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Tracy Fleury sets sights on Olympic Trials spot

Tracy Fleury and Jenn Wylie had a rare night off during the Stu Sells Oakville Tankard, yet the sisters from Sudbury, Ont., were right back at the rink.

While scouting the competition was an option, they were really watching their younger brothers Tanner and Jacob Horgan competing in the Tier 2 men’s division at the event.

Such is the case for Northern Ontario’s first family of curling. Tracy skips with Jenn playing third on their women’s team while teenagers Tanner and Jacob form the back-end duo of a young powerhouse squad that earned silver at the Canadian Junior Championships this past season.

There were even moments during the event when both teams were on the ice at the same time and Fleury said it’s really cool playing just a couple sheets over from her brothers.

“We try not to get too distracted but it’s hard not to peek over here and there,” she said. “We’re really proud of them. They work really hard and they’re doing great.”

As for who’s the most competitive among the siblings, Fleury didn’t hesitate with her pick.

“Tanner,” Fleury said with a laugh. “He’ll probably say that too.”

While the Super Horgan Bros. take a stab at the men’s circuit while still competing in juniors, Fleury and Wylie embark on their biggest season yet looking to lock up a spot in the 2017 Canadian Olympic Curling Trials.

“We added, I think, one more event from last season so it’s another busy year,” Fleury said. “The big goal for us is to qualify for the Olympic Trials.”

Fleury and Wylie are supported by second Jenna Walsh, lead Amanda Gates and alternate Crystal Webster, who joined the team last season to form the unique five-player rotation. The Calgary native Webster previously skipped her own team and has filled in where needed when other members of the team haven’t been able to make it to events due to work or personal commitments.

That flexibility allowed Team Fleury to expand their schedule and compete in 10 events during 2015-16 including five Pinty’s Grand Slam of Curling tournaments. Fleury also set a new personal-best result at a Grand Slam event by finishing runner-up at the National to establish her spot among the world’s best.

“Last year was a lot of fun,” Fleury said. “It was great experience for us playing in the Grand Slams and getting to play against the top teams in the world. It helped us improve our game.”

Team Fleury’s stellar season netted them 239.879 Canadian Team Ranking System (CTRS) points finishing seventh in the nation. Only Ottawa’s Rachel Homan and Winnipeg’s Jennifer Jones have earned women’s Trials spots, which is why Team Fleury and several other Canadian crews have hit the road early and often in September to try and bank as many CTRS points in the chase for the remaining guaranteed berths.

“It seems like the season keeps starting earlier,” she said. “It’s the earliest we’ve started but it’s fun.”

So far they’ve even expanded to a six-person squad as Fleury, Wylie and Walsh had to call upon Team Middaugh lead Leigh Armstrong to help fill in during the Oakville OCT Fall Classic earlier this month. Gates and Webster were back in the fold the following week for the Stu Sells Oakville Tankard with Walsh not making the trip.

Fleury admitted the five-person team isn’t without its challenges as it can be tricky to establish chemistry and momentum from event-to-event, however, it gets the job done and allows them to even have the chance to compete in elite tournaments like the Grand Slams.

“It’s tough when you don’t always have the same four out on the ice but it gives us the flexibility we need when we’re planning our schedules,” she said. “It works for us.”

As for the future, get used to seeing all of the Horgans on the ice at the same time and perhaps even playing together. Fleury hinted at the possibility of the siblings forming a mixed team at some point.

“For sure that’s the plan down the road,” Fleury said. “We don’t know when exactly but we definitely would like to give it a try.”