Scotties Tournament of Hearts Day 6: Playoff Picture Takes Shape in Mississauga
The 2026 Scotties Tournament of Hearts has reached a critical juncture as Day 6 of competition at Mississauga's Paramount Fine Foods Centre brought significant clarity to the playoff landscape. Five elite rinks have officially secured their spots in the championship weekend, though the all-important seeding remains undetermined heading into Thursday's penultimate round-robin draw.
Confirmed Playoff Contenders
The tournament's playoff picture solidified considerably on Wednesday as four additional teams joined Manitoba's Kaitlyn Lawes in clinching advancement beyond the round robin. Lawes' unbeaten Winnipeg-based rink had previously secured the first playoff position earlier in the week, establishing themselves as formidable contenders for the national women's curling crown.
Wednesday's action saw several teams punch their tickets to the championship weekend:
- Kerri Einarson's Team Canada from Gimli secured their playoff berth with a decisive 13-2 victory over Northwest Territories
- Selena Sturmay's Alberta squad from Edmonton clinched their spot with an 11-6 win over Newfoundland and Labrador
- Beth Peterson's Manitoba team maintained their perfect 6-0 record to advance
- Christina Black's Nova Scotia rink joined the playoff field with their 6-1 performance
Pool Standings and Remaining Drama
The tournament structure has created distinct narratives in each pool. In Pool A, the playoff picture is nearly complete with Lawes (6-0) and Einarson (6-1) having secured their positions, leaving just one spot remaining for the weekend's championship rounds.
Pool B presents an even clearer picture, with Sturmay (5-1), Peterson (6-0), and Black (6-1) having already clinched their playoff berths. This leaves only one team from the entire 18-team field yet to be determined for the six-team playoff bracket.
"Just keep doing what we're doing," said Alberta skip Selena Sturmay after her team's clinching victory. "The girls are playing amazing. I definitely need to make a couple more shots here and there. Just keep going, keep making shots, and play with confidence. We're happy with where we're at right now."
Ice Conditions and Equipment Adjustments
An interesting subplot emerged on Tuesday night when Curling Canada ice technician Mike Merklinger performed maintenance on the competition stones. The rocks were papered with 60-grit sandpaper, the same preparation used before the tournament began, with the goal of enhancing their curling capabilities.
This maintenance created an adjustment period for all teams during Wednesday's draws, as curlers needed to recalibrate their understanding of how the stones would behave on the pebbled ice surface. This factor could prove particularly significant for playoff-bound teams as they fine-tune their strategies for the championship rounds.
What Remains to Be Determined
While five teams have secured their playoff futures, several crucial elements remain unresolved:
- The final playoff spot will be determined during Thursday afternoon's penultimate draw
- Playoff seeding positions have yet to be finalized, creating strategic implications for matchups
- Teams continue to adjust to the recently maintained ice conditions and stone behavior
- The battle for optimal positioning continues among already-qualified teams
As Peterson noted about her team's expectations: "We had our eyes on the playoffs, definitely, coming in this week. And we're just really proud of the performance we've put forth so far. It was our expectation."
The stage is set for a dramatic conclusion to the round-robin portion of the 2026 Scotties Tournament of Hearts, with one final team yet to earn their place among Canada's elite women's curling competitors in Mississauga.
