Third time’s the charm for women’s curling title
Manitoba faces Ontario rink in today’s final it has beaten twice this week
ST. CATHARINES, Ont. — Manitoba’s Michelle Englot needs to beat Ontario’s Rachel Homan one more time for a Canadian women’s curling title.
Manitoba downed Ontario 9-8 in Friday’s playoff between the top two seeds after a 9-5 victory over them to conclude the preliminary round Thursday.
So Englot needs a third straight win over Homan today to claim the Scotties Tournament of Hearts.
“A third time. It’ll be hard,” Englot said. “You know what? We need to focus on our game, play the same way, play aggressively and go from there and leave it all on the table.”
The winner represents Canada at next month’s world championship in Beijing.
Englot, third Kate Cameron, second Leslie Wilson and lead Raunora Westcott will all curl in their first Hearts final.
A berth in December’s Olympic trials also goes to Englot should they win. Homan already has a trials berth.
The team that wins the Page playoff between the top two seeds has won the championship nine out of the last 15 times.
Manitoba and Ontario both went 10-1 in the round robin. Englot gets hammer as the higher seed to start the final.
Ontario defeated Northern Ontario’s Krista McCarville 7-5 in Saturday’s semifinal.
Homan, third Emma Miskew and lead Lisa Weagle won Canadian championships in 2013 and 2014. They recruited Joanne Courtney at second when Alison Kreviazuk left the team following their second title.
“We’re hoping to be as best prepared as we can with that experience under our belt,” Homan said.
Homan’s team is ranked No. 1 in the world and is built around winning the trials and representing Canada at next year’s Olympic Games.
“It’s exciting that we get another final under our belts,” Homan said. “I think it’s really important to be in finals, and I think it’s really important to see how you react and see how you play.
“This is the exact spot we want to be in for more preparation for trials.”
A popular curling saying when it comes to expectations of Manitoba’s curling teams is “the buffalo is heavy” in reference to the crests on their backs.
Englot’s demeanour and performance has been anything but burdened. Cameron, Wilson and Westcott have taken their cue from a serene, rejuvenated Englot.
The 53-year-old has described the run to a provincial title and today’s final as a “fairy tale.” She would be the oldest skip to win a Scotties in its 32-year history.
“I’d be pretty proud of that,” she said.