(Photo by Cory Knutt)
There was a showdown Wednesday (Oct.30) morning between two women’s curling teams at the 2024 Pan Continental Curling Championships.
Canada’s Team Homan defeated South Korea’s Team Eunji Gim 8-2 at the Gary Moe Auto Group Sportsplex.
Homan, vice-skip Tracy Fleury, second Emma Miskew, lead Sarah Wilkes, alternate Rachel Brown, and national coaches Viktor Kjell and Renee Sonnenberg improved to 5-0 in round-robin play, and tied for the top spot in the eight-team round-robin standings with Japan’s Team Miyu Ueno.
The reigning Canadian and world champions locked up a playoff berth.
With the win, Team Homan guaranteed Canada’s entry into the 2025 LGT World Women’s Curling Championship in Uijeongbu, South Korea next March.
“It was just a couple of shots here or there. They were even building a really good end, and just a few uncharacteristic mistakes by them,” Homan said. “I think we played a pretty solid game. I’m sure they’ll be stronger when we see them next.”
Related stories:
- Gushue, Homan pick up victories Monday at Pan Continental Curling Championships
- Gushue earns playoff birth at Pan Continental Curling Championships, Homan on the verge
The game was decided in two ends. In the second, Team Gim seemed to have a steal set up, but Homan made a runback takeout to score.
An end later, Gim’s last shot over curled and spilled out of the rings, leaving Team Homan a steal of three.
Miskew explained that the rocks were papered last night, so there was a learning curve for both teams during the game.
“Rachel made a great shot in the second end to get two, and then we got a nice break in the third end with some good rock placement, and she just missed to give us that three-steal. It’s nice to have a lead like that against such a great team,” Miskew said. “We can tighten up things a little bit out there, but we’re making enough shots and learning from them. We’ll try to keep battling so that we’re ready for playoffs.”
Team Homan is back on the ice tonight (Oct. 30) at 7 p.m. against Mexico’s Team Adriana Camarena, and will play Japan in the round-robin finale for both teams tomorrow (Oct. 31) at 2 p.m.
Miskew said Canada will keep pressing in its final two round-robin games.
“Getting hammer and rocks is really important so we’ll just try to keep throwing the shots the best we can and learning the ice conditions,” she said. “We know we’ll be on those middle sheets in the playoffs.”
Canada’s Team Brad Gushue will play a single game today (Oct. 30) at 2 p.m. against Australia’s Team Hugh Millikin.
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