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Fleury tops Einarson, Homan falls to Harrison to open curling trials – TSN

Published

3 years ago

November 20, 2021

The Canadian Press

SASKATOON — Jacqueline Harrison admitted that nerves were a challenge in her debut appearance Saturday at the Tim Hortons Canadian Curling Trials.

You wouldn’t know it by the results.

The veteran skip took a few deep breaths before settling into the hack and making a game-winning deuce for a 6-5 victory over defending champion Rachel Homan in the women’s round-robin opener at the SaskTel Centre.

“We were just getting rocks in play and putting them in good spots and just trying to make their shots as difficult as we could,” Harrison said. “We’ve all been in big-game situations before and yes, this is a really special event and you want to do well.”

Harrison, from Waterdown, Ont., came through the recent pre-trials to earn the last spot in the nine-team women’s field. She has played in some Grand Slam events and Ontario championships in the past, but this is by far the biggest event of her career.

Two of her teammates – vice Alli Flaxey and second Lynn Kreviazuk – missed the playoffs at the 2017 trials in Ottawa. The lineup from the Dundas Valley Golf & Curling Club is rounded out by Laura Hickey.

Harrison battled butterflies at times and said her knees would shake a little bit on occasion. She threw 76 per cent for the game and improved to 5-12 lifetime against Homan.

“It’s great, everyone wants a win in their first game,” Harrison said. “You just get comfortable, make some shots … we’re really pleased.”

Homan, who won the 2017 trials in her hometown of Ottawa, represented Canada at the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea, but did not make the podium. She’s one of the favourites again this time around, while Harrison is a betting longshot at 66-1.

“It’s how we started the last time (at trials), so we didn’t want to change anything up,” she quipped.

Homan fell to Chelsea Carey in the round-robin opener four years ago, but topped Carey in the final to book her Olympic ticket.

Carey, meanwhile, is serving as fifth and helping with coaching duties for Tracy Fleury, who opened with a 7-4 win over reigning national champion Kerri Einarson.

Einarson had some bad luck in the third end as her stone picked and Fleury took advantage with a draw for two. Fleury rubbed a guard in the seventh to set up an Einarson draw for two that tied the game, but Fleury rebounded with a three-ender in the ninth.

“It’s been a great year for us, we’ve been really consistent and just seem to find ways to win close games,” said Fleury, who improved her record against Einarson to 5-0 this season.

Fleury’s team is the runaway leader in the Canadian women’s team rankings.

“So far they’re rolling,” Carey said. “Stuff just goes your way when you’re playing that well.”

In the other Draw 1 games, Jennifer Jones beat Krista McCarville 8-5 and Casey Scheidegger topped Laura Walker 6-4.

Announced attendance for the afternoon draw was 4,558. The venue seats about 14,000 for curling.

In the late draw, Mike McEwen topped Matt Dunstone 7-2 and Brad Jacobs dumped John Epping 9-3.

Defending men’s champion Kevin Koe, who also missed the Olympic podium in Pyeongchang, opened with a 9-2 rout of Tanner Horgan. Brad Gushue scored three in the 10th end for a 6-4 victory over Brendan Bottcher.

The top three teams in the men’s and women’s draws will advance to the playoffs. The finals are set for Nov. 28.

Winning teams will represent Canada in February’s Winter Olympics in Beijing.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 20, 2021.

Follow @GregoryStrongCP on Twitter.

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Sports betting roundup: NFL and college football were all about the favourites

Published

17 hours ago

November 4, 2024

Anne Joseph

The past weekend of football was all about the favourites.

The favoured teams went 13-1 straight up and 10-4 against the spread in the NFL. In college football, the three most teams bet at the BetMGM Sportsbook in terms of number of bets and money all won and covered. All three were favourites.

Trends of the Week

The three most bet college teams that won and covered on Saturday were Ohio State (-3.5) vs. Penn State, Indiana (-7.5) at Michigan State and Oregon (-14.5) at Michigan. Penn State has now lost seven straight home games as underdogs. The Nittany Lions were up 10-0 in the first quarter and were 3.5-point favourites at the time. The Buckeyes won 17-10.

In the NFL, the three most bet teams in terms of number of bets and money were the Washington Commanders (-4) at the New York Giants, the Detroit Lions (-2.5) at the Green Bay Packers and the Buffalo Bills (-6) vs. the Miami Dolphins. All three teams won, but only two of the three covered the spread as Buffalo beat Miami 30-27.

When it came to the players with the most bets to score a touchdown on Sunday, only two of the five reached the end zone — Chase Brown (-125) and Taysom Hill (+185). David Montgomery (-140), Brian Robinson Jr. (+110) and AJ Barner (+500) did not score.

Upsets of the Week

The biggest upset in the NFL was the Carolina Panthers coming from behind to beat the New Orleans Saints 23-22. New Orleans closed as a 7-point favourite and took in 76% of the bets and 79% of the money in against-the-spread betting. The Saints fired head coach Dennis Allen following the loss. They have now lost seven straight games after starting the year 2-0.

Arguably the biggest upset in college football was South Carolina beating No. 10 Texas A&M 44-20 at home. Texas A&M closed as a 2.5-point favourite and took in 59% of the bets and 58% of the money.

Coming up

Right after the Los Angeles Dodgers beat the New York Yankees to win the World Series, odds for the 2025 World Series were released.

The Dodgers have the best odds at +400, while the Atlanta Braves and Yankees are next at +800.

The Baltimore Orioles and Philadelphia Phillies round out the top five, both at +1100.

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This column was provided to The Associated Press by BetMGM online sportsbook.

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Longtime rivals Ovechkin, Crosby join Necas as NHL’s three stars of the week

Published

17 hours ago

November 4, 2024

Anne Joseph

NEW YORK – Washington Capitals left-wing Alex Ovechkin, Carolina Hurricanes centre Martin Necas and Pittsburgh Penguins centre Sidney Crosby have been named the NHL’s three stars of the week.

Ovechkin had a league-leading five goals and nine points in four games.

The 39-year-old Capitals captain has 14 points in 11 games this season, and his 860 career goals are just 34 shy of Wayne Gretzky’s record.

Necas shared the league lead with nine points (three goals, six assists) in three games.

Crosby factored on seven of the Penguins’ eight total goals scoring four goals and adding three assists in three appearances. The 37-year-old Penguins captain leads his team with 14 points (five goals, nine assists) in 13 games this season.

Crosby and Ovechkin, longtime rivals since entering the league together in 2005-06, will meet for the 70th time in the regular season and 95th time overall when Pittsburgh visits Washington on Friday.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 4, 2024.

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Oliveira, Mitchell named as finalists for CFL outstanding player award

Published

5 days ago

October 31, 2024

Anne Joseph

TORONTO – Running back Brady Oliveira of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and Hamilton Tiger-Cats quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell are the finalists for the CFL’s outstanding player award.

Oliveira led the CFL in rushing this season with 1,353 yards while Mitchell was the league leader in passing yards (5,451) and touchdowns (32).

Oliveira is also the West Division finalist for the CFL’s top Canadian award, the second straight year he’s been nominated for both.

Oliveira was the CFL’s outstanding Canadian in 2023 and the runner-up to Toronto Argonauts quarterback Chad Kelly for outstanding player.

Defensive lineman Isaac Adeyemi-Berglund of the Montreal Alouettes is the East Division’s top Canadian nominee.

Voting for the awards is conducted by the Football Reporters of Canada and the nine CFL head coaches.

The other award finalists include: defensive back Rolan Milligan Jr. of the Saskatchewan Roughriders and Montreal linebacker Tyrice Beverette (outstanding defensive player); Saskatchewan’s Logan Ferland and Toronto’s Ryan Hunter (outstanding lineman); B.C. Lions kicker Sean Whyte and Toronto returner Janarion Grant (special teams); and Edmonton Elks linebacker Nick Anderson and Hamilton receiver Shemar Bridges (outstanding rookie).

The coach of the year finalists are Saskatchewan’s Corey Mace and Montreal’s Jason Maas.

The CFL will honour its top individual performers Nov. 14 in Vancouver.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 31.

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