Saskatoon’s Merlis Belsher Place is playing host to 32 of the best curling teams in the world at the Grand Slam of Curling’s HearingLife Canadian Open. “It’s been such an honour to be part of it,” says Kory Kohuch, co-chair of the organizing committee for the event which opened Tuesday and runs through Sunday. “We’re so excited when these curlers come and play and train here. They’re the best in the world and they’re here in Saskatoon.” Sixteen women’s teams are competing, including big names such as reigning Scotties champion Rachel Homan and rival Kerri Einarson. The men’s side, also featuring 16 of the top teams in the sport, will see heavyweights such as reigning Brier champion Brad Jacobs and seven-time world champion Niklas Edin of Sweden compete. “Coming out west, curling roots run deep in this area of the country,” explained Jacobs, playing in his first event in Saskatoon since the 2021 Olympic Curling Trials. “It’s a knowledgeable fan base that we know will come out and show support. Rural Saskatchewan, farming, curling, it all goes together.” For Jacobs and Homan, the event follows one of the biggest events of their careers – winning the recent Olympic Curling Trials in Halifax and punching their tickets to the 2026 Olympic Games in Milano Cortina, Italy. “It’s nice to be back on the ice a couple weeks off since winning the Trials,” said Emma Miskew, second for Team Homan. “To be back at a Grand Slam, with the competition here, it’ll be good prep for the Olympics.” Team Homan will play several teams in Saskatoon that are expected to be at the Olympics, such as Switzerland’s Team Tirinzoni. “It’s always good to get top competition and try to get as much information as we can heading into the Games in February,” said Miskew. Jacobs, who won gold skipping Team Canada at the 2014 Olympics in Sochi, Russia, says his team isn’t looking past the Saskatoon event and at the upcoming 2026 Games just yet. “We need to get some good, competitive games in against the best teams in the world,” Jacobs said. Kohuch believes fans and curlers alike are in for a treat this week. “I know the Grand Slam of Curling and Curling Canada love coming here, because it’ll be a first-class event,” Kohuch added. The Grand Slam of Curling HearingLife Canadian Open features a combined total purse of $400,000, split evenly between the men and women. The event runs until Sunday Dec. 21.
