Nova Scotia’s Team Black prevails in all-Nova Scotia playoff matchup

The future of curling in Nova Scotia made a name for itself this week at the 2026 Scotties Tournament of Hearts. But its present still belongs to Halifax’s Team Christina Black.

Team Christina Black defeated Team Taylour Stevens, also of Halifax, 11-6 in the Page 3v4 qualifier game on Friday evening at the Paramount Fine Foods Centre in Mississauga, Ont. The win advances Team Black to the Page 3v4 game, scheduled for Saturday at 1 p.m. (all times Eastern).

It was the first time in Scotties history that two teams from Nova Scotia advanced to the playoffs at the Canadian women’s championship. In one corner, the reigning 2025 Montana’s Canadian Trials silver medallists and 2025 Scotties bronze medallists, who have been making a steady surge to the top of the Canadian women’s curling scene over the past few years. In the other, the squadron of young women with a combined five Canadian U-20 gold medals and world junior championships appearances for Team Canada in the past four years.

Skip Black, third/vice-skip Jill Brothers, front-enders Jenn Baxter, Karlee Everist, and Marlee Powers, along with coach Stuart MacLean, came into this week with gold in sight and now still remain on that path.

“We’re just grinding. We had a few shaky ends today in our earlier game (a Page 1-2 qualifier loss to Team Manitoba-Lawes), then we had a ton of great ends,” Black said. “And the same thing happened today. But no matter what, we didn’t panic or get down or anything. We just kept grinding it out and making shots and we found a way to win this one, so we’re still alive.”

Team Black took advantage of a Team Stevens missed hit attempt, making a draw for four in the first end. However, Team Stevens showcased its resilience in the second by creating a chance for a big end and mitigating the damage caused in the first. The young Nova Scotia squad had a hit around a guard for five, but, crushingly, hit it too thin and gave up a steal.

“It was a little bit of a heartbreaker,” Stevens said. “I don’t know the last time I under-curled on an in-turn this week, so that was a little tough to watch. We were so close, and we know that, and we had opportunities. We knew it was only the second end, and we could keep fighting and hopefully have a few more opportunities.”

Team Stevens bounced back, making a run double for two in the fourth, but the damage was done as Team Black cruised to the win in eight ends.

Black believed this game was more about celebrating the past, present and future of Nova Scotia curling. At the end of the game, all eight women embraced and shared in the moment together.

“Two Nova Scotia teams made the playoffs for the first time ever. I’m so proud, like us little Nova Scotians, we can do it,” Black said. “And they showed a graphic up [on the big screen], and it said the last time there were two (Nova Scotia) teams here, it was Colleen (Jones), of course, and Kay Zink. Both of them are no longer with us and they’re both gone way too soon, they’re fantastic curlers and champions. So I saw that up there, I was like wow, that’s really cool. What a legacy.”

Team Stevens — skip Stevens, third/vice-skip Maria Fitzgerald, second Alison Umlah, lead Cate Fitzgerald and coach Kevin Ouellette — will leave Mississauga with a taste of the Scotties and a strong desire for more.

“It was great for showing at our first Scotties together, and we are so proud and can’t wait to be back,” Stevens said.

“Just so proud of Nova Scotia in general, and if we’re going to lose, I’m glad it was to a Nova Scotia team, and I hope they win it all.”

Alberta’s Team Selena Sturmay of Edmonton also cruised to a win and eliminated Manitoba’s Team Beth Peterson with a 10-4 win.

Manitoba started with the hammer and earned a deuce. However, Alberta-Sturmay took control of the game, making a hit for two in the second and forcing Team Manitoba-Pearson into a few misses for back-to-back steals of three in ends three and four; first a missed draw, second a missed raise.

“We’ve been struggling a little bit with the ice and the conditions, but I think we have a really good handle on it,” Sturmay said. “We picked a really good set of rocks, and I just have to say good job and thank you to my teammates. They played amazing, and I didn’t have to really make much out there.

“We definitely capitalized when we got a miss out of them and left some really hard shots for Kelsey.”

From that point on, Manitoba was forced to play more precise, aggressive shots to catch up but could not overcome the deficit and eventually conceded after eight ends.

Earlier today, Manitoba’s Team Kaitlyn Lawes and Canada’s Team Kerri Einarson earned their spots in Saturday night’s Page 1v2 game at 7 p.m. The winner advances to Sunday’s final at 7 p.m. and the loser will play the winner of the Black/Sturmay Page 3v4 game in the semis on Sunday at 1 p.m.

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This story will be available in French as soon as possible at www.curling.ca/fr/2026scotties/nouvelles/.