Team Homan Retains Scotties Tournament of Hearts Title
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By Noan Gagnon
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Summary:
- Rachel Homan’s team won the Scotties Tournament of Hearts with a dominant 6-1 victory over Kerri Einarson.
- The Ottawa Curling Club secured back-to-back titles while staying undefeated for the second straight year.
- The girls will defend their world championship title in S. Korea in March.
Rachel Homan continued her reign over women’s curling with a dominant 6-1 win against Manitoba’s Kerri Einarson in Saunday’s Scotties Tournament of Hearts final.
Homan: “I’m Just So Proud of My Team”
The victory brought Homan’s Ottawa Curling Club team back-to-back national titles while keeping its undefeated status untouched for a second year in a row, a feat unmatched by any other team.
Homan’s squad, ranked No. 1 in Canada and worldwide, showcased precision and consistency throughout the tournament.
The final was competitive early on, but Einarson faltered in the later ends, conceding four stolen points between the seventh and ninth, effectively sealing Homan’s win. 35-year-old Homan explained,
I’m just so proud of my team this week, It was so tough. We battled through a lot of games
She went on to praise the “phenomenal” play shown by Einarson’s team, adding that they needed the “100%” to defeat them.
Numerous times, I was like ‘who’s gonna blink?’ Thankfully, you know, it wasn’t us.
Fifth National Title for Homan and Miskew
Alongside Tracy Fleury, Emma Miskew, and Sarah Wilkes, Homan is now preparing to defend their world championship title from March 15 to 23 in Uijeongbu, South Korea.
The latest triumph marks the fifth national championship for Homan and Miskew, placing them just behind Jennifer Jones, Jill Officer, and Colleen Jones, who each have six. Fleury and Wilkes celebrated their second title.
Sunday’s win also guarantees Homan’s team a spot in the 2026 Scotties Tournament of Hearts and a $100,000 prize.
The final played out in front of a sold-out crowd of 3,442 at Fort William Gardens in Thunder Bay, Ont. Homan’s sharp shot-making left little room for Einarson to capitalize.
Einarson’s struggles became evident when she missed key shots, including a crucial draw attempt in the eighth end that resulted in a steal of two for Homan.
I definitely want some shots back. I got caught in some paths where it just wasn’t up to speed. It got fudgy in the middle and we just didn’t pick up on it or believe it. Unfortunately, this game, we just struggled for the last half.
Despite previously defeating Homan this season, Einarson fell short in the final after a hard-fought 9-8 semifinal win over Nova Scotia’s Christina Black.
“We’re just having the best time together and it’s so fun with this team“, Homan said, adding they wish to “win every game” they will play.
The Ottawa-born became the first player with 100% shooting accuracy in a low-scoring Hearts final.
