Homan/Bottcher into the Finals
Edmonton's Rachel Homan and Brendan Bottcher (photo: Curling Canada/Michael Burns) defeated Lisa Weagle/John Epping (Ottawa/Toronto) 8-4 in semi-final action at the 2025 Canadian Mixed Doubles Trials in Liverpool, Nova Scotia.
By Connor Simms,
Rachel Homan and Brendan Bottcher (Edmonton) are one game away from wearing the Maple Leaf through the 2025 World Mixed Doubles Championships with the opportunity to represent Canada at the 2026 Milano Cortina Olympics.
On Saturday morning, they took on Lisa Weagle and John Epping (Ottawa/Toronto) in the semi-finals. Homan and Bottcher started with the hammer because they had a better record.
In the first end, Homan/Bottcher opened the scoring with their deuce, making a hit on the nose to kick out the Weagle/Epping rock. Weagle/Epping responded by making a draw tap for two points.
Drawing to the side of the button on their last, Homan/Bottcher was heavy and had to settle for their single point. In the fourth end, they played through a tight port on their draw to the button, but unable to get through, they grabbed their single point.
Trading singles, Homan/Bottcher, missed their draw for two, grabbing their single point once again. Weagle/Epping kept the tradition, making the hit and stick on their last for a single point.
Using their powerplay, Homan/Bottcher capitalized on a Weagle/Epping mistake, making the double to score four points and, ultimately, running Weagle/Epping out of rocks, taking an 8-4 victory.
Homan/Bottcher route to the semi-final: They finished 6-1 in the 16-team qualifying round. In their opening game, Homan/Bottcher defeated Paige Papley/Evan Van Amsterdam (Edmonton) 8-2, then won 6-2 against Anne Sophie Gionest/Robert Desjardins (Alma/Saguenay) and 7-3 against Jessica Zheng/Victor Pietrangelo (Niagara Falls). Homan/Bottcher won 11-4 against Laura Walker/Kirk Muyres (Edmonton/Humboldt). Homan/Bottcher lost 7-6 against Brittany Tran/Rylan Kleiter (Calgary/Saskatoon). Homan/Bottcher responded with an 8-3 win over Nancy Martin/Steve Laycock (Wakaw/Saskatoon). Homan/Bottcher won 6-4 against Jennifer Jones/Brent Laing (Barrie) in their final qualifying round match.
In the 1v2 page qualifier game, they lost to Peterman/Gallant 8-4. They responded with a win over Cotter/Cotter 9-6 in the 3-4 qualifier game. In the 3v4 page playoff game, they defeated Tran/Kleiter 8-3.
Homan/Bottcher will face Peterman/Gallant in the finals. The final will start at 2:00 pm Atlantic Time (AT). Having played each other twice this season, Peterman/Gallant defeated Homan/Bottcher 8-4 in this event. They also played each other earlier in December at the Rocky Mountain Mixed Doubles Classic, resulting in a 9-7 win for Peterman/Gallant.
Peterman/Gallant's path to the final includes: They finished 7-0 in the 16-team qualifying round. In their opening game, Peterman/Gallant defeated Riley Sandham/Brendan Craig (Guelph) 8-6, then won 8-7 against Taylor Reese-Hansen/Corey Chester (Kitimat/Victoria) and 7-6 against Melissa Adams/Alex Robichaud (Fredericton). Peterman/Gallant won 6-3 against Lisa Weagle/John Epping (Ottawa/Toronto), then won 8-1 against Jaelyn Cotter/Jim Cotter (Vernon) and 5-2 against Jennifer Armstrong/Tyrel Griffith (Rothesay/Kelowna). In their final qualifying round match, Peterman/Gallant won 9-6 against Kadriana Lott/Colton Lott (Gimli).
Peterman/Gallant defeated Rachel Homan/Brendan Bottcher (Edmonton) in the 1v2 page playoff game. Then defeated Weagle/Epping in the 1v2 game to advance to the final.
Peterman/Gallant will start with the hammer.
Catch the game live on Curling Canada's YouTube page or click the red play button next to the score on the CurlingZone website.
By Connor Simms,
Rachel Homan and Brendan Bottcher (Edmonton) are one game away from wearing the Maple Leaf through the 2025 World Mixed Doubles Championships with the opportunity to represent Canada at the 2026 Milano Cortina Olympics.
On Saturday morning, they took on Lisa Weagle and John Epping (Ottawa/Toronto) in the semi-finals. Homan and Bottcher started with the hammer because they had a better record.
In the first end, Homan/Bottcher opened the scoring with their deuce, making a hit on the nose to kick out the Weagle/Epping rock. Weagle/Epping responded by making a draw tap for two points.
Drawing to the side of the button on their last, Homan/Bottcher was heavy and had to settle for their single point. In the fourth end, they played through a tight port on their draw to the button, but unable to get through, they grabbed their single point.
Trading singles, Homan/Bottcher, missed their draw for two, grabbing their single point once again. Weagle/Epping kept the tradition, making the hit and stick on their last for a single point.
Using their powerplay, Homan/Bottcher capitalized on a Weagle/Epping mistake, making the double to score four points and, ultimately, running Weagle/Epping out of rocks, taking an 8-4 victory.
Homan/Bottcher route to the semi-final: They finished 6-1 in the 16-team qualifying round. In their opening game, Homan/Bottcher defeated Paige Papley/Evan Van Amsterdam (Edmonton) 8-2, then won 6-2 against Anne Sophie Gionest/Robert Desjardins (Alma/Saguenay) and 7-3 against Jessica Zheng/Victor Pietrangelo (Niagara Falls). Homan/Bottcher won 11-4 against Laura Walker/Kirk Muyres (Edmonton/Humboldt). Homan/Bottcher lost 7-6 against Brittany Tran/Rylan Kleiter (Calgary/Saskatoon). Homan/Bottcher responded with an 8-3 win over Nancy Martin/Steve Laycock (Wakaw/Saskatoon). Homan/Bottcher won 6-4 against Jennifer Jones/Brent Laing (Barrie) in their final qualifying round match.
In the 1v2 page qualifier game, they lost to Peterman/Gallant 8-4. They responded with a win over Cotter/Cotter 9-6 in the 3-4 qualifier game. In the 3v4 page playoff game, they defeated Tran/Kleiter 8-3.
Homan/Bottcher will face Peterman/Gallant in the finals. The final will start at 2:00 pm Atlantic Time (AT). Having played each other twice this season, Peterman/Gallant defeated Homan/Bottcher 8-4 in this event. They also played each other earlier in December at the Rocky Mountain Mixed Doubles Classic, resulting in a 9-7 win for Peterman/Gallant.
Peterman/Gallant's path to the final includes: They finished 7-0 in the 16-team qualifying round. In their opening game, Peterman/Gallant defeated Riley Sandham/Brendan Craig (Guelph) 8-6, then won 8-7 against Taylor Reese-Hansen/Corey Chester (Kitimat/Victoria) and 7-6 against Melissa Adams/Alex Robichaud (Fredericton). Peterman/Gallant won 6-3 against Lisa Weagle/John Epping (Ottawa/Toronto), then won 8-1 against Jaelyn Cotter/Jim Cotter (Vernon) and 5-2 against Jennifer Armstrong/Tyrel Griffith (Rothesay/Kelowna). In their final qualifying round match, Peterman/Gallant won 9-6 against Kadriana Lott/Colton Lott (Gimli).
Peterman/Gallant defeated Rachel Homan/Brendan Bottcher (Edmonton) in the 1v2 page playoff game. Then defeated Weagle/Epping in the 1v2 game to advance to the final.
Peterman/Gallant will start with the hammer.
Catch the game live on Curling Canada's YouTube page or click the red play button next to the score on the CurlingZone website.