Einarson to face Nova Scotia in Scotties semifinal after loss to Homan

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This article was published 22/02/2025 (212 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

It will be Rachel Homan against whoever dares to challenge her.

The superstar skip from Ontario, representing Team Canada, secured a spot in Sunday’s final at the national curling championship after a sensational effort on Saturday evening as she downed Manitoba’s Kerri Einarson 8-4 in nine ends in the 1-2 page playoff.

Homan has won 21 straight at the event, dating back to 2023.

Her foursome out of the Ottawa Curling Club, including third Tracy Fleury, second Emma Miskew and lead Sarah Wilkes, collectively shot at a 90 per cent efficiency as they made life difficult on Einarson with and without the hammer.

“I kind of figured Rachel was going to come out shooting today,” Einarson said after handshakes at Fort William Gardens in Thunder Bay, Ont.

The Gimli-based squad, including third Val Sweeting, second Karlee Burgess and lead Krysten Karwacki fired at an 80 per cent rate as a group.

“I thought we played well. We didn’t have too many opportunities but when we did, we did take advantage,” Einarson said.

It was a defensive battle through four ends between the country’s top-ranked female teams. Homan scored a single with the hammer in the second frame then stole a point in the third before Einarson finally got on the board with a deuce in the fifth.

Homan responded with a pair in the sixth and stole another two in the seventh. The sides exchanged deuces with the hammer in the final two ends.

“That was a tough battle out there. Really a game of millimetres,” said Homan.

“These moments are tough. They’re a grind. You’re playing the best teams in Canada and we know we need to bring our best. It’s exciting for us to rise to the occasion, to the challenge. Thankfully, tonight, it was enough and I think we’re going to need a little bit more (Sunday).”

The loss snapped a five-game winning streak for Einarson, who will face Christina Black of Nova Scotia in Sunday’s semi-final at noon CT. Black defeated Alberta’s Kayla Skrlik 8-7 in the 3-4 page playoff earlier on Saturday.

It’s the third year in a row that Einarson has had to play the extra game to reach the championship final.

“I think if we come out like that tomorrow, maybe a little bit sharper, I think we’ll do well,” she said.

The final will be played at 6 p.m. CT (TSN). The champion represents Canada at the world championship in Uijeongbu, South Korea, March 15-23.

Homan has a combined record of 121-11 over the last two seasons. The Manitobans were the only Canadian team to beat her during that time, which came in the final of a Grand Slam event in October.

“Definitely want another crack at them,” Einarson said. “Everyone’s out to beat them. They’re on a hot run. We know we just got to play our best but focus on our semi-final game tomorrow.”

joshua.frey-sam@freepress.mb.ca