Homan not worried about opening draw loss

By: Jason Bell Posted: 7:46 PM CST Saturday, Nov. 20, 2021

SASKATOON — Is Rachel Homan taking the same road to another Winter Olympics?

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SASKATOON — Is Rachel Homan taking the same road to another Winter Olympics?

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This article was published 20/11/2021 (1729 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

SASKATOON — Is Rachel Homan taking the same road to another Winter Olympics?

Perhaps, a defeat on Day 1 of the 2021 Canadian Olympic Curling Trials isn’t that distressing for her Ottawa women’s team.

Four years ago, Homan fell to Chelsea Carey of Calgary in the Trials opener and then ran the table, posting nine consecutive victories — including the rematch with Carey in the final — to earn a trip to the 2018 Winter Olympics in PyeongChang.

Skip Jacqueline Harrison of Dundas, Ont. top right, Lynn Kreviazuk, left, Laura Hickey, and Allison Flaxey celebrate after defeating Rachel Homan at the Tim Hortons Curling Trials in Saskatoon on Saturday. (Michael Burns / Curling Canada / The Canadian Press)

The 32-year-old skip appeared unfazed Saturday after falling 6-5 to fellow Ontarian Jacqueline Harrison in the first major upset on the women’s draw.

“It’s how we started the last time, so we didn’t want to change anything up,” said Homan, in a rare break from her rather conventional responses.

“You’ve got the best teams in Canada here, so every game is gonna be tight, right down to the last rock.”

Harrison used the hammer in the 10th end to orchestrate a game-winning deuce, chipping out a Homan counter that was partially frozen.

The skip from Dundas, just north of Hamilton, has yet to play in a national Scotties and has made just a lone appearance at a Grand Slam event but looked very much in her element at SaskTel Centre.

Harrison disguised her shaky knees well.

“A little bit yeah. I’m not gonna lie, there was a little bit of nerves there,” said Harrison, who lost to Homan in the 2017 provincial final. “I stood, paused, took a breath and made the shot.”

It was a continuation of some stellar play at a ‘last-chance’ event a few weeks ago in Liverpool, N.S., that led to a spot at the Trials.

“Everyone wants a win in their first game,” Harrison said. “You just get comfortable, make some shots …yeah, we’re really pleased.”

jason.bell@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @WFPJasonBell