Rachel Homan edged Kerri Einarson in the last round robin draw to qualify for the first playoff spot at the Canadian Olympic Curling Trials
HALIFAX – Rachel Homan (6-1) is into the championship final series of the Canadian Olympic Trials after a 7-6 defeat of Kerri Einarson’s foursome (also 6-1) in the final round robin draw.
Einarson, of Gimli, Man. will now battle the hometown heroines skipped by Christina Black in Thursday’s semifinal.
Black, who finished 7-4, defeated Winnipeg’s Kate Cameron 10-6 but then had to wait for the result of Winnipeg’s Kaitlyn Lawes versus Calgary’s Kayla Skrlik. When Lawes struck for a huge four-ender to win the game 9-6, the Scotiabank Centre exploded in joy.
The Jumbotron then showed Edmonton’s Selena Sturmay, who was also eating behind her sheet after defeating B.C.’s Corryn Brown 9-4.
Sturmay’s face wore a pained expression, as she would have qualified in place of Black – thanks to Last Shot Draw rankings – had Lawes lost her match.
Sturmay and Lawes also finished at 7-4, while Skrlik finished 2-5 and Cameron 1-6.
The men’s final round robin draw goes at 7:00 p.m. Atlantic time on Wednesday night. Brad Jacobs is into the final best-of-three series, but all kinds of things can happen for second and third place tonightAndrew.