THUNDER BAY – When you put two of the top curling minds on the same team, good things are bound to happen.
After going undefeated at last year’s Scotties Tournament of Hearts, Rachel Homan was the odds-on favourite to capture a second straight title.
Adding Jennifer Jones into the coaching slot only strengthens her chances.
Jones, the six-time Scotties champion, retired after last season, losing 5-4 to Homan in the championship game.
The 50-year-old Jones arrived in Thunder Bay on Thursday, just in time to catch Homan’s final match of the round robin, an 8-4 win over Alberta’s Selena Sturmay.
It’s a new phase of her decorated curling career, one that includes two world championships and 2014 Olympic gold.
Coaching Team Homan isn’t a full-time gig, and the team certainly doesn’t need a lot of guidance, but when she met with the foursome, it felt like it might be a good fit. Jones did a little coaching of the team during Grand Slam events earlier this season, and it’s evolved from there.
“I did a little bit, just consulting. I’d watch a couple of games here and there, when I could. It went really well, we got along really well, and I thought I could give a little value to an already incredible team,” Jones said.
“They asked if I could join them here. I couldn’t come for the whole week, but I could come as of today and it worked out pretty well.”
Homan, third Tracy Fleury, second Emma Miskew, lead Sarah Wilkes and alternate Rachelle Brown chatted with Jones during the week via Facetime, and rolled through the round robin at 8-0, stretching their winning streak at the Scotties to 19 games.
Virtual coaching isn’t easy, and Homan and her teammates are happy to have Jones on their bench, in person, for the rest of the weekend.
“It’s awesome. Facetime is tough for debriefs and timings and time zones. It’s great to have her here and just adding that much more value in person,” Homan said.
Asked if she still felt the itch to compete, now that she’s at the Scotties, Jones was quick to say no.
“I’m good. I’m always going to be a competitor and I’m always going to play. That’s just ingrained in me. But I’m really content with my decision. I’m really happy with all the curling things that I’m doing. It’s kept me in the game. I love my new role and my new job, so that’s going really well,” Jones said.
“Being here I feel like I’m part of the team so I get the adrenaline rush as though you would when you’re playing. So, it’s kind of the best of every world for me.”
Do Homan, Fleury, Miskew or Wilkes need much coaching at this stage of their careers?
Jones said she speaks up when she needs to speak up.
“I’m obviously telling them all the positive things that they’re doing, and there’s so many. But if I find those little things they can maybe do slightly better, then I’m going to speak up and just try to be a sounding board for them. They’re so good, it’s just in those moments when they want to pick my brain, I want to be there for them,” Jones said.
Team Homan takes on Nova Scotia on Friday at 1 p.m. in the 1-2 Page Playoff qualifier. The winner moves on to the 1-2 Page Playoff, the loser getting a second chance in Friday night’s 3-4 Page Playoff qualifier.
