Long wait continues for Team Rachel Homan with new wrinkle after Ontario decision

3 year_ago 21

The OCA's determination Friday to denote that Rachel Homan's squad would lone correspond the state astatine the nationalist title if the skip wasn't picked for the Olympic mixed doubles squad generated disapproval from immoderate corners and disorder from others.

Criticism, disorder travel arguable determination by Ontario Curling Association

Gregory Strong · The Canadian Press

· Posted: Jan 08, 2022 11:04 PM EST | Last Updated: January 9, 2022

Rachel Homan, seen during the 2021 Canadian Olympic curling trials successful Saskatoon connected November, and John Morris are considered beardown contenders to correspond Canada astatine the 2022 Winter Games. (Liam Richards/The Canadian Press)

A much-anticipated Olympic decision. A nationalist title berth hanging successful the balance. A provincial backup squad waiting successful the wings.

Rachel Homan, her teammates and different affected players could lone hold things retired aft the Ontario Curling Association added a caller wrinkle to a long, unprecedented enactment process connected respective fronts owed to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The OCA's determination Friday to denote that Homan's squad would lone correspond the state astatine the nationalist title if the skip wasn't picked for the Olympic mixed doubles squad generated disapproval from immoderate corners and disorder from others.

Courtney, reached Saturday successful Edmonton, said the squad was "definitely surprised" astatine the association's "contingency plan."

"Really disappointed," she said. "A batch of emotions yesterday. It has been pugnacious to take. Obviously we admit that it's hard for everyone. Selection is ne'er an perfect concern for immoderate team."

Canada's Olympic mixed doubles trials were cancelled connected Boxing Day owed to COVID-19 issues. Pandemic restrictions forced the caller cancellation of Ontario's playdowns arsenic well.

With the regular playdown process wiped out, Curling Canada volition prime a pairing — successful consultation with Own the Podium and the Canadian Olympic Committee — to deterioration the Maple Leaf astatine the Feb. 4-20 Beijing Games.

An announcement connected the enactment is expected sometime adjacent week. Homan and John Morris, who teamed with Kaitlyn Lawes to triumph golden successful the discipline's Olympic debut successful 2018, are considered beardown contenders.

WATCH l Mixed doubles curlers statement who should correspond Canada astatine the Olympics:

Mixed doubles curlers statement who should correspond Canada astatine the Olympics

With a mixed doubles golden medal to defend, curlers Kerri Einarson, Wayne and Kim Tuck, Tyrel Griffith and Chelsea Carey measurement successful connected who they deliberation should correspond Canada.

The OCA cited the Canadian Team Ranking System (CTRS), spot of tract information and contention past successful its last decision. Homan's squad is ranked 5th successful Canada, conscionable a fewer points up of Duncan.

"Our mindset, reasoning if we were to beryllium selected and if Rachel were to beryllium made unavailable, we would person been thrilled to take 1 of the apical Ontario curlers," Courtney said. "We'd person them travel into the lineup and spot however acold we could spell and spot what we could do. Playing successful the Scotties is 1 of the biggest thrills."

Duncan, meanwhile, said it has been a "roller-coaster of emotions" implicit the past week.

"Obviously you privation to triumph your state and gain your mode determination but if we were fixed the accidental to correspond Ontario we would beryllium highly honoured and excited," she said successful a substance message.

"Hopefully the determination astir mixed doubles doesn't instrumentality excessively overmuch longer."

Details inactive not clear

In its quality release, the OCA did not supply details connected wherefore Team Homan could not usage a sub oregon alternate subordinate if needed.

However, successful an email speech aboriginal successful the day, OCA enforcement manager Stephen Chenier said the Homan rink would autumn down Duncan by a "significant magnitude of points" if they brought successful a replacement.

Essentially, Chenier said, points were earned by the squad arsenic a full but if a subordinate were to leave, they would instrumentality their rankings points with them.

For a squad to number CTRS points toward its total, it indispensable person astatine slightest 3 of 4 registered players connected the crystal astatine events.

It wasn't instantly wide wherefore Homan's points would beryllium taken distant for a imaginable one-time scheduling struggle oregon wherefore the squad couldn't play arsenic a threesome if required.

A follow-up email to Chenier wasn't instantly returned.

'We're decidedly confused'

"I would accidental we're decidedly confused astir the ruling," Courtney told The Canadian Press. "Someone getting the highest honour successful athletics — to spell to the Olympics — having that beryllium a limiting origin for the remaining 3 retired of 4 to proceed to compete, we're decidedly confused there."

Third-ranked Laura Walker, who has subbed connected Homan's squad successful the past, weighed successful connected the contented via Twitter.

"So if Rachel got sick oregon injured earlier the Scotties, TeamHoman could inactive play with 3/4. But if she goes to correspond our country, they can't? I'm confused. Aren't determination 4 radical connected a curling team?" she tweeted.

Team Kevin Koe pb Ben Hebert didn't mince words with his thoughts connected the OCA statement.

"Full connected dumpster occurrence merchandise here!!!," Hebert tweeted, implicit with head-smack and vomit emojis.

Team John Epping vice Ryan Fry besides weighed in.

"Congrats connected the Scotties berth, kinda? Nice presumption to enactment a subordinate in," helium tweeted.

Substitutes unusual, but sometimes needed successful curling

While rare, substitute players are occasionally needed astatine large events.

One notable illustration came astatine the 2018 Scotties Tournament of Hearts. Team Jennifer Jones brought successful Shannon Birchard astatine vice to regenerate Lawes, who was competing astatine the Pyeongchang Olympics.

Jones won the contention and Lawes aboriginal returned to the lineup to assistance the squad triumph satellite gold.

Homan and Morris, meanwhile, are 5th successful the Canadian mixed doubles rankings but some person Olympic experience.

Jocelyn Peterman and Brett Gallant are ranked No. 1 successful Canada but they are already Beijing-bound aft victories successful the four-player squad trials (with Team Jennifer Jones and Team Brad Gushue, respectively).

Curling Canada rules forestall athletes from playing successful some disciplines astatine the aforesaid Games.

Jones and Brent Laing are ranked 2nd up of Nancy Martin and Tyrel Griffith and the duo of Lisa Weagle and John Epping. Weagle is portion of Jones's five-player squad but is eligible for mixed doubles since she's listed arsenic an alternate for Beijing.

Another imaginable contender is the duo of Kerri Einarson and Brad Jacobs. Einarson, who won the Canadian mixed doubles rubric past play with Gushue, had planned to play the trials with Jacobs.

"With mixed doubles getting cancelled, we've each been hoping and supporting and truly staying excited for Rachel," Courtney said. "We privation her to spell to the Olympics. That would beryllium specified a thrill.

"She's a phenomenal curler, she's a phenomenal mixed doubles player. I deliberation her and John would beryllium fantastic reps."

National sports organizations indispensable taxable their lists of nominated athletes to the COC by Jan. 19.

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