A capsule look at the 18 teams set to play at the Scotties Tournament of Hearts

Manitoba skip Kerri Einarson directs her sweepers after throwing a stone at the Scotties Tournament of Hearts in Thunder Bay, Ont., on Feb. 23, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/David Jackson

MISSISSAUGA — A capsule look at the 18 teams competing in the Jan. 23-Feb. 1 Canadian women’s curling championship at the Paramount Fine Foods Centre.

Teams are listed by seeding in their pools, athletes from skip to lead, followed by hometown.

POOL A

CANADA

Kerri Einarson, Val Sweeting, Shannon Birchard, Karlee Burgess, Gimli.

Einarson will wear Canada colours as she aims for a fifth career Scotties title. She dropped the 2025 final to Rachel Homan, who won’t defend her title as she instead prepares for the Milan Cortina Olympics.

BRITISH COLUMBIA

Taylor Reese-Hansen, Megan McGillivray, Kim Bonneau, Julianna Mackenzie, Victoria.

It has been a breakout season for Reese-Hansen, who has risen to No. 3 in the Canadian rankings behind Homan and Einarson.

MANITOBA - LAWES

Selena Njegovan, Kaitlyn Lawes (throws fourth), Laura Walker, Kristin Gordon, Winnipeg.

Lawes dropped the Manitoba final but picked up the final berth in the field thanks to a slim lead over No. 5 Serena Gray-Withers in the Canadian rankings.

ONTARIO

Hailey Armstrong, Grace Lloyd, Michaela Robert, Rachel Steele, Whitby.

Armstrong dropped two games to Danielle Inglis in the Ontario playdowns before beating her in the final. Alternate Lori Eddy reached the Scotties final with skip Alison Goring in 1997.

SASKATCHEWAN

Jolene Campbell, Robyn Silvernagle, Rachel Big Eagle, Dayna Demmans, Regina.

Campbell returns as a provincial skip for the first time since 2016. She was an alternate on Amber Holland’s team that won the 2011 Scotties and took world silver.

NOVA SCOTIA - STEVENS

Taylour Stevens, Maria Fitzgerald, Alison Umlah, Cate Fitzgerald, Halifax.

Stevens ran the table to win a Canadian junior title in 2022. She took the bronze at the national juniors two years earlier.

NORTHWEST TERRITORIES

Nicky Kaufman, Sydney Galusha (throws second), Megan Koehler, Ella Skauge, Yellowknife.

Longtime N.W.T. skip Kerry Galusha will serve as coach of her daughter’s rink.

QUEBEC

Jolianne Fortin, Mégane Fortin (throws first), Emy Lafrance, Megan Lafrance, Jonquière.

Fortin, who upset Laurie St-Georges 8-6 in the provincial final, won bronze at the Canada Winter Games in 2023.

YUKON

Bayly Scoffin, Patty Wallingham (throws second), Raelyn Helston, Bailey Horvey, Whitehorse.

Scoffin is making her third straight appearance at the Scotties. She was 1-7 in 2024 and again in ’25.

POOL B

ALBERTA - SKRLIK

Kayla Skrlik, Geri-Lynn Ramsay (throws first), Margot Flemming, Ashton Skrlik, Calgary.

Team pre-qualified based on its Canadian ranking in the 2024-25 season.

NOVA SCOTIA - BLACK

Christina Black, Jill Brothers, Jennifer Baxter, Karlee Everist, Marlee Powers, Halifax.

A Scotties semifinalist last year, Black reached the final of the Olympic Trials last November.

ALBERTA - STURMAY

Selena Sturmay, Danielle Schmiemann, Dezaray Hawes, Paige Papley, Edmonton.

A Canadian junior champion in 2019, Sturmay won the Pre-Trials competition last fall.

MANITOBA - PETERSON

Kelsey Calvert, Beth Peterson, Katherine Remillard, Melissa Gordon-Kurz, Winnipeg.

Peterson emerged from a deep Manitoba field with playoff wins over Kate Cameron and Lawes. Olympic champion Jill Officer is serving as coach.

NORTHERN ONTARIO

Krista Scharf, Sarah Potts (throws first), Kendra Lilly, Ashley Sippala, Thunder Bay.

Back to a four-player squad after Andrea Kelly’s departure last year, Scharf is making her 13th career Scotties appearance. Her teenage daughter, Bella McCarville, is the alternate.

NEW BRUNSWICK

Mélodie Forsythe, Rebecca Watson, Carly Smith, Jenna Campbell, Fredericton.

Forsythe’s rink has had over two months to prepare for nationals after topping Kelly 7-6 in the provincial final.

PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND

Amanda Power, Veronica Mayne, Emily Best, Sabrina Smith, Summerside.

Longtime coach Peter Gallant will guide a team with two players -- Power and Best -- who are competing at this event for the first time.

NEWFOUNDLAND AND LABRADOR

Mackenzie Mitchell, Stacie Curtis (throws first), Jessica Wiseman, Kristina Adams, St. John’s.

Mitchell will make her Scotties debut after a close win over Cailey Locke in the provincial playdowns.

NUNAVUT

Julia Weagle, Sadie Pinksen, Leigh Gustafson, Alison Taylor, Iqaluit.

Pinksen just turned 26 but has already made eight career appearances at the Scotties. She made her debut as an alternate in 2016.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 22, 2026.

Gregory Strong, The Canadian Press