Brad Jacobs of Canada secured his second consecutive victory at the Pan Continental Curling Championship by defeating Marc Pfister of the Philippines with a score of 10-3. Meanwhile, defending champion Rachel Homan suffered an 11-5 loss to Japan but bounced back with a 10-2 win against New Zealand later in the day.
The Pan Continental serves as a qualifying event for the 2026 men’s and women’s world championships. Canada has already earned a spot in the women’s world championship as the host nation in Calgary from March 14-22. The top four countries in the men’s Pan Continental, along with the host United States, will compete in the next year’s men’s championship in Ogden City, Utah, scheduled from March 27 to April 4.
Brad Jacobs, along with his team members Marc Kennedy, Brett Gallant, and Ben Hebert, dominated their match against the Philippines. Jacobs praised his team’s performance, especially highlighting Ben’s crucial role in setting up the ends effectively.
Jacobs and his team are part of the eight men’s teams contending for a chance to represent Canada in the Winter Olympics trials in Halifax from Nov. 22-30. They view the Pan Continental Championship as vital preparation for this upcoming event.
The team, led by Jacobs who won Olympic gold in 2014, has been focusing on improving their communication skills with the help of sport psychologist Jason Boivin. They emphasize aspects like clock management, game planning, and decision-making to enhance their performance.
In their next matches, the Canadian men are set to face South Korea’s Soo-Hyuk Kim and New Zealand’s Sean Becker. Homan’s team faced challenges against Japan but acknowledged the learning opportunities from the game. Homan, along with Tracy Fleury, Emma Miskew, and Sarah Wilkes, had a hectic schedule after winning the Co-op Tour Challenge Grand Slam women’s final in Nisku, Alta.
The Pan Continental Curling Championship continues to be a platform for top curling talents to showcase their skills and prepare for upcoming prestigious events.