Canada’s Brad Jacobs secured his second consecutive victory at the Pan Continental Curling Championship by defeating Marc Pfister of the Philippines with a score of 10-3 on Tuesday. Meanwhile, defending champion Rachel Homan suffered a loss to Japan with a score of 11-5 but bounced back with a 10-2 win against New Zealand later in the day.
The Pan Continental tournament serves as a regional qualification event for the upcoming 2026 men’s and women’s world championships. Canada has already secured a spot in the women’s world championship as the host nation for the event scheduled in Calgary from March 14 to 22.
The top four countries in the men’s Pan Continental competition, along with the host country, the United States, will compete in next year’s men’s championship in Ogden City, Utah, taking place from March 27 to April 4.
Brad Jacobs, along with his teammates Marc Kennedy, Brett Gallant, and Ben Hebert from Calgary’s Glencoe Club, dominated their match against the Philippines. Jacobs praised the team’s performance, particularly highlighting Ben Hebert’s role in setting up the ends effectively.
Jacobs and his team are part of the eight men’s teams competing for a chance to represent Canada in the Winter Olympics in February. They view the Pan Continental tournament as crucial preparation for the upcoming trials in Halifax from November 22 to 30.
The team has been focusing on improving their on-ice communication this season, working closely with sport psychologist Jason Boivin. Jacobs emphasized the importance of communication, clock management, game planning, and decision-making for their success on the ice.
In their next matches, the Canadian men will face South Korea’s Soo-Hyuk Kim and New Zealand’s Sean Becker on Wednesday. On the other hand, Homan’s team faced challenges against Japan, losing the match but gaining valuable insights for future games.
Homan acknowledged the strong performance of their opponents and emphasized the learning experience gained from the match. The team had a quick turnaround after winning the Co-op Tour Challenge Grand Slam women’s final in Nisku, Alta., showcasing their resilience and adaptability in back-to-back competitions.
