Homan, Einarson Dominate Opening of Canadian Olympic Curling Trials

The 2025 Montana’s Canadian Curling Trials began in Halifax, featuring impressive performances from the renowned Rachel Homan and Kerri Einarson.

Homan and Einarson Shine in Opening Matches

Both Homan and Einarson showcased their skills in decisive victories. Homan, the Ottawa skip and a two-time reigning Canadian and world champion, faced Kate Cameron from St. Adolphe, Manitoba. Homan’s team scored heavily, winning 16-5. This included a draw for three points in the third end and a steal of four points in the fourth end.

“We felt great out there. We learned the ice well during practice and came out strong,” Homan remarked. Her team also includes vice-skip Tracy Fleury, second Emma Miskew, lead Sarah Wilkes, alternate Rachelle Brown, and coach Heather Nedohin.

Einarson, a four-time Canadian champion from Gimli, Manitoba, also delivered an impressive performance. She managed steals of two in the first end and four in the second, leading to a 12-5 victory against local favorite Christina Black. Einarson expressed her excitement for the matchup, stating, “Our goal was to take the crowd out early and put pressure on them.” Both teams are known for their competitive history, making this victory significant.

Other Results from the Opening Day

• Kaitlyn Lawes from Winnipeg secured a 7-4 win against Corryn Brown of Kamloops, B.C.
• Selena Sturmay of Edmonton achieved an 8-2 victory over Kayla Skrlik from Calgary.

Men’s Draw Highlights

The men’s competition saw Mike McEwen from Saskatoon narrowly defeat Winnipeg’s Jordon McDonald 6-5. McEwen described his performance, saying, “I left a lot of points on the board.” Despite this, he executed a crucial draw to the eight-foot for the winning deuce.

In other men’s matches, Brad Gushue from St. John’s, Newfoundland, won against Rylan Kleiter of Saskatoon with an 11-5 score. Winnipeg’s Matt Dunstone triumphed with a 6-3 victory over John Epping of Sudbury, Ontario. Calgary’s Kevin Koe also secured a close 6-5 win against the defending Canadian men’s champions, Brad Jacobs.

Looking Ahead to the Olympics

The champions of these trials will represent Canada at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan and Cortina, Italy. As the competitions continue, the focus will be on which teams can maintain momentum and secure their Olympic spots.