Two dominant curling teams have emerged following a modified playdowns structure aimed at selecting Canada’s top representatives for the Milan-Cortina Olympics. Curling Canada successfully achieved its objective as Rachel Homan led her Ottawa squad to victory in the women’s event, while Brad Jacobs guided his Calgary team to triumph in the men’s competition at the Montana’s Canadian Curling Trials.
Curling Canada CEO Nolan Thiessen praised the hard work and dedication of both teams, highlighting their impressive performances in the new best-of-three final format, where they secured 2-0 sweeps in the finals. Homan’s team narrowly defeated Christina Black in Game 1 before dominating with a 12-3 victory in Game 2. Jacobs and his team secured close wins over Matt Dunstone’s Winnipeg side in both games of the finals.
The revamp of the Trials finals format was deemed successful by Thiessen, providing a more controlled and consistent environment for the teams to compete. Black’s unexpected success in the competition, including defeating higher-ranked opponents, added excitement to the playoffs.
Homan’s team, ranked first globally, showcased their experience and skill throughout the competition, with Homan herself being a seasoned competitor with multiple national and world titles under her belt. The team’s qualification for the Winter Games marks their third consecutive Olympic appearance.
On the men’s side, Jacobs, Kennedy, Gallant, and Hebert bring a wealth of Olympic experience to the table, with several past medals among them. The inclusion of mixed doubles alongside the traditional team format at the Games provides additional opportunities for athletes like Gallant, who secured a spot in both disciplines.
As the teams prepare for the Olympics in Milan-Cortina, the stage is set for an exciting competition starting on February 4 at Cortina Curling Olympic Stadium.