SYDNEY, N.S. — Former Team Homan member Joanne Courtney is enjoying the same big-game feelings from the broadcast booth that she did when she was a competitive curler.
She stepped away from the sport two years ago to focus on her family and career. Courtney later joined TSN's broadcast team at the network's Season of Champions events.
"You're at these championships, and for me, there's visceral feelings watching these games," Courtney said.
Her former rink has been in strong form this week at the world women's curling championship. Homan, Tracy Fleury, Emma Miskew and Sarah Wilkes were scheduled to play South Korea's Eunji Gim on Saturday for a berth in the final at Centre 200.
Courtney is part of a crew that includes play-by-play commentator Vic Rauter and analysts Russ Howard and Cathy Gauthier.
Courtney spent three seasons on a team with skip Val Sweeting before joining Homan's side in 2014-15. She represented Canada at the 2018 Winter Olympics with Homan, Miskew and Lisa Weagle, a year after they won a world championship in Beijing.
She aims to inject some of that big-event curling experience in her broadcast work.
"To try to explain what's going through the thrower's mind, why a miss might happen, I feel like there's a lot to add there," she said. "I get excited up in the booth. My adrenalin will get going in certain situations depending on what's on the table."
The 35-year-old Edmonton nurse first dabbled in broadcasting at provincial events. She was on the CBC mic for coverage of the 2022 Beijing Olympics and is now a regular in the TSN booth.
Courtney said she's getting more comfortable picking her spots to deliver thoughts and analysis while highlighting some of her observations.
"When you first come into this role, a lot of it - for me at least - was concentrating on what I was saying and not how I was saying it," Courtney said. "It's feeling a bit more natural now and I"m feeling a little bit more relaxed.
"But I think there's such an art to it."
Courtney was on site to watch her former skip run the table at last month's national championship and then post an 11-1 round-robin record at the worlds. She said Homan's draw game has really been in form.
"This week and this year in particular, she's (been) great at it," she said. "The mechanics are so perfect but then it's also that touch game. I'm watching her in pre-game practices and she's finding the button every single time."
Since stepping back from the sport, Courtney said she's been able to really appreciate the quality of play, particularly in the women's game right now.
"I think it's grown immensely," she said. "I remember playing in these types of events and it's such a grind. It's gruelling because of the quality.
"From this perspective in the broadcast booth I can actually celebrate it and appreciate it."
This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 23, 2024.
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Gregory Strong, The Canadian Press
