The electric atmosphere at Halifax's Scotiabank Centre is proving to be the ultimate fuel for local curling sensation Christina Black and her team at the 2025 Montana's Canadian Curling Trials.
Home Ice Advantage in Full Force
Following their thrilling Tuesday morning victory, Black and her teammates immediately climbed into the stands to celebrate with the roaring hometown crowd. The scene was one of pure joy as they took photos with fans, exchanged fist bumps with neighbors, and shared heartfelt hugs with loved ones.
"This is crazy — so many people here makes me feel so good," an elated Black told reporters after her team's latest triumph. "I love the pressure of making a big shot, because I love hearing that crowd roar."
Dramatic Victory Sparks Momentum
Black's squad delivered a nail-biting performance against Calgary's Kayla Skrlik, securing a 6-5 victory with a dramatic 10th-end steal. This crucial win propelled the Halifax Curling Club representatives to a 3-2 record at the eight-team, nine-day event that will determine Canada's curling representatives for the 2026 Winter Olympic Games.
The victory marks a significant turnaround for the team that began the tournament with an 0-2 start. Their current position places them squarely in the hunt for one of three playoff spots, chasing front-runners Kerri Einarson at 5-0 and Rachel Homan at 4-1.
Crowd Support Makes the Difference
Black emphasized that playing before a home crowd creates motivation rather than pressure. "No… it feels so good," she continued. "And I just love it. I love knowing that we'll make a shot and the crowd is going to go crazy. And they love us even if we don't make a shot, you know? So they're just out there supporting us."
The skip leads a determined team that includes third/vice-skip Jill Brothers and front-end players Jenn Baxter, Karlee Everist, and Marlee Powers. Their growing confidence was evident as Black noted, "The crowd's been amazing. And just to come out there and — finally — string together some good shots and wins and feel like we have a handle on the ice — finally — it's just feeling good."
As the competition intensifies, the Halifax team prepared to face Edmonton's Selena Sturmay, who holds a 2-3 record, in Tuesday evening's Draw 11. Meanwhile, Winnipeg's Kaitlyn Lawes, also at 3-2 after her morning victory, faced the formidable challenge of taking on reigning world and Canadian champion Rachel Homan.
