Canada’s Team Jacobs playing for Olympic gold; Team Homan qualifies for semifinals

CORTINA d’AMPEZZO, Italy — Canada’s men’s curling team is playing for gold at the 2026 Winter Olympics., while the women’s team is advancing to the semifinals.

The last time the men played for gold at the Olympics was in 2014. Brad Jacobs skipped that team, and now the skip has a chance to do it again with his Calgary team in 2026 at Cortina Curling Olympic Stadium.

Canada earned its spot in the gold-medal game by defeating Norway’s Team Magnus Ramsfjell 5-4 in an extra end during the semifinal.

“I’m proud of my teammates. I’m proud of the way we handled ourselves in that game and we play for each other,” Jacobs said. “There’s nothing more that I like to see than them happy and succeeding, because I know if that happens, then the same thing’s happening for me.”

With two stones welded on the button, Team Jacobs forced Norway to attempt a double takeout, but one Canadian stone remained in play. As a result, Canada didn’t need to throw its final stone.

Jacobs is seeking his second Olympic gold, having won in 2014. Third Marc Kennedy and lead Ben Hebert are also past champions, each winning gold in 2010. Kennedy added a bronze as an alternate with second Brett Gallant in 2022.

The team is rounded out by alternate Tyler Tardi, coach Paul Webster, and national coach Jeff Stoughton.

Canada faces Great Britain’s Team Bruce Mouat in the gold-medal game on Saturday at 1:05 p.m. (all times Eastern).

Earlier on Thursday, Norway defeated Canada 8-6 in the final round-robin draw to qualify for the playoffs, setting up their dramatic semifinal rematch.

In the first eight ends of the semifinal, Canada gained a slight edge with a steal of one in the third. After Canada hit and rolled behind a centre guard, Norway’s chase attempt ticked a guard, resulting in a steal.

With hammer in the eighth, Norway made an aggressive push for a big end and nearly succeeded. Team Ramsfjell seemed poised for three, but a key runback from Kennedy and a well-timed tick by Jacobs, combined with some Norway misses, forced Norway to settle for just one.

Norway clawed back in the 10th end. Although Team Jacobs attempted a double and removed one stone, Norway capitalized with a draw for two, tying the game.

Great Britain’s Team Mouat defeated Switzerland’s Team Yannick Schwaller 8-5 in the other semifinal.

In women’s action, Canada’s Team Rachel Homan (6-3) of Ottawa secured a playoff spot with a 10-7 victory over South Korea’s Team Eunji Gim (5-4) in their final round-robin game on Thursday afternoon.

Skip Homan, vice-skip Tracy Fleury, second Emma Miskew, lead Sarah Wilkes, alternate Rachelle Brown, team coach Heather Nedohin and national coaches Viktor Kjell and Renée Sonnenberg won five games in a row to finish as the fourth seed in the four-team playoffs.

Canada will meet Sweden’s Team Anna Hasselborg (7-2) in Friday’s women’s semifinal at 8:05 a.m. The winner moves on to the gold-medal game Sunday at 5:05 a.m., while the loser competes for bronze Saturday at 8:05 a.m.

“We all know that we’re all pulling in the same direction and that’s really what’s been the difference for us this week, sticking together and having our support staff help us out with anything that we needed,” Homan said. “I couldn’t ask for anything more from the girls, and I’m just unbelievably proud of them for getting us into this position and into the semi.”

With a two-point lead and the hammer in the 10th end, Team Homan executed an open hit to score one and secure the win.

Momentum shifted back and forth early until Team Homan seized control in the sixth end by scoring four.

Team Gim’s attempt to freeze overcurled, leaving Canada sitting three. Rather than risk a more difficult shot for five, Team Homan drew for four, taking a commanding lead.

Both teams traded points in the first half, as the skips delivered impressive shots to prevent big ends and keep the scoring close.

Team Tabitha Peterson of the U.S. takes on Switzerland’s Team Silvana Tirinzoni in the other semifinal.

For live scoring, team lineups, and standings for the Olympic curling competitions, click here.

All of Canada’s Games will be broadcast on a variety of platforms by CBC, the official Olympic rights-holder in Canada. Click here for the CBC broadcast schedule.