Canada’s Brad Jacobs emerged victorious in the men’s Pan Continental Curling Championship by defeating John Schuster of the United States 7-3 in the final match on Sunday. The Pan Continental serves as a regional qualifier for countries aiming to participate in the 2026 men’s and women’s world championships.
In order to secure a spot for Canada in next year’s event in Ogden City, Utah, Jacobs and his team, which includes Marc Kennedy, Brett Gallant, and Ben Hebert from Calgary’s Glencoe Club, needed to finish among the top four teams. Their success was highlighted by a steal of two points in the 10th end, sealing the victory over Schuster, who led the U.S. to a gold medal in the 2018 Olympic Games.
The Canadian team maintained an undefeated record in Virginia, Minn., clinching their country’s third gold medal in four years following Brad Gushue’s triumphs in 2022 and 2023. Looking ahead, Jacobs and his team are set to compete in the Kioti Grand Slam of Curling Tahoe in California starting November 4, followed by the Montana’s Canadian Trials in Halifax from November 22-30, where eight men’s teams will vie for the opportunity to represent Canada in the upcoming Olympic Games in Milan and Cortina, Italy.
Additionally, the team is preparing to defend their Canadian title at the Brier in St. John’s from February 27 to March 8, aiming for a return trip to the world championship. The Pan Continental competition served as a valuable test against international opponents, with team member Gallant emphasizing the importance of capitalizing on such opportunities.
On the women’s side, Canada’s Rachel Homan faced a 7-6 defeat against Rui Wang of China in the gold-medal game. Despite showcasing excellent shots, including a remarkable split by vice-skip Tracy Fleury and a double-takeout by Homan, China’s strategic play ultimately secured their victory at the Iron Trail Motors Event Center.
Homan acknowledged the team’s fatigue following their recent Grand Slam event victory in Nisku, Alta., expressing pride in their resilience throughout the challenging competition. South Korea’s Team Eunji Gim also secured a win over Team Tabitha Peterson of the United States in the women’s bronze-medal game.
As the host country, Canada is guaranteed a spot in the 2026 women’s world championship in Calgary. The Pan Continental event, introduced four years ago by World Curling as a counterpart to the European championship, is coming to an end with the expansion of championship fields and the introduction of a B championship for promotion and relegation.