Team Koe and Team Homan Crowned Champions at The Rogers Masters

- Team Koe defeats Team Cotter 7-5 in thrilling men's final -
- Team Homan goes undefeated and secures 8-3 win against Team Carey in women's final -
- Combined purse of $200,000 awarded to competing teams -

BRANTFORD, ON, Nov. 18, 2012 /CNW/ - After a five-day battle that began with 68 teams, The Rogers Masters crowned Team Koe of Edmonton as men's champions and Team Homan of Ottawa as women's champions of the first event of the 2012-13 Grand Slam of Curling season. Team Koe and Team Homan were awarded The Rogers Masters trophies and prize money this afternoon at the Wayne Gretzky Sports Centre in Brantford, ON. In total, a combined purse of $200,000 was distributed to competing teams.

Team Koe defeated Team Martin in a thrilling 6-5 semifinal victory Sunday morning before overcoming Vernon, B.C.'s Team Cotter 7-5 in the final. Skip Kevin Koe and teammates Patt Simmons, Carter Rycroft, and Nolan Thiessen went 4-1 in round-robin play, earning a total of $20,000 total for their success over the course of the tournament.

"This was my seventh Grand Slam final and my first win," said Koe, who captured the world men's curling championship in 2010. "It's been a long time coming."

In addition to winning The Rogers Masters, Team Koe now has the opportunity to win the $1 million bonus, should they win the next three events of the Grand Slam season. If Team Koe does not win the remaining three events, the top three men's teams - based on the Grand Slam points system - will split a $100,000 purse.

On the women's side, Ottawa's Team Homan went undefeated for the entire tournament and clinched the championship title this afternoon. Comprised of skip Rachel Homan, Emma Miskew, Alison Kreviazuk and Lisa Weagle, the team went 5-0 in round-robin play before defeating Sudbury, ON's Team Horgan in the quarter-finals. Team Homan beat out Scotland's Team Muirhead by a 5-4 scoreline in the semifinals on Sunday morning, earning a berth in the finals against Winnipeg, MB's team Carey. Homan came on strong in the final, defeating Carey by a 8-3 scoreline, and receiving $20,500 for their wins.

"We've been doing really well on the Slam side of the events, but it's nice to finally win a final," said Homan, a curling prodigy since the age of 13. "I think we picked the right one to win, and this is just an amazing feeling."

With two events comprising the women's 2012-13 Grand Slam of Curling season - The Rogers Masters and The Players' Championship - Team Homan is halfway to being awarded a $100,000 bonus should they clinch a win at the final event. If Team Homan does not win the The Players' Championship, the top three women's teams will split a $25,000 purse.

Owned and operated by Sportsnet, the Grand Slam of Curling is an elite series of men's and women's curling events which are part of the World Curling Tour and feature the best teams from across Canada and around the world. In addition to The Rogers Masters, the 2012-13 series also includes The Canadian Open in Kelowna, B.C. (December 12-16, 2012), The National in Port Hawkesbury, N.S. (January 23-27, 2013), and The Players' Championship in Toronto (April 16-21, 2013).

For images from The Rogers Masters, including today's events, please visit www.bitly.com/MastersPics

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SOURCE: Sportsnet

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