Homan returns for Champions Cup opener just weeks after giving birth
When you’re Rachel Homan, who needs maternity leave?
Homan, who gave birth to daughter Bowyn just three weeks ago, hasn’t missed a beat and was right back in action for Thursday’s opening draw of the Humpty’s Champions Cup at Calgary’s WinSport Arena.
It was the first game for Homan’s Ottawa-based club since earning silver medals at the Scotties Tournament of Hearts in February and fittingly enough took on Kerri Einarson’s team from Gimli, Man., in a rematch of the final. It was a repeat, however, as Einarson was victorious again scoring four points in the eighth end to win 6-3.
“It feels really good actually,” said Homan, who threw 84 per cent in the game. “Surprisingly, it feels like it hasn’t been long since we played at the Scotties and just picked up right where I left off.”
Einarson said when she saw Homan practising yesterday, she’d bet the 10-time Pinty’s Grand Slam of Curling women’s champion was going to play.
“She’s like superwoman,” Einarson said. “I told her that when we were going out there, ‘Holy man, Rachel, you’re superwoman!’ It’s so impressive and she played so well. I have a lot of respect for her and it’s pretty amazing to see her out there.”
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Team Homan has Edmonton skip Laura Walker on board as an alternate for both Pinty’s Grand Slam of Curling events. Homan was a game-time decision and the backup plan was for Miskew to move up to skip with Walker playing third.
“For me, Rachel might be my favourite curler ever and what she’s doing out there is amazing,” Kevin Koe said. “I didn’t look over to see how they were doing and if they were winning or not but the fact that she’s out here and competing, it’s pretty amazing that’s about all I can say and good for her. She’s just such a competitor and one of the best curlers ever. It’s nice to see.”
Homan said it was really nice to hear praise from her curling colleagues and from those who believe she’s an inspiration.
“I’m just trying to do as much as I can to curl and attain our goals,” Homan said. “Everyone’s experience with pregnancy and delivery is going to be different so you can’t really compare and I was just fortunate I was able to recover quickly to get back right onto the ice. I think if I was a sweeper it would be a different story. Probably my body wouldn’t hold up for sweeping for that many ends but with my position, I was able to bounce back.
“So far, so good. It feels right back to normal out there. It’s great I’m able to do that and it’s cool to hear others are inspired by it. We’re always trying to push ourselves in sport and see what our bodies can do. It’s just really been great that I’ve been able to get back out there.”
The team of Einarson, third Val Sweeting, second Shannon Birchard and lead Briane Meilleur are getting ready to represent Canada in the world women’s curling championship after the two Pinty’s Grand Slam of Curling events.
“It’s really great to always start off with a win,” Einarson said. “We played really well. We had some opportunities that we legit just missed by an inch for two points. Both teams were just missing on that side of the inch for the first little bit.”
After back-to-back blanks to start, Einarson and Homan exchanged single points in three and four then again in five and six. Homan stole a point in the seventh to grab a 3-2 lead, but that allowed Einarson to hold the hammer for the decisive eighth and deliver a great shot for the win.
“We played a really great end, made all of our shots and so did they,” said Einarson, who shot 80 per cent in the game. “On my first one, we made a hit and roll to the wing and then she drew another one in behind the guard. I had to make about a 20-foot runback double for the win.”
Einarson also said she’s feeling good after also winning the Canadian mixed doubles championship last month in the bubble with Brad Gushue.
“It’s so nice to be back on the ice,” Einarson said. “It’s my happy place out there just thinking about curling, having some laughs and enjoying it out there. With everything going on nowadays it can be very depressing, so just to be back doing what we love to do is awesome.”
Elsewhere in men’s play, Koe and his club from Calgary clobbered reigning world champions Team Niklas Edin of Sweden 6-2 in only five ends.
“In reality, I think it was actually great for us to be playing them,” Koe said. “Any time you play them, you’ve got to play good and it just got us pumped for the game to be playing the current world champs, five-time world champs, whatever they are. They’re one of the best teams ever in the world, so it was great for us to play them early I think and you know what? We came out and played a great game.”
After giving up a steal in the first, Koe counted five points in the second and stole one in the fourth to run away with the lead.
“Even in the first end we had them in trouble and Nik made a great shot,” Koe said. “It was looking like two or three for us and all of a sudden I barely had a shot. Then in the second end, we played a good end. It wasn’t looking ever like a five, to be honest. He was close on his last one but kind of put it in a spot where he gave me a shot for five and it was just such a high reward that we decided to try it. It wasn’t an easy shot and luckily we made it.”
Edin, who ended things early after scoring just a single in the fifth, captured a record third consecutive world title and fifth overall Sunday.
“He actually had a double for four (in the fourth end) and it was never looking like four,” Koe said. “We were in control the whole end. We missed one and overswept one a bit and all of a sudden you’ve got a double for four. They actually played a good game, we played a great game and it’s going to come down to those two shots really, my double for five and his double for four.”
Toronto’s Team John Epping scored three in the fourth and stole a trio in the eighth end during an 8-3 victory over Team Jason Gunnlaugson of Morris, Man.
Canadian champions Team Brendan Bottcher of Edmonton scored a deuce in the eighth end to edge Team Yannick Schwaller of Switzerland 6-4.
Round-robin play continues with the second draw Thursday at 2 p.m. ET / Noon local time on Sportsnet with online streaming at Sportsnet Now (Canada) and Yare (international).
The Humpty’s Champions Cup is the first of back-to-back Pinty’s Grand Slam of Curling events featuring 12 of the top men’s teams and 12 of the top women’s teams from around the world. Pool play runs through to Saturday with quarterfinals and semifinals on Sunday and both finals set for Monday. The Princess Auto Players’ Championship begins Tuesday.
A new rule being tested for the Humpty’s Champions Cup is the no tick zone. A rock touching the centre line, in the free guard zone, may not be moved off the centre line by the opposing team until the sixth rock of the end.
