Canada's Curling Titans Prepare for Olympic Glory in Milan-Cortina
As the 2026 Winter Olympic Games approach, Canada's curling community is buzzing with anticipation for what could be a historic double-gold performance. The nation's elite curling squads, Team Homan and Team Jacobs, are poised to make a significant impact on the international stage with their combined wealth of experience and championship pedigree.
A Legacy of Excellence on Ice
The decorated Canadian curling teams enter the Milan-Cortina Games with an astonishing collective achievement: 34 Olympic and world championship medals between them. This remarkable tally represents decades of dedication, skill development, and competitive success at the highest levels of the sport.
Team Homan, featuring skip Rachel Homan alongside teammates Tracy Fleury, Emma Miskew, and Sarah Wilkes, brings formidable women's curling expertise to the Olympic competition. Their counterparts, Team Jacobs, led by skip Brad Jacobs with Marc Kennedy, Brett Gallant, Ben Hebert, and alternate Tyler Tardi under coach Paul Webster, represent Canada's best hope for men's curling gold.
Olympic Mindset: Focus on the Process
Despite their impressive credentials, both teams maintain a disciplined, present-focused approach to the upcoming competition. "There's absolutely zero point in looking too far ahead," cautioned veteran skip Brad Jacobs as his team prepared for their opening matches in Cortina, Italy.
Jacobs emphasized the importance of staying grounded: "It's all about being present and staying in the moment. The cliché thing is making one shot at a time, and I know that this team is capable of stringing together all of the shots needed to win an Olympic gold medal."
This sentiment was echoed by Team Homan's Emma Miskew, who noted: "All we can control is that we're as ready as we can be and that we're working well together. And unfortunately, in sport, you cannot control the results or no one would watch. So we're going to go in and focus on our process."
Unprecedented Competition Awaits
While Canadian curling fans might be tempted to dream of double gold, both teams recognize that the international curling landscape has never been more competitive. The fields in both men's and women's disciplines feature world-class talent from traditional curling powerhouses and emerging nations alike.
The challenge ahead is monumental, requiring each team to execute their game plans with precision while adapting to diverse international playing styles and strategies. The path to the podium will demand exceptional consistency and mental fortitude throughout the grueling Olympic schedule.
Team Jacobs: Schedule and Composition
The Canadian men's team features a geographically diverse roster representing communities across the nation:
- Brad Jacobs (skip, Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario)
- Marc Kennedy (third, St. Albert, Alberta)
- Brett Gallant (second, Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island)
- Ben Hebert (lead, Regina, Saskatchewan)
- Tyler Tardi (alternate, Richmond, British Columbia)
- Paul Webster (coach, Calgary, Alberta)
Their Olympic journey begins with a challenging schedule at the Cortina Olympic Curling Stadium (all times Eastern Time):
- Wednesday, February 11: vs. Germany (Marc Muskatewicz), 1:05 p.m.
- Friday, February 13: vs. United States (Danny Casper), 3:05 a.m.
- Friday, February 13: vs. Sweden (Niklas Edin), 1:05 p.m.
- Saturday, February 14: vs. Switzerland (Yannick Schwaller), 8:05 a.m.
- Sunday, February 15: vs. China (Xu Xiaoming), 1:05 p.m.
- Monday, February 16: vs. Czechia (Lukáš Klíma), 8:05 a.m.
- Tuesday, February 17: vs. Great Britain (Bruce Mouat), 1:05 p.m.
- Wednesday, February 18: vs. Italy (Joël Retornaz), 8:05 a.m.
- Thursday, February 19: vs. Norway (Magnus Ramsfjell), 3:05 a.m.
- Thursday, February 19: Semifinals, 1:05 p.m.
- Friday, February 20: Bronze-medal game, 1:05 p.m.
- Saturday, February 21: Gold-medal game, 1:05 p.m.
A Nation's Hopes on the Ice
As these elite athletes prepare to represent Canada on the world's biggest sporting stage, they carry not only their personal aspirations but also the hopes of a nation that has long embraced curling as part of its cultural fabric. The combination of veteran experience, tactical sophistication, and team chemistry gives both squads legitimate medal potential.
However, as both teams have emphasized, success will depend on maintaining focus through each individual shot and game, rather than looking ahead to potential podium finishes. The Olympic curling competition promises to showcase the very best of international talent, with Canada's representatives positioned as formidable contenders in both the men's and women's tournaments.
