Canada’s Brad Jacobs emerged victorious in the men’s Pan Continental Curling Championship by defeating John Schuster of the United States with a score of 7-3. The Pan Continental serves as a regional tournament to determine qualifying countries for the 2026 men’s and women’s world championships.
Securing a top-four position was crucial for Jacobs after his team clinched the bronze at the 2025 world championship, ensuring Canada’s spot in the upcoming championship in Ogden City, Utah. Jacobs, along with his teammates Marc Kennedy, Brett Gallant, and Ben Hebert from Calgary’s Glencoe Club, sealed their win by snagging two points in the 10th end against Schuster, who led the U.S. to a gold medal in the 2018 Olympic Games.
The Canadian team maintained an undefeated streak in Virginia, Minn., capturing their country’s third gold medal in four years following Brad Gushue’s victories in 2022 and 2023. Jacobs expressed his elation, stating, “It’s always great to throw the Maple Leaf on, and it makes you a little bit more hungry and motivated to go and try to wear it again.”
Jacobs and his team are set to participate in the Kioti Grand Slam of Curling Tahoe in California starting on November 4. Subsequently, they will compete against seven other men’s teams in Halifax at the Montana’s Canadian Trials from November 22 to 30 for a chance to represent Canada in the upcoming Olympic Games in Milan and Cortina, Italy in February.
Looking ahead, Jacobs will defend his Brier title in St. John’s from February 27 to March 8. The team views the Pan Continental victory as a valuable test against international competitors, with Gallant emphasizing the importance of excelling in final matches.
On the women’s side, Canada’s Rachel Homan faced a narrow defeat of 7-6 against Rui Wang of China in the gold-medal game. Despite some missed opportunities, Homan praised her team’s resilience and performance throughout the tournament.
In the women’s bronze-medal game, South Korea’s Team Eunji Gim secured an 11-8 victory over Team Tabitha Peterson of the United States. Canada has already secured a spot in the 2026 women’s world championship as the host nation. World Curling has phased out the Pan Continental event due to the expansion of championship fields and the introduction of a B championship for promotion and relegation, while the European championship will remain a standalone competition.
