Homan, Jacobs teams gear up to represent Canada at Pan Continental Curling Championships

Curling teams skipped by Rachel Homan and Brad Jacobs will represent Canada at the Pan Continental Curling Championships, which serve as qualifiers for the 2026 men's and women's world championships.

Homan's team out of the Ottawa Curling Club and the Jacobs foursome from Calgary's Glencoe Club will compete Oct. 19-26 in Virginia, Minn., after winning their respective Canadian championships this year, Curling Canada said Tuesday in a news release.

Homan claimed last year's Pan Continental women's title in Lacombe, Alta.

The Jacobs team will represent Canada for the first time after Brad Gushue's team participated in the first three editions of the tournament. Gushue won twice before finishing fourth last year.

Jacobs seeks a top-five result in Minnesota to ensure a Canadian entry at next year's men's world championship March 28 to April 5 in Ogden City, Utah.

Jacobs, Marc Kennedy, Brett Gallant and Ben Hebert took the bronze medal at the men's 2025 world championship in Moose Jaw, Sask.

"We know there's a great responsibility that goes along with representing Canada in international curling events," Jacobs said in a statement.

"This is a terrific opportunity for us to not only get the job done for Canada, but also get some high-stakes games in for the lead-up to the Montana's Canadian Curling Trials in Halifax."

As the host country of the women's world championship March 14-22 in Calgary, Canada is already assured a berth in the tournament.

Homan, Tracy Fleury, Emma Miskew and Sarah Wilkes won this year's women's world championship in Uijeongbu, South Korea.

"We don't take these occasions to wear our national uniform lightly, and we're already working hard to be ready to play in Minnesota in October," Homan said.