Fleury, Team Homan feeling 'settled in' as a rink entering women's curling worlds

Team Ontario-Homan skip Rachel Homan, right, celebrates with vice-skip Tracy Fleury after defeating Team Manitoba-Jones in the final at the Scotties Tournament of Hearts in Calgary on February 25, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh

It鈥檚 been a learning process, but Tracy Fleury believes she鈥檚 found the right answers as part of Rachel Homan鈥檚 rink.

Homan's squad is representing Canada at the world women鈥檚 curling championships that begin Saturday in Sydney, N.S.

Fleury, one of the country鈥檚 top skips, joined Homan鈥檚 Ottawa rink in August 2022 after Joanne Courtney decided to step away form the game. She spent her first year with the team as skip and throwing third stones. This season, Homan returned as skip, with Fleury playing third.

Along with second Emma Miskew and lead Sarah Wilkes, the team went 11-0 to win the Scotties Tournament of Hearts in Calgary. That improved their record to an impressive 48-5 on the season.

鈥淚 think our first year together was a lot of learning, getting used to each other,鈥 the 37-year-old Fleury told a virtual media availability Wednesday. 鈥淲e were all adjusting to new roles. We tried not to put too much pressure on ourselves and just kind of get comfortable.

"Now in year two, I think everyone has settled in.鈥

Both Homan and Fleury shot 89 per cent during the Scotties. The team led all major statistical categories, including scoring 90 points and allowing only 43.

Fleury, of Sudbury, Ont., said it took time for the players to adapt to each other.

鈥淓very team has their different strengths and communication styles,鈥 she said. 鈥淭here鈥檚 definitely a lot of learning every time (you join) a new team.

鈥淚鈥檓 lucky with this team. They already had so much experience. I learned a lot from them. I鈥檝e known them for a very long time, competing against them for years. Just already knowing (each other) as people kind of helped for an easier transition.鈥

Homan laughed when asked what Fleury brought to a team that previously had won three Scotties, the world championship gold in 2017 plus silver and bronze medals in 2014 and 2013.

鈥淛ust the best smile,鈥 said Homan.

鈥淪he鈥檚 got a wealth of experience playing on numerous successful teams over the years. She has such an amazing skill set and always makes the big shots. She has all the tools in her tool kit. She has such a positive and great energy on the ice and that doesn鈥檛 change when we go of the ice.鈥

Fleury appeared in six previous Scotties championships skipping teams from Ontario, Manitoba and Northern Ontario. Her win this year was her first.

At the 2021 Canadian Olympic trials, her Manitoba rink of Selena Njegovan, Liz Fyfe and Kristin MacCuish lost 6-5 in an extra end to Jennifer Jones in the final.

As a skip, she has six Grand Slam titles. She also represented Northern Ontario at three Canadian junior curling championships.

After competing against her, Homan has enjoyed having Fleury as a teammate.

鈥淚t鈥檚 been a really fun process and journey to combine forces and do that together for the last two years,鈥 said Homan. 鈥淚鈥檓 really excited to where we鈥檝e been able to bring the team as a unit.鈥

Team Canada plays its first game at the world championships Saturday afternoon against Sweden鈥檚 Anna Hasselborg and then faces Denmark鈥檚 Madeleine Dupont that evening. The Canadians face four-time defending champion Silvana Tirinzoni of Switzerland Tuesday evening.

The gold-medal game is March 24.

The last Canadian rink to win the women鈥檚 world title was Jones in 2018. Fleury said the team is confident heading into the competition.

鈥淲e all have strengths that compliment one another and personalities that work well with each other,鈥 she said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 just all really coming together at the right time.鈥

NOTES

Homan鈥檚 team had few words to say about Tuesday鈥檚 announcement that Briane Harris, the lead for Kerri Einarson鈥檚 rink, had tested positive for the banned substance Ligandrol which prevented her from competing at the Scotties.

鈥淲e were very surprised when we heard that news,鈥 said Miskew. 鈥淲e feel for Briane and the team. We trust the process of Safe Sport.

鈥淣ow we鈥檙e just going to focus on the worlds and trying to do the best job we can representing Canada.鈥

Harris intends to argue that she was unknowingly exposed to the banned substance through bodily contact. She could face a two-year suspension although there is the flexibility to decrease or increase a sanction depending on the facts of the case and the results of tests.

David Murdoch, Curling Canada鈥檚 high performance director, said there was nothing to add from Tuesday鈥檚 announcement.

鈥淒ue process will play out,鈥 he said.

This report by 香港六合彩挂牌资料 was first published March 13, 2024.

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