Kerri Einarson extended her winning streak in the Canadian Olympic curling trials by defeating Kayla Skrlik 6-5 in Halifax on Tuesday evening. Einarson, hailing from Gimli, Manitoba, had already secured a playoff berth but clinched her sixth victory of the tournament. The four-time Canadian women’s champion managed to score a single point in the final end against Skrlik from Calgary, who now stands at 2-4.
Reflecting on their performance, Einarson mentioned the challenges faced during the season but expressed satisfaction in the team’s unity and progress this week. Meanwhile, Rachel Homan from Ottawa secured an 8-7 win against Kaitlyn Lawes, improving her record to 5-1 despite conceding a steal of three points in the seventh end. Homan’s team, the two-time reigning Canadian and world champions, responded with two points in the eighth end and then stole a single point in the ninth to take a two-point lead.
Both Einarson and Homan have secured spots in the playoffs and are slated to face each other in a crucial round-robin match for first place and a bye into the finals. The top team in the round-robin standings will earn a direct entry into the finals, while the second and third seeds will compete in a semifinal match.
In the men’s afternoon session, former Olympic champions Brad Gushue and Brad Jacobs emerged victorious, resulting in a three-way tie for the top position. Gushue secured an 8-6 win over Jordon McDonald from Winnipeg, while Jacobs’ team from Calgary defeated John Epping from Toronto with a score of 6-4. Winnipeg’s Matt Dunstone, who suffered his first loss of the tournament earlier in the day, is also in the mix with a 4-1 record alongside Gushue and Jacobs.
Mike McEwen triumphed over Ryan Kleiter in a battle of Saskatoon skips with a score of 9-7. McEwen and Kevin Koe are closely trailing the tournament leaders at 3-2, while Kleiter, Epping, and McDonald stand at 1-4 and 0-5, respectively.
The winners of the men’s and women’s trials will have the opportunity to represent Canada at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan Cortina, Italy.