GRANDE PRAIRIE, Alta. - Rachel Homan defeated defending champion Val Sweeting of Edmonton 8-3 in early play Wednesday at the Canada Cup.

The Ottawa skip, who lost to Sweeting in last year's final, scored four in the first end and stole another point in the second en route to a comfortable win in the round-robin opener for both teams.

Sherry Middaugh of Coldwater, Ont., dumped Winnipeg's Jennifer Jones 7-2 and Kelsey Rocque of Edmonton made a last-rock takeout in the 10th end for a deuce and a 7-6 win over Winnipeg's Kristy McDonald.

In men's play, Pat Simmons and his Calgary team topped defending champion Mike McEwen of Winnipeg 7-3 and Toronto's John Epping defeated Saskatoon's Steve Laycock 7-5.

Two more draws were scheduled for later Wednesday. The semifinals will be played Saturday and the finals are set for Sunday at Revolution Place.

The tournament winners will earn berths in the Olympic trials for the 2018 Winter Games.