Something special is needed to stop them
LIVERPOOL, N.S.—Someone is going to need to find something special to stop Rachel Homan and Brendan Bottcher.
The Alberta duo made short work of the last “underdog” pairing in the Page 3 vs 4 playoff, defeating Brittany Tran and Rylan Kleiter 8-3 on Friday night to qualify for the semifinal of Canada’s Olympic Trials in mixed doubles.
Meanwhile, Jocelyn Peterman and Brett Gallant of Alberta outlasted Ontario veterans Lisa Weagle and John Epping 8-5 in a somewhat sloppy Page 3 vs 4 playoff matchup to qualify directly for Saturday’s championship final.
The winning team will own a spot at next year’s Milano-Cortina Olympics, but will have to confirm Canada’s berth with a strong performance at the World Mixed Doubles shootout at Fredericton in late April.
Homan/Bottcher have really turned it on at the Queens Place Emera Centre. Their playoff performance far outpaced those of the other three Page playoff teams.
Tran/Kleiter were under the gun from the opening bell. They took a single with last stone advantage, dropped three, then dropped consecutive steals of two to trail 7-1 after five ends.
With the score 8-2, Brittany Tran made a great hit and roll for a single point before shaking hands.
Tran (Calgary) and Kleiter (Saskatoon) are eliminated and finish fourth.
On the next sheet—both of which were streamed live on YouTube—Weagle/Epping started strongly but missed a chance for two with the score tied at 2-2 in the fourth end.
That led to a three-count for Peterman/Gallant, their first multiple score of the match, for a 5-3 lead.
Both squads were slightly off their game.
A Weagle/Epping power play in the sixth end resulted in only a single, when Lisa Weagle missed a tricky shot for two.
A missed double attempt in seven left Jocelyn Peterman with an open hit for three and an 8-4 lead.
Homan/Bottcher vs Weagle/Epping begins Saturday at 10:00 a.m. (Atlantic time), with the championship final scheduled for 2:00 p.m.