The road to the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics officially begins in Halifax as the Montana’s Canadian Curling Trials take over the Scotiabank Centre from Saturday, Nov. 22 through Sunday, Nov. 30. Sixteen of Canada’s top rinks — eight women’s teams and eight men’s teams — will battle through a packed week of round-robin play and a new best-of-three finals format to determine who will wear the maple leaf on Olympic ice.
With world champions, Olympic medalists, rising stars, and hometown favorites all in the mix, the Trials promise to be one of the most competitive and dramatic events on the curling calendar
WATCH: Curling Canada Olympic Trials Anywhere
Canadian curling trials Preview: DRAW 14
Calgary’s Brad Jacobs has pulled into the lead in the chase for a coveted bye to the men’s final at the 2025 Montana’s Canadian Curling Trials.
Jacobs (5–1) claimed sole possession of first place with one draw remaining after a convincing 6–2 victory over Winnipeg’s Matt Dunstone in Wednesday morning play. A steal of two in the 10th end sealed the win and strengthened Jacobs’ path toward the championship round.
Dunstone’s loss dropped him into a three-way tie for second at 4–2 alongside Saskatoon’s Mike McEwen and St. John’s, N.L., veteran Brad Gushue. McEwen added to the pressure by defeating Gushue 9–7 earlier in the day.
The stage was set for a marquee matchup on Wednesday evening, with Jacobs — the 2014 Olympic champion — taking on Gushue, the 2006 Olympic gold medallist, in a critical final round-robin showdown.
Both the men’s and women’s winners at the Trials earn a direct berth into their respective best-of-three finals. The teams finishing second and third will meet in a sudden-death semifinal to determine the last finalist. Ultimately, the champions will go on to represent Canada at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo.
In other morning results, Toronto’s John Epping topped Calgary’s Kevin Koe 8–4, while Winnipeg’s Jordon McDonald edged Saskatoon’s Ryan Kleiter 7–6. Entering the final draw, Koe sat at 3–3, Epping at 2–4, and both McDonald and Kleiter at 1–5.
The final women’s draw was set for Wednesday afternoon, highlighted by powerhouse skips Kerri Einarson of Gimli, Man., and Ottawa’s Rachel Homan battling head-to-head with the top seed at stake.
WATCH: Curling Canada Olympic Trials Anywhere
Women’s Teams: The Contenders
Team Black (Halifax)
Christina Black, Jill Brothers, Jenn Baxter, Karlee Everist, Marlee Powers
The Halifax-based five-player lineup enters the Trials with momentum after capturing the Stu Sells 1824 Halifax Classic. Expect a loud home crowd behind them.
Team Brown (Kamloops, B.C.)
Corryn Brown, Erin Pincott, Sarah Koltun, Samantha Fisher
A PointsBet Invitational finalist this season and now seventh in Canada’s rankings, Brown’s rink is trending upward.
Team Cameron (St. Adolphe, Man.)
Kate Cameron, Briane Harris, Taylor McDonald, Mackenzie Elias
With Briane Harris joining from Kerri Einarson’s rink, this team brings experience and depth.
Team Einarson (Gimli, Man.)
Kerri Einarson, Val Sweeting, Shannon Birchard, Karlee Burgess
Four-time national champions and ranked No. 2 in Canada, Einarson’s squad is always a threat.
Team Homan (Ottawa)
Rachel Homan, Tracy Fleury, Emma Miskew, Sarah Wilkes
The world No. 1 team and overwhelming favourite, Homan’s rink has dominated this season with three Grand Slam titles.
Team Lawes (Winnipeg)
Kaitlyn Lawes, Selena Njegovan, Jocelyn Peterman, Kristin Gordon
Led by legendary coach Marcel Rocque, Lawes is aiming for another Olympic run — and Peterman is already Milan-bound in mixed doubles.
Team Skrlik (Calgary)
Kayla Skrlik, Margot Flemming, Ashton Skrlik, Geri-Lynn Ramsay
After a slow season start, they’ll look to rediscover the form that made last year their breakout.
Team Sturmay (Edmonton)
Selena Sturmay, Danielle Schmiemann, Dezaray Hawes, Paige Papley
Fresh off a clutch pre-trials victory over Kayla MacMillan, Sturmay’s team is peaking at the right moment.
Men’s Teams: Stacked With Olympic Pedigree
Team Dunstone (Winnipeg)
Matt Dunstone, Colton Lott, E.J. Harnden, Ryan Harnden
Canada’s top-ranked men’s team, featuring the Harnden brothers — Olympic champions in 2014.
Team Epping (Sudbury, Ont.)
John Epping, Jacob Horgan, Tanner Horgan, Ian McMillan
Third in Canadian rankings and semifinalists at the Co-op Tour Challenge.
Team Gushue (St. John’s, N.L.)
Brad Gushue, Mark Nichols, Brendan Bottcher, Geoff Walker
The 2006 Olympic gold medal rink returns to Halifax, where they previously won the Trials. Gushue will retire after the season, adding emotional stakes.
Team Jacobs (Calgary)
Brad Jacobs, Marc Kennedy, Brett Gallant, Ben Hebert
Every member of this powerhouse lineup has Olympic experience — a rare and formidable combination.
Team Kleiter (Saskatoon)
Rylan Kleiter, Joshua Mattern, Matthew Hall, Trevor Johnson
A young, rising team making their Trials debut after their first Brier appearance last March.
Team Koe (Calgary)
Kevin Koe, Tyler Tardi, Aaron Sluchinski, Karrick Martin
A six-time Trials participant and 2017 champion, Koe remains one of the most experienced skips in Canadian history.
Team McDonald (Winnipeg)
Jordon McDonald, Jacques Gauthier, Elias Huminicki, Cam Olafson
The youngest skip in the field at age 22, McDonald earned his spot via the pre-trials.
Team McEwen (Saskatoon)
Mike McEwen, Colton Flasch, Kevin Marsh, Dan Marsh
A veteran rink with major-event experience and consistent results.
How to Watch the Curling Canada Trials Live
All games throughout the Trials — from round-robin play to finals — will be broadcast live on TSN, with streaming also available through TSN’s digital platforms.
Full Schedule: Canadian Olympic Curling Trials
Dates: Saturday, Nov. 22 – Sunday, Nov. 30
Venue: Scotiabank Centre, Halifax
Broadcast: TSN (all draws)
Round-Robin Draw Schedule
Saturday, Nov. 22
- Draw 1 – 2 p.m.
- Draw 2 – 7 p.m.
Sunday, Nov. 23
- Draw 3 – 9 a.m.
- Draw 4 – 2 p.m.
- Draw 5 – 7 p.m.
Monday, Nov. 24
- Draw 6 – 9 a.m.
- Draw 7 – 2 p.m.
- Draw 8 – 7 p.m.
Tuesday, Nov. 25
- Draw 9 – 9 a.m.
- Draw 10 – 2 p.m.
- Draw 11 – 7 p.m.
Wednesday, Nov. 26
- Draw 12 – 9 a.m.
- Draw 13 – 2 p.m.
- Draw 14 – 7 p.m.
Playoff Schedule
Thursday, Nov. 27
- Women’s Semifinal – 1 p.m.
- Men’s Semifinal – 7 p.m.
Friday, Nov. 28
- Women’s Final (Game 1) – 1 p.m.
- Men’s Final (Game 1) – 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, Nov. 29
- Women’s Final (Game 2) – 1 p.m.
- Men’s Final (Game 2) – 7 p.m.
Sunday, Nov. 30 (If Necessary)
- Women’s Final (Game 3) – 1 p.m.
- Men’s Final (Game 3) – 7 p.m.
Game-by-Game Schedule and Matchups
All daily draws include four games. Your original matchup list has been kept intact and organized for clarity. If you’d like, I can also format this into a table or add projected storylines.
