Canada’s Brad Jacobs emerged victorious at the men’s Pan Continental Curling Championship by defeating John Schuster of the United States 7-3 on Sunday. This win secured Canada a spot in the 2026 men’s and women’s world championships in Ogden City, Utah.
Jacobs, along with his team, clinched the bronze medal at the 2025 world championship in April and needed to finish among the top four teams to guarantee Canada’s participation in the upcoming championship. In a remarkable performance, Jacobs, accompanied by Marc Kennedy, Brett Gallant, and Ben Hebert, managed to secure the win with a steal of two points in the 10th end against Schuster, the 2018 Olympic Games gold medalist.
The Canadian team remained undefeated throughout the tournament in Virginia, Minn., marking Canada’s third gold medal in four years after Brad Gushue’s victories in 2022 and 2023. Jacobs expressed his delight, stating, “It’s always great to throw the Maple Leaf on, and it makes you a little bit more hungry and motivated to go and try to wear it again.”
Following their triumph, Jacobs and his team are set to compete in the Kioti Grand Slam of Curling Tahoe in California starting on Nov. 4. They will then join seven other men’s teams in Halifax for the Montana’s Canadian Trials from Nov. 22-30 to earn the opportunity to represent Canada in the upcoming Olympic Games in Milan and Cortina, Italy in February.
Looking ahead, Jacobs and his team are gearing up to defend their Canadian title at the Brier in St. John’s from Feb. 27 to March 8. Their journey at the Pan Continental served as valuable experience against international rivals, with Gallant emphasizing the importance of performing under pressure.
On the women’s side, Canada’s Rachel Homan faced a narrow 7-6 defeat against Rui Wang of China in the gold-medal match. Despite showcasing exceptional shots, China’s strategic play, including a crucial steal in the seventh end, propelled them to victory at the Iron Trail Motors Event Center.
Reflecting on the loss, Homan acknowledged the team’s fatigue but commended their resilience and performance. With a packed schedule and recent successes, Homan remains optimistic about the team’s progress and learning from their experiences.
In the women’s bronze-medal game, South Korea’s Team Eunji Gim secured an 11-8 win over Team Tabitha Peterson of the United States. Canada has already secured a spot in the 2026 women’s world championship as the host country, scheduled for March 14-22 in Calgary.
The Pan Continental Curling Championship, introduced four years ago by World Curling, served as a platform for North American and Asian teams. However, with World Curling’s expansion plans and the introduction of a B championship, the Pan Continental event is being discontinued, while the European championship will continue independently.
