Lawes Defeats Reese-Hansen at Scotties Tournament of Hearts Opener

The Scotties Tournament of Hearts kicked off with a notable match in Mississauga, as Kaitlyn Lawes defeated Taylor Reese-Hansen 10-4. This match marked Reese-Hansen’s debut at the Canadian women’s curling championship, a significant milestone in her career. Despite her impressive third-place ranking in the national standings, Reese-Hansen faced challenges against the seasoned Lawes.

Match Overview

Lawes, a two-time Olympic champion, began the match strongly, securing a three-point end early in the game. Throughout the contest, Reese-Hansen struggled to find her draw weight, which contributed to her difficulties on the ice. The game saw Lawes capitalizing on her opponent’s mistakes.

• Score Breakdown:
  • First End: Lawes scores 3 points
  • Second End: Reese-Hansen concedes a steal
  • Third End: Reese-Hansen scores 2 points
  • Sixth End: Lawes scores 2 points
  • Eighth End: Lawes scores 3 points

Quotes from the Match

“I definitely felt the jitters… but it’s a dream come true to be here,” Reese-Hansen expressed post-match. Lawes emphasized her team’s patience, stating, “We took advantage of the opportunities we had.”

Other Tournament Highlights

In addition to the Lawes-Reese-Hansen matchup, other notable games included Kerri Einarson’s 13-4 victory over Yukon’s Bayly Scoffin and Ontario’s Hailey Armstrong winning 9-5 against Nicky Kaufman from the Northwest Territories. Nova Scotia’s Taylour Stevens also triumphed with a 10-7 win against Quebec’s Jolianne Fortin.

Lawes participated without Jocelyn Peterman, who is preparing for mixed doubles at the Milan Cortina Games. Laura Walker stepped in as the team’s second for the tournament.

Upcoming Tournament Structure

The tournament features an 18-team field, divided into two pools of nine teams. After the round-robin play, the top three teams from each pool will advance to the playoffs. The tournament structure includes:

• First-place team from Pool A faces second-place team from Pool B.
• Winners advance to the Page playoff 1-2 game.
• Losers meet with the third-place finishers from pool play.
• The first-place team from Pool A will compete for the Canadian spot in the world championship.

The championship will take place from March 14-22, 2026, in Calgary. This tournament promises to be an exciting showcase of talent, culminating in the crowning of the best women’s curling team in Canada.