By Dan Plouffe
They each wore a small gold pin on their jackets that read “Champions Start Small.”
For Team Homan, it was a way to get behind the Sandra Schmirler Foundation for neonatal care during the Scotties Tournament of Hearts Feb. 16-24 in Kingston.
It was also an appropriate symbol for a rink that began throwing rocks together at the Ottawa Curling Club when they were kids wearing snowpants, and by the end of the week, the newly-crowned Canadian women’s curling champions carried a bigger gold medal around their necks to match it.
“It’s so cool to do it with the girls I’ve been with forever,” smiles Rachel Homan, who skipped the home Team Ontario to the title with a 9-6 victory over four-time Scotties champ Jennifer Jones of Manitoba. “And it’s unbelievable to do it in front of everybody. I love my family and my friends and it means a lot to me to have them here. I’m just so proud that we played so well for everybody.”
Homan became the youngest skip since Colleen Jones – who owns the record for most career Scotties wins at six – to earn a national title, but despite their young age, Team Homan has a long history together.
“We know each other in and out,” highlights second Alison Kreviazuk. “It’s a big advantage because when someone is struggling, you know exactly what to say to them. Curling is a huge sport for dynamics.”
The four Ottawa girls share remarkably congruous personalities – they are all dedicated and intensely focused, but they’re also easy-going and capable of handling the pressure in high-stakes situations by sneaking in a grin or a joke.
The newest addition to Team Homan, lead Lisa Weagle, was welcomed into the fold two seasons ago, and meshed right in with the group.
“Everyone was so supportive of each other. Even when things happen – like me burning a rock – everyone still rallied around me and was really supportive,” shares Weagle, whose fifth-end sweeping blooper in the final was forgotten as she wound up holding the Sandra Schmirler Award as most valuable player. “It was unexpected. I’m really pleased to win, and honoured.”
In the season before joining Team Homan, Weagle had been focused on building her career in Sport Canada’s communications department, playing only in a local league at the time.
“It was really watching the Vancouver Olympics on TV that made me want to get back into playing competitively,” explains the Nepean High School and University of Ottawa grad. “When the opportunity arose, I was super excited to join a team that had a really good shot at getting to Sochi.”
Team Homan will compete at the March 16-24 world championships in Latvia, and then next year will enter the Roar of the Rings Canadian Olympic curling team trials as a favourite. The Scotties victory represented the start of a long-held dream coming true, but as they peeled away the final stones in the 10th end at K-Rock Centre, the long-time friends couldn’t believe they were living a reality.
“When Rachel was throwing her last one, I was just thinking, ‘watch the line and see what we need to do,’ but as soon as it was coming in, that’s when it sort of started,” recounts third Emma Miskew, who was overtaken by tears of joy along with her teammates, fifth Stephanie LeDrew and coach Earle Morris.
“We were curling together when we were 11 and 12,” Miskew continues. “We were good then, and it was always this goal that we wanted to go to the worlds and the Olympics. But it was so far-fetched then, and now we’ve accomplished Goal #1.
“It’s hard to describe how that feels, but it’s just amazing. It’s really surreal right now. I’m choked up just talking about it. It’s so many emotions, and I’m so proud of my team.”