Ontario vs. Canada: Kerri Einarson leads defending champs to back-to-back titles in 2021 Scotties Tournament of Hearts final

Jackie Spiegel

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Ontario vs. Canada: Kerri Einarson leads defending champs to back-to-back titles in 2021 Scotties Tournament of Hearts final image

After months of speculation regarding whether the 2021 Scotties Tournament of Hearts would even happen, shifting from Thunder Bay, Ont., to a bubble in Alberta, and then 22 draws, a tiebreaker and a semifinal, the final was a repeat of 2020: Team Ontario against Team Canada (which last year represented Manitoba).

And like in 2020, it was Team Canada with the win.

Last year, Manitoba and Kerri Einarson needed an extra end after going heavy in the 10th and giving Ontario and Rachel Homan a steal of two. The Manitoba skip nailed a similar shot in the 11th for her first gold at the Scotties.

In 2021, in a dynamic draw that saw both skips showcasing guts and pinpoint accuracy, Einarson sealed the win in the final end when Homan’s last shot went too far. It marks the first time a team has won back-to-back titles since 2013-14, which was also done by Homan.

"Well, came down to the wire again and a crazy ninth end," Einarson told TSN after the 9-7 victory. "Giving up a steal two — brings back flashbacks — but my team stuck it out and we made some great shots in the last end and wow it feels pretty amazing."

Einarson went up 5-3 after the fifth end thanks to a soft tap but Homan, who is eight months pregnant, and her crew were not going to be an easy out. After Canada went up 7-4, she began the comeback. Homan got one back in the eighth before Einarson, who thought about conceding one, wrecked the guard in the ninth to even things up. But in the 10th, Einarson put the pressure on and Homan could not land her final throw.

"We just came out and we just really wanted to embrace being Team Canada," added Einarson when asked about her and her team being so loose through the tournament. "It was our first chance of getting to do it so we just had a lot of laughter, enjoyed ourselves out there and really just had fun."

While the win marks two straight golds for the group, it's actually second Shannon Birchard's third gold medal. She also won the Scotties in 2018 with Manitoba as the third. On the flip side, the loss is now the third straight silver for Homan. She does have a trio of golds, too (2013 and 2017 with Team Ontario and 2014 with Team Canada) along with a bronze.

In 2022, Team Canada will look similar. The only question now is whether it will get a chance to represent Canada at worlds. This same crew lost the chance in 2020 because of COVID-19 and the 2021 Women's World Championship, which was to be played in Switzerland, has already been canceled. There may be some hope, though: CBC's Devin Heroux reported earlier that there are rumours the tournament may be heading to the Calgary bubble.

Sporting News had all the scoring updates and highlights as Canada won for the second consecutive year over Ontario at the 2021 Scotties Tournament of Hearts final.

Ontario vs. Canada score, highlights from 2021 Scotties Tournament of Hearts final

(All times are Eastern)

10th End: Canada 9, Ontario 7

11:23 p.m. — Team Canada wins the Scotties.

11:22 p.m. — Homan's last shot goes too far and Einarson wins.

11:21 p.m. — Ontario takes a timeout to settle things down. Final stone for Ontario with Canada sitting with two.

11:11 p.m. — Canda with the hammer.

9th End: Canada 7, Ontario 7

11:08 p.m. — Einarson thinking of conceding one but goes for it and can't get past the guard. Ontario with the steal of two and it's all tied up.

11:05 p.m. — Homan throws her last stone and taps out one of Canada's shot; but Einarson does have the last throw.

11:04 p.m. — Ontario calls a timeout.

11:04 p.m. — Einarson with a shot that just taps but doesn't look like it gets ahead of Ontario's stone. It looks like Ontario is ahead by a centimeter.

10:51 p.m. — Canada with the hammer.

8th End: Canada 7, Ontario 5

10:50 p.m. — Homan hits and gets one.

10:49 p.m. — Another great shot by Einarson as she knocks out Homan's shot and lands hers in the button. Homan has one more shot as she faces three.

10:47 p.m. — Homan with a shot in the button.

10:46 p.m. — Wow. What a shot by Einarson as she knocks out Ontario's great shot and leaving four. Ontario has two shots left.

10:45 p.m. — Ontario follows up with a great shot. 

10:44 p.m. — Canada is coming up big and looking to put things away. 

10:33 p.m. — Ontario will have the hammer.

7th End: Canada 7, Ontario 4

10:32 p.m. — It was close to stopping but Canada gets it into the paint and takes a three-point lead.

10:31 p.m. — Homan's last stone and is going for a difficult double. She only gets one. Canada has an open draw now for two.

10:29 p.m. — This is so close.

10:26 p.m. — Canada follows with a double-tap to clear off Ontario's stones with three throws left.

10:25 p.m. — Ontario's fifth stone is a hogged stone.

10:20 p.m. — Canada with the hammer.

6th End: Canada 5, Ontario 4

10:18 p.m. — Another great throw by Homan as it sits on the edge of the button. Ontario now within one.

10:17 p.m. — Nice shot by Einarson and now Canada is sitting with a three. Ontario does have last throw.

10:15 p.m. — Einarson almost gets a double and Homan follows up with a decent shot. Comes down to the last throw for each team.

10:05 p.m. — Ontario with the hammer. This has been a great final. The only thing missing is fans cheering these athletes on.

10:02 p.m. — Some stats.

5th End: Canada 5, Ontario 3

9:57 p.m. — And she hits it. Canada gets three and now leads by two at the break.

9:56 p.m. — Einarson now has a chance for three.

9:54 p.m. — Kerri Einarson knocks Homan out of the button and it looks like Canada is sitting with two. Each team does have a throw left.

9:43 p.m. — Canada with the hammer.

4th End: Ontario 3, Canada 2

9:40 p.m. — Honestly. Homan is amazing. She nails the button on her last throw and, when facing five, instead takes a 3-2 lead.

9:38 p.m. — Einarson follows it up with a fantastic shot that knocks Homan's stone out and they're sitting with five. Lots of pressure now on Homan.

9:37 p.m. — Wow. What a shot by Homan to get it past Canada's stones and be at the button with one shot left for each team.

9:31 p.m. — Ontario with an over curl on stone four by Sarah Wilkes and knocks their own stones off the house. Canada is sitting a three.

9:27 p.m. — Ontario has the hammer.

3rd End: Ontario 2, Canada 2

9:24 p.m. — Canada had a chance to pick up a pair but settle for one and it's all even.

9:10 p.m. — Canada has the hammer.

2nd End: Ontario 2, Canada 1

9:07 p.m. — Great throw by Homan and they pick up two.

9:06 p.m. — Last throw by Einarson knocks one Ontario stone and gets a curl towards the button.

9:05 p.m. — Still sitting with two for Ontario after Homan's first throw.

9:04 p.m. — Ontario with two stones left and are looking at picking up two here.

8:57 p.m. — Ontario has the hammer.

1st End: Canada 1, Ontario 0

8:52 p.m. — Homan throws her last. She was 77 percent on draws this week. Needs to hit the button but doesn't make it as it hits another of their stones. Canada gets the steal and the early lead.

8:48 p.m. — Einarson throws her first of two to close out the end.

8:48 p.m. — Ontario is 9-1 when starting with the hammer. That's a good omen for them.

8:40 p.m — Canada's Brianne Meilleur sends off the first stone and the final is underway. Ontario has the hammer.

Pregame

8:23 p.m. — Earlier today, All-Stars and awards were announced.

  • First Team All-Stars: Skip — Kerri Einarson (Canada), Third — Val Sweeting (Canada), Second — Shannon Birchard (Canada), Lead — Lisa Weagle (Manitoba)
  • Second Team All-Stars: Skip — Rachel Homan (Ontario), Third — Selena Njegovan (Wild Card 1), Second — Jocelyn Peterman (Manitoba), Lead — Joanne Courtney (Ontario)
  • Marj Mitchell Sportsmanship Award (voted by players): Laurie St-Georges (Quebec)
  • Joan Mead Builder's Award: Shannon Kleibrink

8:22 p.m. — Team Canda is based out of Gimli, Manitoba. Team Ontario is based out of Ottawa, Ont.

8 p.m. — Ontario is ready.

7:51 p.m. — The 2020 Women's World Championship was cancelled due to COVID-19 and the 2021 event, which was to be held in Switzerland, was also cancelled. Normally, the winner of the Scotties represents Canada at the world championship. On Sunday, CBC's Devin Heroux reported that there are rumours they're looking to holding it in a Calgary bubble.

Who is on Team Ontario? 

Rachel Homan (skip), Sarah Wilkes (second), Emma Miskew (third), Joanne Courtney (lead). Wilkes joined the team in March 2020 and was not a part of the squad at last year's Scotties. She was a member of Team Canada in 2020. 

Who is on Team Canada?

Kerri Einarson (skip), Shannon Birchard (second), Val Sweeting (third), Briane Meilleur (lead). The same four women won gold together in 2020.

How Team Ontario got here

  • Pool play: Won Pool A with a 7-1 record; defeated Canada in Draw 17 (7-4).
  • Championship pool: 3-1 record and 10-2 overall.
  • Advanced to final: Earned automatic spot in final after finishing with 10-2 record and holding the tiebreaker over Canada thanks to that Pool A win.

How Team Canada got here

  • Pool play: Finished second in Pool A with a 7-1 record. The only loss was to Ontario.
  • Championship pool: 3-1 record and 10-2 overall.
  • Advanced to the final: Einarson and her team had to get through a semifinal matchup to reach their second consecutive final. They beat Alberta — which knocked out six-time Scotties champ Jennifer Jones in the tiebreaker — 9-3 in the semi.

What is the purse for the 2021 Scotties Tournament of Hearts?

In 2020, the purses for the women's and men's curling championships (Tim Hortons Brier) were equal for the first time. With 18 teams competing in 2021, the amounts awarded decreased slightly (down $5,000 each for first, second and third) to accommodate the extra teams. Here's the breakdown for 2021:

Total purse: $300,000

First: $100,000
Second: $60,000
Third: $40,000
Championship pool (fourth through eighth): $15,000
Non-championship pool (ninth through 18th): $2,500

Who won the last five Scotties Tournament of Hearts?

2016: Alberta (Chelsea Carey, Amy Nixon, Jocelyn Peterman, Laine Peters)
2017: Ontario (Rachel Homan, Emma Miskew, Joanne Courtney, Lisa Weagle)
2018: Manitoba (Jennifer Jones, Shannon Birchard, Jill Officer, Dawn McEwen)
2019: Alberta (Chelsea Carey, Sarah Wilkes, Dana Ferguson, Rachel Brown)
2020: Manitoba (Kerri Einarson, Val Sweeting, Shannon Birchard, Briane Meilleur)

Jackie Spiegel