Homan, Einarson Win Openers at Curling Trials

HALIFAX, Nova Scotia — Tournament favorites Rachel Homan and Kerri Einarson kicked off the 2025 Montanas Canadian Curling Trials with decisive victories on Saturday, setting a strong tone for the competition to determine Canada's representatives at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan and Cortina, Italy.

The event, held at Scotiabank Centre, began with the women's first draw in the afternoon. Homan, skip of the Ottawa-based team and the two-time reigning Canadian and world women's champion, defeated Kate Cameron of St. Adolphe, Manitoba, 16-5. Homan's squad scored three in the third end with a precise draw and stole four more in the fourth after Cameron's shot rolled out following a wreck. They added six in the sixth via a double takeout to pull away.

"We were learning the ice really well in practice and came out strong," Homan said. "We were making really precise shots and happy to get an early lead."

Einarson, from Gimli, Manitoba, topped local favorite Christina Black of Halifax 12-5. Einarson's team stole two in the first end and four in the second, capitalizing on Black's misses, including a wreck on a guard and an overcurl on a hit. They continued with steals of one in the...