Canada's Curling Teams Make Significant Strides at 2026 Winter Olympics
Canadian curling teams demonstrated remarkable resilience and skill during Wednesday's competition at the 2026 Winter Olympic Games in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy. Both the women's and men's squads secured crucial victories that position them favorably in their respective tournaments.
Team Homan's Dramatic Comeback Victory
Team Rachel Homan, representing Canada in women's curling, achieved a hard-fought 8-7 victory over host nation Italy in an extra end. This triumph marks their fourth consecutive win following a challenging start to the competition where they initially stood at 1-3. The Ottawa-based team, which holds the distinction of being two-time defending world champions, now controls their own destiny heading into the final round-robin match against Korea on Thursday.
"We're just happy to still be in a position to control our own destiny," stated Emma Miskew, second for Team Homan, in an interview with CBC's Bryan Mudryk. "We're just trying to stick with one shot at a time again and not really think ahead too much. And we know we can manage to win tough games that are not always looking too good at the start."
The victory didn't come easily for the Canadian women, who saw Italy mount a significant comeback by scoring three points in the tenth end to force the extra frame. Homan ultimately secured the win with a precise draw shot that demonstrated her team's composure under pressure.
Team Jacobs Dominates Italian Opponents
On the men's side, Team Brad Jacobs delivered a commanding 8-3 performance against Italy earlier in the day. The Calgary-based squad overcame an initial 3-0 deficit by scoring seven points across three consecutive ends, highlighted by a remarkable steal of four points in the sixth frame.
"Italy melted down, and we were able to get that win," Jacobs explained to reporters following the match. "When the other team is showing their frustration, that's when we start to feel like we've got them."
Canada third Brett Gallant added context to the turnaround: "We started to get a few breaks, and the back-end was making some big shots. All of a sudden, it turned in our favour." Statistical analysis revealed both teams shot 83 percent overall, though Italian skip Joël Retornaz struggled with draws at just 50 percent accuracy.
Three Key Observations from Wednesday's Curling Action
1. The 'Burnt Rock' Incident: Much Ado About Nothing
Wednesday's competition featured another minor controversy involving stone contact, though this incident proved far less contentious than previous discussions. During the men's match, Italian skip Joël Retornaz accidentally touched a Canadian stone with his broom while Canada was attempting to remove it from the house. Canadian players Jacobs and Gallant promptly addressed the situation with Retornaz, leading to a brief discussion that some media outlets exaggerated into an argument.
Jacobs effectively ended the conversation by stating, "I don't care what he says. He's 150 feet away." This incident highlights how routine rule violations in curling—often accidental rather than intentional—can become unnecessarily sensationalized in Olympic coverage.
2. Contrasting Paths to Victory
The day presented two distinct narratives of Canadian success. While the women's team battled through a tense, back-and-forth contest that required extra ends to decide, the men's squad demonstrated overwhelming dominance after their early deficit. Both approaches proved equally effective, showcasing the versatility and adaptability of Canadian curling at the highest level of international competition.
3. Maintaining Focus Amid Distractions
Both Canadian teams displayed impressive mental fortitude by concentrating on their gameplay despite external factors. For Team Homan, this meant overcoming their difficult start to the tournament and maintaining composure during Italy's late-game rally. For Team Jacobs, it involved capitalizing on their opponent's frustration while avoiding distractions from minor officiating discussions.
As the 2026 Winter Olympics continue, Canada's curling representatives have positioned themselves as serious medal contenders through their Wednesday performances. Team Jacobs has already secured a spot in Thursday's men's semifinals, while Team Homan stands one victory away from joining the women's semifinal competition this weekend.
