Two dominant curling teams have emerged as the top contenders for the upcoming Milan-Cortina Olympics following the revised playdowns format aimed at selecting Canada’s strongest representatives. Curling Canada successfully achieved its goal as Rachel Homan led her Ottawa team to victory in the women’s category, while Brad Jacobs guided his Calgary rink to triumph in the men’s division at the Montana’s Canadian Curling Trials.
Curling Canada CEO Nolan Thiessen expressed his satisfaction with the results, highlighting Homan’s and Jacobs’ teams as the most hardworking and dedicated. The finals, now in a new best-of-three format, saw both teams secure 2-0 victories.
In the women’s final, Homan’s team, including Tracy Fleury, Emma Miskew, and Sarah Wilkes, narrowly defeated Christina Black in Game 1 before dominating with a 12-3 win in the subsequent match. Meanwhile, Jacobs, alongside Marc Kennedy, Brett Gallant, and Ben Hebert, clinched two close wins over Matt Dunstone’s team in the men’s final.
Thiessen praised the new format for achieving its intended purpose, providing a fair and exciting competition. The previous single-game elimination setup was known for its tension, especially with unpredictable ice conditions at times during the event.
Black surprised many with her strong performance, overcoming the odds to reach the playoffs and challenge higher-ranked opponents. Homan’s team, ranked first globally, showcased their experience and determination, setting them up as strong contenders for Olympic success.
Fleury and Wilkes will make their Olympic debut, while Jacobs, Kennedy, and Hebert bring past Olympic success to the table. Gallant, who won bronze in mixed doubles in 2022, will now compete in both team and mixed doubles events at the upcoming Games, a first for Curling Canada.
The teams are now gearing up for the Winter Games, with the competition set to commence on February 4 at Cortina Curling Olympic Stadium.