Canada's curling hopes for the 2026 Winter Olympic Games will rest on the shoulders of a decorated duo from Chestermere, Alberta. Brett Gallant and Jocelyn Peterman have secured the mixed doubles berth for Team Canada and are poised to be the nation's first athletes in competition when the Games commence in Milano Cortina.
From Supporting Roles to Olympic Spotlight
Both athletes are renowned in the curling world for their excellence in the second position on traditional four-person teams. However, in Italy, they will step into the lead role for Canada. The mixed doubles competition begins on Wednesday, February 4, 2026, a full two days before the official Opening Ceremony, making them the vanguard of Canada's Olympic campaign.
"We're ready to go," declared Gallant, expressing the pair's eagerness to embrace the Olympic stage. He emphasized their long-term preparation, stating, "We've played together, preparing for this moment, for a long time. So it's just seizing the moment now."
Peterman echoed her partner's focus, balancing their ultimate goal with their daily process. "We really want to be on that podium," she said. "But it can't be kind of the only thing top of mind. We're just working really hard at being fully committed to our preparation and having no regrets."
A Grueling Olympic Schedule Awaits
The path to the podium will be a demanding test of endurance and skill. The Canadian pair faces a compressed round-robin schedule of nine games in just six days at the historic Cortina Curling Olympic Stadium. Their campaign opens against Czechia on February 4th.
Here is the complete round-robin schedule for Team Canada (all times Eastern Time):
- Feb. 4: vs. Czechia, 1:05 p.m.
- Feb. 5: vs. Norway, 8:35 a.m.; vs. Italy, 1:05 p.m.
- Feb. 6: vs. USA, 4:05 a.m.
- Feb. 7: vs. Great Britain, 4:05 a.m.; vs. Estonia, 1:05 p.m.
- Feb. 8: vs. Sweden, 8:35 a.m.; vs. Korea, 1:05 p.m.
- Feb. 9: vs. Switzerland, 4:05 a.m.
The semifinals are scheduled for 12:05 p.m. on February 9th, with the bronze and gold medal games following on Tuesday, February 10th.
Final Tune-Up Before the Games
Gallant and Peterman enter the Olympic cycle with strong recent form. They are coming off a dominant performance at a 12-team mixed doubles event in Sherwood Park, Alberta. The duo powered through the round robin and semifinal with a perfect 6-0 record before falling 7-4 in the final to Japan's Chiaki Matsumura and Yasumasa Tanida, the only non-Canadian team in the competition.
This final preparation underscores their readiness as they set their sights on making Canada proud and achieving Olympic glory on the pebbled ice of Cortina d'Ampezzo.
