Homan and Koe rinks officially join Team Canada for PyeongChang 2018
After a day of epic finals in Ottawa, eight curlers were officially added to Team Canada’s PyeongChang 2018 squad Monday morning.
On Sunday, Rachel Homan and Kevin Koe skipped their way to Roar of the Rings titles in the nation’s capital, clinching Olympic qualifications in the process.
READ: Team Homan wins Curling Canada’s Olympic trials
Skip Rachel Homan, from Ottawa, Ont., third Emma Miskew, second Joanne Courtney and lead Lisa Weagle hold up their medals after winning the Olympic curling trials Sunday December 10, 2017 in Ottawa. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld
Winners over Team Carey 6-5 in the first of two nail-biting Olympic trial finals, third Emma Miskew, second Joanne Courtney and lead Lisa Weagle will be joining Homan in South Korea as Team Canada’s representatives in the women’s tournament.
This moment was a long time coming for Homan and Miksew who have been competing together since they were 11, while Weagle has been part of the team since 2010.
As for Courtney, she joined the tightly knit group only a few years ago with this goal in sight.
“When I got the phone call at the end of the last quad, it was an opportunity I couldn’t pass up,” Courtney said after the win.
“I have so much respect for my teammates. They’re unbelievable people, they’re fantastic curlers, but beyond that they’re like my sisters now and I feel like I got so much better, even better than I thought I could be. I can’t say enough about them, they’re amazing.”
At 28 years-old, Homan will take part in her first Olympic Games following her perfect world championship run last March.
Team Homan will aim to win Canada’s second consecutive Olympic gold in the women’s event and third overall since its debut at Nagano 1998.
READ: Team Koe to become Team Canada at PyeongChang 2018
Team Koe skip Kevin Koe, left to right, third Marc Kennedy, second Brent Laing and lead Ben Hebert pose in their new Olympic uniforms as they celebrate their win over Team McEwen in the men’s final at the 2017 Roar of the Rings Olympic Curling Trials in Ottawa on Sunday, December 10, 2017. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld
Canada’s team on the men’s side will be comprised of Koe, third Marc Kennedy, second Brent Laing and lead Ben Hebert.
In another tight finish at the Canadian Tire Centre, Team Koe defeated Team McEwen 7-6 to earn the Olympic berth.
“I can say for sure that nothing can be harder,” Laing said regarding the level of competition this past week. “That’s says nothing about the competition at the Olympics because it’s going to be just as hard, but it can’t be harder than this.”
While Koe and Laing are new to Olympic competition, Kennedy and Hebert will bring a wealth of experience in South Korea after being part of Canada’s Vancouver 2010 gold winning team.
This winter at PyeongChang 2018, Koe, a 2016 world champion, will try to secure an unprecedented fourth consecutive men’s Olympic title for Canada when the tournament kicks off for both teams on February 14.
An alternate will be added to each team once the mixed doubles Olympic qualifiers have been decided.
