Tournament favorites Rachel Homan and Kerri Einarson kicked off the 2025 Montana’s Canadian Curling Trials in Halifax with convincing victories on Saturday. Homan, the two-time reigning Canadian and world women’s champion from Ottawa, secured a commanding 16-5 win over Kate Cameron of St. Adolphe, Manitoba. Homan’s team, including vice-skip Tracy Fleury, second Emma Miskew, lead Sarah Wilkes, alternate Rachelle Brown, and coach Heather Nedohin, displayed exceptional precision and strategy, capitalizing on their early lead while their opponents struggled to adapt to the ice conditions.
Einarson, hailing from Gimli, Manitoba, started strong with steals of two and four in the first two ends, ultimately clinching a 12-5 victory over local favorite Christina Black. Einarson, a four-time Canadian champion, expressed her excitement about facing Black in the opening draw, aiming to apply early pressure and control the game’s momentum. The match showcased intense competition between the two skilled teams, with Einarson pleased to secure a positive start to the tournament.
In other Saturday afternoon matchups, Kaitlyn Lawes of Winnipeg triumphed over Corryn Brown of Kamloops, British Columbia, with a 7-4 win, while Selena Sturmay of Edmonton dominated Kayla Skrlik of Calgary with an 8-2 victory, both teams showcasing strategic steals to secure their wins.
The men’s draw saw a close battle as Mike McEwen’s Saskatoon team narrowly defeated Jordon McDonald from Winnipeg 6-5. McEwen’s rink showcased resilience and skill, with a game-winning deuce in the 10th end sealing their victory. Despite personal reflections on missed opportunities, McEwen emphasized the importance of maintaining a positive mindset and enjoying the intense competition on the ice.
Additional men’s matches featured Brad Gushue of St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador, securing an 11-5 win against Rylan Kleiter of Saskatoon, Matt Dunstone from Winnipeg defeating John Epping of Sudbury, Ontario with a 6-3 score, and Calgary’s Kevin Koe edging out defending Canadian men’s champion Brad Jacobs in a tight 6-5 battle.
The winners of the men’s and women’s competitions at the Canadian Curling Trials will earn the opportunity to represent Canada at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan and Cortina, Italy.
