It has been an interesting year full of ups and downs for Rachel Homan and her team, but they are determined to focus on the future.
The Centretown-based curling team won the bronze medal at this year’s Scotties Tournament Of Hearts in Moose Jaw, Sask., after two years as the reigning Canadian women champions.
Homan, 25, was looking to become the youngest and third-ever skip to win the Scotties three years in a row.
Emma Miskew throws third for the Homan rink. She credits their previous successes as the reason the team remains so positive despite not winning gold this year.
“Obviously, we went in there wanting to win, so it was a little disappointing when we lost,” she says. “But we’ve been in that situation in the past and remembered how it felt, so we just went out, played tough and we’re really proud of ourselves for coming home with the bronze.”
Team Homan currently ranks third in Canada, but still has two more events before the season ends: the Pomeroy Inn & Suites Prairie Showdown in Grande Prairie, Alta., and the Players’ Championship in Toronto.
At the end of the 2014 season, long-time coach Earle Morris retired and eventually moved on to coach his son.
Richard Hart, who is a former Tim Hortons Brier winner, world champion and Olympic silver medalist, was hired to pick up where Morris left off.
“We were trying to find someone that would compare to (Morris) and we’re happy to have found that. Richard has played competitively for a really long time and knows the game well, so it’s really helpful to have him here for strategy,” says Miskew. “He’s also really funny and keeps it light so that’s really good for us because we’re all very intense people and I think everyone needs to laugh a little to play better.”
Hart says he’s proud of the way the girls prepared for their bronze medal game and handled the situation. Looking forward, he remains positive.
“Curling is such a mental sport, so the girls are going to continue with their mental training and continue to be one of the top teams in the world. They’re going to put their heads down, get back to work and put their best foot forward for the two remaining events this season,” says Hart.
Homan and her team have long-term dreams of representing Canada at the 2018 Winter Olympics in PyeongChang, South Korea. To them, the Scotties tournament is just one event on the way to that goal.
“Everything we do, we try to learn from and build on so that in 2017, when there’s an opportunity to go to the Olympics, we’re prepared,” says Miskew.
Back at the Ottawa Curling Club to train, the girls are celebrities.
Jack Glover, a member of the club, finds it difficult to express just how proud everyone is of them and how happy they are to be mentioned every time the team speaks to the media.
“We love supporting them and it makes us all gather around the TV whenever they’re on. It’s really exciting to see them do well,” he says. “It’s cool to see different people come in and see all the banners and say ‘wow they really do curl out of this club!’”