Team Canada looks sharp at Scotties
Team Canada only undefeated rink in Tournament of Hearts
MONTREAL — Rachel Homan and Team Canada have served notice they’re ready to defend their title at the Scotties Tournament of Hearts.
The defending champions grabbed the early lead and held on for a 9-6 win in nine ends over Quebec’s Allison Ross on Sunday to emerge from the second day of play at the Maurice Richard Arena as the lone team yet to lose a match.
“It’s where I hoped we’d be,” said 24-year-old Homan (3-0).
“You never know what’s going to happen, but the team’s playing really well. We’ve just got to keep rolling.”
With previous victories of 8-3 over Manitoba and 9-3 over Ontario, both in eight ends, they have piled up points against some highly-regarded teams without yet having to go the full 10 ends.
But Homan and the team were most concerned about giving up three to (0-3) Quebec in the second, which drew a roar from the 2,281 in the seats.
“We gave up three in two, but that’s all right — mistakes will happen,” said Homan. “We’re learning the ice and different draws will be different weights.”
“I underthrew two halfway hits and that didn’t turn out well and then Rachel threw one we thought was good but it sailed off,” said Team Canada third Emma Miskew. “We got tricked a little on either the speed or the weight.
“We didn’t throw any more finesse shots after that because it tricked us a little.”
The evening draws saw two matches go to extra ends as both New Brunswick a nd P.E.I. pulled off victories.
New Brunswick’s Andrea Crawford (2-1) scored a single in the 11th end to take a 4-3 win over British Columbia’s 22-year-old skip Kesa Van Osch (1-3). And Kim Dolan (1-2) of P. E. I. got her first victory of the tournament, 7-6 over Quebec in 11 ends.