Bruce Mouat and his Scottish curling rink arrive in Saskatoon as the undisputed powerhouse of the sport, carrying a formidable winning streak and a singular, unfulfilled ambition: Olympic gold.
A Trophy Cabinet Awaiting Its Final Prize
The statistics for Team Mouat are nothing short of staggering. They have won six of the last eight Grand Slam of Curling tournaments, including the last two consecutive titles. They are the defending champions of the very event they are set to compete in this week: the HearingLife Canadian Open. Their resume is further decorated with two world championship titles and four European championships.
Yet, as lead Hammy McMillan Jr. points out, one accolade remains elusive. "We’ve got 11 grand slams, we’ve got two world titles, four European championships and Olympic silver," said McMillan, 33. "So the only one missing from the trophy cabinet is that gold, and we want that from Cortina." This goal has been a driving force since the team's formation nearly a decade ago.
Using Past Silver as Future Fuel
The memory of their 5-4 extra-end loss to Sweden's Niklas Edin in the gold-medal game at the 2022 Beijing Olympics serves as powerful motivation. Skip Bruce Mouat, 31, acknowledges the complex emotions. "We were obviously a bit disappointed at the time, but now we’re extremely proud of it," Mouat said of the silver medal. "So it’s nice motivation to try and get the gold one this time."
With the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Games on the horizon, Mouat, third Grant Hardie, second Bobby Lammie, and lead McMillan are positioned as early favourites in the men's field. Their current dominance on the Grand Slam circuit only solidifies that status.
The Canadian Open: A Crucial Step on the Path to Italy
The immediate focus, however, is the HearingLife Canadian Open, running from Tuesday through Sunday in Saskatoon. This event is the fourth stop on the 2025-26 Grand Slam of Curling calendar and represents another opportunity for Team Mouat to build momentum and confidence.
The tournament will feature 16 top-tier men's and 16 women's teams, with 14 of each gender invited based on the World Curling team rankings from November 11. The remaining two spots in each division are filled by sponsors' exemptions, ensuring a highly competitive field.
For Bruce Mouat and his squad, every shot in Saskatoon is part of a larger journey. Their overwhelming success in Grand Slam events has set the stage, but the ultimate test awaits in Italy. The Canadian Open is the next critical step in their pursuit of the only prize that has slipped through their grasp so far: Olympic glory.
