Rachel Homan 'burned' as Canada falls to 0-3 in women's curling
Canadian skip misses last shot in extra end after stirring controversy earlier in the match
By Nick Murray, CBC Sports
Canadian skip Rachel Homan stirred up controversy in Friday's round-robin match against Denmark. But it was the Danes who had the last laugh as Homan missed a takeout with the hammer in the 11th end, losing 9-8 and dropping Canada to 0-3 in the tournament.
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Trailing 4-2 in the fifth end, Canada turned the tables. With Denmark sitting two, Homan nailed a double-takeout to score four, and take a 6-4 lead at the break.
But earlier in the end, Denmark's Julie Hogh touched a Danish stone with her broom as it was coming to a rest in the house; also known as a "burn stone." Homan chose to have it removed, rather than leave it, or to place it where it would have otherwise stopped — as is common etiquette in competitive curling.
"I think that was a rash move to take it off," CBC commentator and Olympic gold medallist Joan McCusker said during the broadcast.
"They should have left it in play. It doesn't look good on you."
"It doesn't look good on her."<br><br>Rachel Homan pulls a burned rock at the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Olympics?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Olympics</a>.<br>Do you agree with this decision?<a href="https://t.co/EKK4aVigHB">https://t.co/EKK4aVigHB</a> <a href="https://t.co/byum5zU1IV">pic.twitter.com/byum5zU1IV</a>
—@CBCOlympicsAfter Denmark scored a pair in the 10th end to force extras, Homan had a shot to win on last rock. Denmark sat shot rock with the stone touching the button, and a pair of guards outside the top of the house. Homan needed a takeout for the win, but clipped one of the guards, allowing Denmark to steal the game.
"I've seen (Homan) play lots and played against her many times and I never expected her to miss it," Denmark skip Madeleine Dupont said.
"But it's the Olympics and you have to make every rock and its nerve wracking to be 0-2 and facing 0-3 so anyone can miss it."
Homan also struggled earlier in the game. In the fourth end and with the hammer, Homan needed her draw stone to sit anywhere in the inner-ring of the house to score a single. But her draw was well short of the house, allowing Denmark to steal one.
The Canadian skip and three-time Scotties Tournament of Hearts champion curled a game-low 66 per cent in the match, dropping her to a team-low 72 per cent accuracy in the tournament.
VIDEO | Skips' Stones: Women's curling Canada vs. Denmark
[VIDEO src="52576"]
The loss dropped Canada to the cellar of the standings, now being the only team without a win. Canada has never started an Olympic women's tournament losing three in a row.
"You can feel that (Canada is) not they're usual 'them,' " Dupont said. "They're just different because they can feel this pressure, which we don't have."
Up next, Canada faces the United States on Saturday night in South Korea.
With files from The Canadian Press