Day 2 Analysis: Unpacking the 2026 Scotties Tournament of Hearts
The 2026 Scotties Tournament of Hearts, Canada's premier women's national curling championship, is now in full swing at the Paramount Fine Foods Centre in Mississauga, Ontario. As the action unfolded on Saturday during Day 2 of this ten-day event, several key storylines began to crystallize, offering a clearer picture of the competitive landscape.
What We Know: A New Champion and a Youthful Field
One certainty has already emerged from the early draws: a new champion will be crowned this year. Defending champion Rachel Homan has opted out of the Scotties to focus on her Olympic duties as Canada's representative at the 2026 Winter Olympic Games. This opens the door for fresh talent to seize the national title.
The field is notably young, with the average age of competitors just under 30 years old—a decrease of over two years from the 2025 tournament, which was already considered a youthful lineup. Quebec skip Jolianne Fortin, at 20 years old, is the oldest member of her rink, while Northwest Territories skip Nicky Kaufman leads a team featuring three teenagers.
This youth movement is further highlighted by the presence of 27 curlers making their Scotties debut, including entire first-time squads from British Columbia, Quebec, and New Brunswick. Additionally, nine new skips are competing this year, though some bring prior experience. For instance, Ontario's Hailey Armstrong has appeared twice as a third, and Manitoba's Kelsey Calvert, part of Beth Peterson's rink, has Scotties experience and a history of success, having skipped Alberta teams to Canadian and world junior championships in 2014 and 2015.
Top Contenders and the Competitive Hierarchy
Despite the influx of newcomers, the field is top-heavy, with seven rinks widely regarded as serious contenders for the title. These include:
- Kerri Einarson (Team Canada)
- Christina Black (Nova Scotia)
- Kayla Skrlik (Alberta)
- Selena Sturmay (Alberta)
- Krista Scharf (Northern Ontario)
- Kaitlyn Lawes (Manitoba)
- Beth Peterson (Manitoba)
Given the relative inexperience of the other 11 teams, it is unlikely that any of them will capture the championship this year. Success at this level often requires time to adjust to the national spotlight, typically taking a year or two of participation before achieving major results.
What We Think We Know: Favorites and Dark Horses
Kerri Einarson emerges as the early favorite. Her team has stabilized after two years of turmoil and, as the squad representing Canada, has looked formidable heading into the tournament in Mississauga.
Kaitlyn Lawes of Manitoba should also be considered a threat. Despite underwhelming performances in recent seasons, her team showed strength with a significant victory over British Columbia's Taylor Reese-Hansen in Friday's Draw 1. The loss of decorated second Jocelyn Peterman to Olympic preparations is mitigated by the addition of veteran Laura Walker, who brings extensive experience with both the sport and the Scotties.
Alberta's Kayla Skrlik and Selena Sturmay, both similar in age and experience within a talent-rich province, have the potential to compete for the title. However, consistency will be key. Skrlik's opener on Saturday afternoon, a 7-4 loss to Krista Scharf, was marred by inconsistency, highlighting the challenge ahead.
As the tournament progresses, these dynamics will continue to evolve, but Day 2 has provided valuable insights into the teams to watch and the emerging narratives at the 2026 Scotties Tournament of Hearts.
