MISSISSAUGA — Alberta’s Selena Sturmay is on to the semifinal of the Scotties Tournament of Hearts.
Sturmay beat Nova Scotia’s Christina Black 8-4 in the Page 3/4 playoff on Saturday afternoon. Canada’s Kerri Einarson and Manitoba’s Kaitlyn Lawes played each other in the Page 1/2 playoff later that day, with the loser meeting Sturmay in Sunday’s semifinal.
“Honestly, it hasn’t really sunk in yet that we’re in the semifinal,” said Sturmay minutes after her win over Black. “But we’re ready to keep fighting and keep playing well and see where that goes.”
The winner of the Einarson-Lawes game will advance directly to the tournament’s final on Sunday evening. It’s Sturmay’s first-ever semifinal at the national championships in three appearances at the event.
“Nobody comes to this event to lose, but I think those previous Scotties really helped us build experience and knowledge,” said Sturmay. “Just being comfortable in the big game.
“We’re looking forward to building on that.”
Black has had an impressive 13 months, placing third at last year’s Tournament Hearts after losing to Einarson 9-8 in the semifinal. She then finishing second at this year’s Olympic curling trials to Canada’s Rachel Homan.
“I wanted to win this thing. Definitely wanted to get on the podium and get a little further than last year, but I’m still really proud,” said Black. “We played really well all week and had a great season. It’s been a long week and a great two years together of battling and just accomplishing so much.
“I’m really proud of us, but I’m a little heartbroken.”
Tied 2-2 after five ends and with Black holding hammer, her draw shot kissed a guard but curled ever so slightly toward the button. Sturmay’s remaining rock and Black’s final throw were so close the measuring stick had to come out to confirm that Alberta had made the steal.
It was one of four steals Sturmay’s rink made in the victory.
“We talked a lot about trying to keep control of the middle and trying to put a little bit of pressure on them,” said Alberta third Danielle Schmiemann. “That team is so good, we played them a couple times now, and they’re really good with rocks in the middle, really good with rocks in play.
“We kind of said “we don’t think we can run from that, we have to counter with our own rocks in the middle and keep control of the front.’ The more you hug, there’s probably the better chance you have to steal.”
Black answered in the seventh, with a double takeout to score a deuce and take a 4-3 lead. That was a short-lived advantage, with Sturmay scoring three after Black came up short in her final throw of the eighth end.
Sturmay stole another point in the ninth and had her win sealed when Black failed to make a tricky double takeout with the final throw of the game.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 31, 2026.
John Chidley-Hill, The Canadian Press