> Team Birt qualified for the Trials Direct-Entry Event due to their CTRS ranking from the 2019–20 season. The team went 1–3 through the round robin, finishing in last place and not advancing directly to the Trials.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.curling.ca/blog/2021/09/26/more-trials-spots-awarded/|title=More trials spots awarded!|publisher=Curling Canada|date=September 26, 2021|access-date=February 20, 2022}}</ref> Team Birt had one final chance to advance to the Olympic Trials through the 2021 Canadian Olympic Curling Pre-Trials where they finished the round robin with a 4–2 record. This qualified them for the double knockout round, where they lost both of their games and were eliminated.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.curling.ca/blog/2021/10/30/qualified/|title=Qualified!|publisher=Curling Canada|date=October 30, 2021|access-date=February 20, 2022}}</ref> The team had two more tour stops during the season, which included winning the Stu Sells 1824 Halifax Classic and reaching the semifinal of the Tim Hortons Spitfire Arms Cash Spiel.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.saltwire.com/prince-edward-island/sports/stuart-thompson-suzanne-birt-win-stu-sells-curling-titles-100657844/|title=Stuart Thompson, Suzanne Birt win Stu Sells curling titles|publisher=Saltwire|author=George Myrer|date=November 14, 2021|access-date=February 20, 2022}}</ref> The 2022 Prince Edward Island Scotties Tournament of Hearts was cancelled due to the pandemic and Team Birt were selected to represent their province at the national women's championship.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://peicurling.com/2022/01/07/team-birt-to-represent-curl-pei-at-the-2022-scotties-tournament-of-hearts/|title=Team Birt to represent PEI at the 2022 Scotties Tournament of Hearts|publisher=PEI Curling|date=January 7, 2022|access-date=February 20, 2022}}</ref> The team finished the 2022 Scotties Tournament of Hearts with a 4–4 record, fifth place in their pool.<ref>{{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}}</ref>
In advance of the 2022–23 season, Team Birt won a fan vote which qualified them for the 2022 PointsBet Invitational.<ref>{{Cite tweet|user=CurlingCanada|number=1561745027830874112|date=August 22, 2022|title=TIME TO VOTE!! Which team would you like to see compete in the 2022 @PointsBetCanada Invitational? The team that gets the most votes books a ticket to Fredericton, N.B. 🎟 🥌}}</ref> They lost their opening round game to the Rachel Homan rink. On tour, the team won two events. In October, they won the Superstore Monctonian Challenge with spares Colleen Jones and Sinead Dolan filling in for Shea and Marie Christianson.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=pfbid0oWzHbBB3v1TUdWy5DjVqa9gnVCTG6THUmQ8H9Q6dq5AtvQzQz3gjkohP3nwQPKq7l&id=100057508688429|title=We are the Superstore Lady Monctonian Champs this weekend! 🏆🥌|publisher=Team Birt|website=Facebook|date=October 30, 2022|access-date=December 30, 2023}}</ref> They then won the Jim Sullivan Curling Classic in November, going undefeated in the event.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.curlingzone.com/post.php?postid=6694#|title=Birt wins Jim Sullivan Curling Classic|publisher=CurlingZone|access-date=December 30, 2023}}</ref> They also had a semifinal appearance at the New Scotland Clothing Women's Cashspiel. During the season, Christianson took over skipping duties on the team with Birt continuing to throw fourth stones. In the new year, they easily won the 2023 Prince Edward Island Scotties Tournament of Hearts, winning all three qualifying events.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://peicurling.com/2023/01/29/suzanne-birt-wins-the-2023-pei-scotties/|title=Suzanne Birt wins the 2023 PEI Scotties|publisher=PEI Curling|date=January 29, 2023|access-date=December 30, 2023}}</ref> At the 2023 Scotties Tournament of Hearts in Kamloops, the team struggled, finishing seventh in their pool with a 2–6 record.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.curling.ca/2023scotties/2023/02/24/tiebreakers-needed/|title=Tiebreakers needed!|publisher=Curling Canada|date=February 23, 2023|access-date=December 30, 2023}}</ref> After the season, the team announced they would be disbanding.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=pfbid0UmFmRNNfWfnQWRRjS4kZ8RUYYN1F7EVtx4d2T1vtq5ccjvLYR2GMYUbJ9pH2kmHxl&id=100057508688429|title=Even good things must come to an end eventually!|publisher=Team Birt|website=Facebook|date=March 6, 2023|access-date=December 30, 2023}}</ref>
==Personal life== Shea works as a team lead for Veterans Affairs Canada.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.curling.ca/files/2021/02/2021-Scotties-Tournament-of-Hearts-media-guide-1.pdf|title=2021 Scotties Tournament of Hearts Media Guide|website=Curling Canada|access-date=February 15, 2021}}</ref> She began curling when she was five years old.<ref name="Canada Games"/> She is married.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.curling.ca/files/2022/09/2022-PointsBet-Invitational-media-guide-1.pdf|title=2022 Points Bet Invitational Media Guide|website=Curling Canada|access-date=September 17, 2022}}</ref> Her brother is NHL player Adam McQuaid.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thesudburystar.com/sports/local-sports/no-easing-back-into-action-for-fleury-rink|title=No easing back into action for Fleury rink|website=Sudbury Star|access-date=January 25, 2025}}</ref>
==Teams== {| class="wikitable" |- ! scope="col"| Season ! scope="col"| Skip ! scope="col"| Third ! scope="col"| Second ! scope="col"| Lead |- ! scope="row"| 2009–10<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.curlingzone.com/player.php?playerid=22251&view=Teams#1|title=Michelle Shea Past Teams|website=CurlingZone|access-date=September 2, 2020}}</ref> | Sarah Fullerton || Michelle McQuaid || Sara MacRae || Whitney Young |- ! scope="row"| 2010–11 | Sarah Fullerton || Michelle McQuaid || Sara MacRae || Whitney Young |- ! scope="row"| 2011–12 | Sarah Fullerton || Michelle McQuaid || Sara MacRae || Hillary Thompson |- ! scope="row"| 2013–14 | Suzanne Birt || Shelly Bradley || Michelle McQuaid || Susan McInnis |- ! scope="row"| 2014–15 | Suzanne Birt || Shelly Bradley || Michelle McQuaid || Susan McInnis |- ! scope="row"| 2016–17 | Robyn MacPhee || Sarah Fullerton || Meaghan Hughes || Michelle McQuaid |- ! scope="row"| 2017–18 | Robyn MacPhee || Sarah Fullerton || Meaghan Hughes || Michelle McQuaid |- ! scope="row"| 2018–19 | Suzanne Birt || Marie Christianson || Meaghan Hughes || Michelle McQuaid |- ! scope="row"| 2019–20 | Suzanne Birt || Marie Christianson || Meaghan Hughes || Michelle McQuaid |- ! scope="row"| 2020–21 | Suzanne Birt || Marie Christianson || Meaghan Hughes || Michelle McQuaid |- ! scope="row"| 2021–22 | Suzanne Birt || Marie Christianson || Meaghan Hughes || Michelle McQuaid |- ! scope="row"| 2022–23 | Suzanne Birt (Fourth) || Marie Christianson (Skip) || Michelle Shea || Meaghan Hughes |- ! scope="row"| 2026–27 | Suzanne Birt || Michelle Shea || Meaghan Hughes || Sinead Dolan |}
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== *{{Sports links}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Shea, Michelle}} Category:1991 births Category:Canadian women curlers Category:Living people Category:Curlers from Charlottetown Category:21st-century Canadian sportswomen