Team Saskatchewan's Quest for the Scotties Title: Daily Round Robin Coverage
After a decade-long wait, skip Jolene Campbell has led her team to represent Saskatchewan at the prestigious 2026 Scotties Tournament of Hearts. The national women's curling championship is currently underway in Mississauga, Ontario, where Campbell and her squad are battling for supremacy in a highly competitive field.
Team Saskatchewan Roster and Tournament Context
The Regina-based team from the Highland Curling Club features a talented lineup including third Robyn Silvernagle, second Rachel Big Eagle, lead Dayna Demmans, alternate Callan Hamon, and coach Ben Gamble. Entering the tournament as the fifth-ranked team in Pool A, they face formidable opponents led by top-seeded Team Canada, skipped by Kerri Einarson.
Notably, defending champion Rachel Homan and her team are absent from this year's competition as they prepare for the upcoming Winter Olympics, creating an open field for other contenders.
Tournament Format and Schedule
The Scotties Tournament of Hearts follows an intensive round robin format where each team plays eight games. Team Saskatchewan began their campaign on Saturday and will complete their round robin matches on Thursday. The top teams from each pool will then advance to the playoff rounds beginning Friday, with the championship final scheduled for February 1st.
All games are broadcast on TSN, with times listed in Saskatchewan time zone for local fans to follow along conveniently.
Current Pool A Standings and Team Saskatchewan's Performance
As of Sunday morning, the Pool A standings show:
- Canada (Einarson): 2-0
- Manitoba (Lawes): 2-0
- Nova Scotia (Stevens): 2-0
- Ontario (Armstrong): 1-1
- Northwest Territories (Kaufman): 1-1
- British Columbia (Reese-Hansen): 1-1
- Saskatchewan (Campbell): 0-1
- Quebec (Fortin): 0-2
- Yukon (Scoffin): 0-2
Opening Game Analysis: Saskatchewan vs. Nova Scotia
Team Saskatchewan's tournament began with a challenging 11-3 loss to Nova Scotia's Taylour Stevens in Draw 3 on Saturday evening. After observing other Pool A matches on Friday night, Campbell's team took to the ice for their first competitive game.
The match started evenly with both teams trading single points in the first two ends. Stevens gained a slight advantage with another single in the third end while holding hammer. The turning point came in the fourth end when Nova Scotia stole a single point to extend their lead to 3-1.
Campbell managed to score a single in the fourth end, but Stevens responded with the game's first deuce in the sixth end. Despite Saskatchewan adding another single in the seventh end, Nova Scotia pulled away decisively with another deuce in the eighth end and a remarkable four-point steal in the ninth end to secure the victory.
Remaining Round Robin Schedule for Team Saskatchewan
The team faces a busy schedule ahead with multiple games scheduled throughout the week:
- Sunday, January 25 — Draw 5: Saskatchewan vs. British Columbia (Reese-Hansen) at 1 p.m.
- Monday, January 26 — Draw 7: Saskatchewan vs. Northwest Territories (Kaufman) at 8 a.m.
- Monday, January 26 — Draw 9: Saskatchewan vs. Quebec (Fortin) at 6 p.m.
- Tuesday, January 27 — Draw 11: Saskatchewan vs. Canada (Einarson) at 1 p.m.
- Wednesday, January 28 — Draw 13: Saskatchewan vs. Yukon (Scoffin) at 8 a.m.
- Wednesday, January 28 — Draw 15: Saskatchewan vs. Ontario (Armstrong) at 6 p.m.
- Thursday, January 29 — Draw 17: Saskatchewan vs. Manitoba (Lawes) at 1 p.m.
Playoff Structure and Championship Timeline
Following the round robin phase, the tournament moves into its decisive stages:
- Friday, January 30: Page 1 vs. 2 qualifier (12 p.m.) and Page 3 vs. 4 qualifier (6 p.m.)
- Saturday, January 31: Page 1 vs. 2 (12 p.m.) and Page 3 vs. 4 (6 p.m.)
- Sunday, February 1: Semifinal (12 p.m.) and Championship Final (6 p.m.)
Team Saskatchewan's performance in these crucial round robin games will determine whether they advance to the playoff rounds and continue their pursuit of the national women's curling title. With seven games remaining in their schedule, there is ample opportunity for Campbell and her team to climb the standings and secure a playoff position.
