A new player will be coming aboard for Team Rachel Homan, it was confirmed today.

With longtime second Alison Kreviazuk announcing that she will be leaving the two-time defending Scotties Tournament of Hearts champions in order to move to Sweden to be with her boyfriend Fredrik Lindberg, the team is pleased to announce the addition of Joanne Courtney to take over at second.

The move will take effect for the 2014-15 curling season. Kreviazuk’s last event with Team Homan will be the season-ending Grand Slam Players’ Championships next month in Summerside, P.E.I., with Courtney joining Homan, third Emma Miskew and lead Lisa Weagle on a team that will play next season at the 2014 Canada Cup of Curling Dec. 3-7 in Camrose, Alta., the 2015 WFG Continental Cup Jan. 8-11 in Calgary and the 2015 Scotties Tournament of Hearts Feb. 14-22 in Moose Jaw, Sask.

“There are definitely mixed feelings,” said Homan, whose team won the silver medal at the Ford World Women’s Curling Championship, presented by Booster Juice, this past weekend in Saint John, N.B. “We have been through everything together. Ali has been a big part of our team, our success, and our lives for a very long time. She is an amazing person on and off the ice and not someone who can easily be replaced. We are going to miss her and wish her nothing but the very best. We will all continue to stay the best of friends."

"We feel Joanne is a great fit with our team and someone who shares our team goals and passion for the game. It will be a big change but we are excited that she has decided to join us for the next Olympic cycle.”

Courtney, who will be residing in Ottawa during the curling season, was a member of Team Val Sweeting, who won the Alberta Scotties women’s title and went on to finish second to Homan’s Team Canada at the Scotties Tournament of Hearts last month in Montreal.