From the backdoor to the top of the heap.
From the backdoor to the top of the heap.
Team Flaxey pulled off an improbable run as the final team to qualify for playoffs all the way to its first Grand Slam of Curling title after knocking off the world number one ranked Team Homan 6-3 in an all-Ontario WFG Masters final, Sunday in Okotoks.
“We had been in a do-or-die situation since Thursday and came out Friday knowing we had to just keep winning,” said skip Allison Flaxey. “It was the same mentality going into this (final) we had to keep on our game doing that in a do-or-die, pressure cooker.
“We're really resilient and bounced back really well.”
No kidding.
Flaxey took the long way home to the playoff round after posting a 1-2 record through the first three games of round-robin. Needing a victory over reigning Scotties champion Chelsea Carey, the Ontario team knocked in a pair of three enders to win 8-3 and book a ticket to a one-match tiebreaker.
Flaxey made the most of the opportunity, dispatching Winnipeg's Kerri Einarson 6-2 to earn the eighth and final playoff spot and pick up her first of three wins on Saturday.
The quarterfinal saw Team Flaxey – featuring Clancy Grandy at third, Lynn Kreviazuk at second, Morgan Court at lead and Allison's husband Caleb at head coach — outlast the previously undefeated Eunjung Kim by an 8-2 count. The Caledon based skip then made quick work of Switzerland's Silvana Tirinzoni in the semifinal, riding a four-ender to an 8-1 triumph.
“I don't think our gameplan changed really this whole tournament,” Kreviazuk said. “We went a little aggressive in round-robin and unfortunately it didn't always go our way and we were lucky to make it through.
“Then we really stepped up our game in the playoffs.”
Homan, meanwhile, rode a pair of comeback playoff wins over Sochi Olympic gold medallists Team Jones and the hottest squad of the week, Team Hasselborg of Sweden, to book its ticket to another Masters final.
Team Homan, the clear favourite as three time Masters champions, missed its early chance at the lead when Flaxey stole a single in the first-end. Flaxey, the tenth-ranked team entering the competition, then took control with a four-ender in the fourth to take a 5-2 advantage in the eight-end match.
“We brought the play to the middle and made a whole bunch of good shots in a row,” Flaxey said. “We strung a few shots together and that really helped in that big end that kind of locked it up for us.”
Team Homan — with Emma Miskew at third, Joanne Courtney at second and Lisa Weagle at lead — responded with a single in the sixth, answered by a hit-and-stick in the seventh for Flaxey. The number one team simply ran out of rocks in the final end and shook hands with one Homan rock left to play.
“This gives us so much more confidence moving forward, we feel like we belong here,” Flaxey said. “We've shown we do belong and are one of the better teams in the country. “It's a nice stepping stone and amazing to have this feeling and know what it's all about.”
The breakthrough performance for Team Flaxey came in its first appearance in a slam final, while the prolific Team Homan was enjoying its eleventh slam championship game.
“It's really nice playing people that you know, it still feels comfortable,” said Kreviaziuk, a former member of Team Homan who's older sister Alison twice won the Masters with the skip. “We knew the crowd would be cheering mostly for Team Homan, but we knew we had the ability to beat this team if we step it up and I'm really glad that we did.”
Grand Slam events took on added meaning this season as points from victories go towards qualification into the Canadian Olympic Trials for the 2018 Games.
Homan, the Canada Cup winner, and Jones have already booked their ticket to the trials.
Not the case for the rest of the talented field of Canadian women's squads.
“We're all fighting for that Olympic gold medal when it comes down to it, this is a huge step for us for that,” Flaxey added. “Definitely one of the goals for the season was to do well in the first few of these (slam events).”
Next up in the Grand Slam of Curling is the Tour Challenge in Cranbrook, B.C. from Nov. 8-13.
For more information go to thegrandslamofcurling.com
