The event ran from October 19 to 26 in Virginia, Minnesota, and served as a regional qualifier for the 2026 World Curling Championships. Consequently, Canada’s victory marked its third men’s gold in the Pan Continental Championships’ four-year history.
Team Jacobs: A Cohesive Unit
Skip Brad Jacobs led his team—vice-skip Marc Kennedy, second Brett Gallant, lead Ben Hebert, alternate Tyler Tardi, coach Paul Webster, and national coach Jeff Stoughton. Together, they maintained an undefeated record throughout the tournament.
Their strategic play and strong teamwork stood out in the final match, where they capitalized on crucial moments to secure the win.
Jacobs expressed pride in representing Canada, saying, “Wearing the Maple Leaf makes you more hungry and motivated to succeed.”
Team Homan Earns Silver
In the women’s competition, Team Rachel Homan earned the silver medal after a narrow 7–6 loss to Team Rui Wang of China. The match remained tight, and China stole a decisive point in the seventh end, which ultimately decided the outcome.
Homan, vice-skip Tracy Fleury, second Emma Miskew, lead Sarah Wilkes, alternate Rachelle Brown, and coaches Renee Sonnenberg and Viktor Kjell showed resilience and skill throughout the tournament.
Despite the loss, their performance demonstrated Canada’s strength in women’s curling.
Significance of the Pan Continental Championships
The Pan Continental Championships occur biennially and feature top teams from North America and Asia. This year’s edition proved notable as World Curling announced the tournament’s discontinuation after this season.
Canada’s victories in both the men’s and women’s categories underline the nation’s dominance in curling. Furthermore, the gold and silver medals reflect the athletes’ dedication and enhance Canada’s international reputation.
With the Pan Continental Championships concluded, attention now turns to the 2025 Montana’s Canadian Curling Trials in Halifax, beginning November 22. These trials will determine Canada’s representatives for the 2026 Winter Olympics, adding extra significance to the recent performances.
As the curling season continues, both Team Jacobs and Team Homan will train diligently. They aim to build on their successes and represent Canada strongly on the world stage.
