Jennifer Jones and Jill Officer
, The Canadian Press
There wasn't nearly as much change on the women's side of things compared to the men, but there are still a few new faces on some prominent teams. Rachel Homan and Jennifer Jones will once again be the teams to beat with the likes of Eve Muirhead and Chelsea Carey closing in fast.
Team Jennifer Jones
Lead: Dawn McEwen Second: Jill Officer Third: Kaitlyn Lawes Skip: Jennifer Jones
-
Olympics
Gold
-
Grand Slams
3
-
Money List
2nd
-
Merit
1st
Jennifer Jones's Manitoba rink is coming off a great season where they won Olympic gold in Sochi as well as the season ending Players' Championship in Sumerside, PEI. Jones should be right in the thick of things once again in 2014-15 as she retained her entire team during the off-season for another chance to represent her country at the Olympic Games four years from now. Look for Jones to be in contention at the Scotties Tournament of Hearts after missing last year's event due to Olympic commitments.
Team Rachel Homan
Lead: Lisa Weagle Second: Joanne Courtney Third: Emma Miskew Skip: Rachel Homan
-
Scotties
1st
-
World Champ
2nd
-
Grand Slams
1
-
Money List
4th
-
Merit
2nd
Rachel Homan's Ottawa rink will appear as Team Canada at the Scotties Tournament of Hearts for a second straight year in 2014-15. The young team defended their national title in Montreal last season with an undefeated record as Homan became the youngest skip to win back-to-back championships. They'll have a new second this time though as Alison Kreviazuk left the team and was replaced by Joanne Courtney who was a vice, sweeping lead, second and skip stones, on Valerie Sweeting's team for the past few seasons. Sweeting is one of the better female sweepers in the game and should fit in just fine with Team Homan.
Team Eve Muirhead
Lead: Sarah Reid Second: Vicki Adams Third: Anna Sloan Skip: Eve Muirhead
-
Olympics
Bronze
-
Grand Slams
1
-
Money List
3rd
-
Merit
3rd
Eve Muirhead should once again be a thorn in the sides of Canadian curlers this season. The 24-year-old from Scotland is one of the youngest and most talented skips on the World Curling Tour, proving that further by winning Olympic bronze in Sochi. Expect her to be near the top of the money list this winter and could snag her second World Championship (first came in 2013) this year.
Team Chelsea Carey
Lead: Jen Gates Second: Taylor McDonald Third: Laura Crocker Skip: Chelsea Carey
-
Tour Wins
0
-
Money List
Out of top 10
-
Merit
8th
Chelsea Carey has a new team in 2014-15. Carey made the move from Manitoba to Alberta after her Winnipeg rink parted ways at season's end. Carey will team up with 23-year-old Laura Crocker and could threaten to win a few Grand Slams or even the Scotties this year. With the change of scenery, Carey will no longer have to battle the great Jennifer Jones in the provincial playdowns for the right to attend the Tournament of Hearts. Alberta is now arguably the most competitive province in women's curling with Heather Nedohin, Valerie Sweeting and Carey clashing with each other.
Team Heather Nedohin
Lead: Laine Peters Second: Jessica Mair Third: Amy Nixon Skip: Heather Nedohin
-
Tour Wins
0
-
Money List
Out of top 10
-
Merit
10th
Heather Nedohin, 39, is the oldest skip of the big three in Alberta (Nedohin, Sweeting, Carey), but is still considered one of the best female skips in the game. She will have a new third this year, as Amy Nixon will replace longtime vice Beth Iskiw. Nixon won an Olympic bronze medal in 2006 with Shannon Kleibrink.
Team Valerie Sweeting
Lead: Rachelle Brown Second: Dana Ferguson Third: Lori Olson-Johns Skip: Valerie Sweeting
-
Scotties
2nd
-
Money List
Out of top 10
-
Merit
11th
Val Sweeting was the most surprising rink in women's curling last season. Not only did she qualify for the Canadian Olympic Trials by winning the Pre-Trials in Kitchener, Ont., but she made it all the way to the finals of the Scotties Tournament of Hearts before losing to Rachel Homan. Sweeting did lose her best player, Joanne Courtney, to Team Homan in the off-season and replaced her with Lori Olson-Johns. It will be interesting to see if Sweeting can keep her trajectory going upwards after the departure of her vice.
Team Kelly Scott
Lead: Sarah Pyke Second: Karla Thompson Third: Shannon Aleksic Skip: Kelly Scott
-
Tour Wins
0
-
Money List
Out of top 10
-
Merit
22nd
Kelly Scott is entering the 2014-15 season with an entirely new rink with the hope of getting back to the top of curling world after winning back-to-back national championships in 2006 and 2007.
Team Silvana Tirinzoni
Lead: Marlene Albrecht Second: E. Neuenschwander Third: Manuela Siegrist Skip: Silvana Tirinzoni
-
Tour Wins
3
-
Money List
1st
-
Merit
9th
Team Anna Sidorova
Lead: Ekaterina Galkina Second: Aleksandra Saitova Third: Margarita Fomina Skip: Anna Sidorova
-
WC
Bronze
-
Money List
8th
-
Merit
7th
Team Margaretha Sigfridsson
Second: Maria Wennerstroem Third: Christina Bertrup Fourth: Maria Prytz Skip:Margaretha Sigfridsson
-
Tour Wins
0
-
Money List
10th
-
Merit
5th
Team Sherry Middaugh
Lead: Leigh Armstrong Second: Lee Merklinger Third: Jo-Ann Rizzo Skip: Sherry Middaugh
-
Tour Wins
1
-
Money List
Not in top 10
-
Merit
12th
Important Dates
Masters - Oct. 28 to Nov. 2 (Selkirk, MB)
Scotties Tournament of Hearts - Feb. 14 to Feb. 22 (Moose Jaw, SK)
World Women's Championship - March 14 to March 22 (Sapporo, Japan)
The Players' Championship - April 7 to April 15 (Toronto, ONT)