Rachel Homan secured a win in the PointsBet Invitational final in Calgary on Sunday, defeating Kayla Skrlik. Homan managed to steal single points in both the second and third ends and later added three more points in the seventh end to claim the title. (Source: Jeff McIntosh, The Canadian Press)
Mike McEwen secured a satisfying win, while Rachel Homan successfully defended her title at curling's Points Bet Invitational held in Calgary on Sunday. In a thrilling rematch of the Canadian men’s championship final from March, McEwen turned the tables on Brad Gushue, emerging victorious with an 8-3 scoreline. This win served as payback for McEwen after Gushue clinched his sixth Brier title in their last face-off.
Rachel Homan also had a winning day, defeating Kayla Skrlik 8-3 in the women’s final at Calgary's WinSport Arena. For Homan, it was a familiar scene of triumph, as she had already claimed a national women’s title earlier this year during the Scotties Tournament of Hearts at the same venue.
McEwen, along with his team from Saskatoon’s Nutana Curling Club—third Colton Flasch, second Kevin Marsh, and lead Dan Marsh—went undefeated in the single-elimination tournament. Their flawless performance across four matches earned them a prize of $50,000. McEwen expressed his satisfaction with the event, stating, “It’s a great win for us, probably the biggest for the whole team.”
On the women’s side, Homan’s team from the Ottawa Curling Club—vice Tracy Fleury, second Emma Miskew, and lead Sarah Wilkes—also went unbeaten, extending their perfect season start to 12-0. They, too, took home $50,000, winning the tournament for the second consecutive year. "This event has been fantastic for us these past few years, and the team brought their A-game today," said Homan.
Despite the victory, McEwen noted the season's early stage and acknowledged that his opponents, like Gushue and Brad Jacobs, are still refining their skills after the summer break. “We’re already playing like it’s mid season, but teams like Gushue and Jacobs will be coming after us once they hit their stride,” McEwen reflected after the game.
McEwen’s dominance was clear from the outset, as he scored four points in the first end and three more in the sixth, sealing the victory with a steal in the seventh. Gushue, recognizing his team’s struggles, conceded after the eighth end, admitting, “We’re still working out the kinks from the off season. Mike and his team were sharp today, and we just weren’t in top form.”
One of the most exciting aspects of the Points Bet Invitational is its single-elimination format, where underdog teams have a real shot at making a mark. The tournament saw several surprises, including Jordan McDonald’s 13th-seeded men's team advancing to the semifinals after eliminating higher-ranked opponents like Reid Carruthers and Kevin Koe. Canadian junior women’s champion Allyson MacNutt also caused a stir by defeating four-time national champion Kerri Einarson in the women’s round of 16.
The winning teams are now gearing up for the season's first Grand Slam event, the Hearing Life Tour Challenge, which kicks off in Charlottetown on Tuesday. The Points Bet Invitational will return to Calgary in 2025, from September 30 to October 5, continuing its tradition of showcasing some of Canada’s top curling talents.
