With the 2025 Montana’s Canadian Curling Trials quickly approaching, TSN.ca will profile one men’s team and one women’s team each day before the first rocks fly on Nov. 22 at the Scotiabank Centre in Halifax.
Team Christina Black
Lineup
Skip: Christina Black (Age 38)
Third/Vice-Skip: Jill Brothers (42)
Front End: Jenn Baxter (38)
Front End: Karlee Everist (34)
Front End: Marlee Powers (34)
Coach: Stuart MacLean
Curling Club: Halifax Curling Club
2025-26 Season
Events: 6 Record: 16-15 World Ranking: 28th
Highlights: Team Black are coming off a victory at the Stu Sells 1824 Halifax Classic last weekend, posting an impressive 7-1 record, capped by a 6-5 victory over Ontario’s Team Danielle Inglis in the final. They failed to make the playoffs in their four prior events, including two Grand Slams and the PointsBet Invitational.
How They Qualified
Qualified via their two-year total (2023-25) on the Canadian Team Ranking System (CTRS).
Trials Schedule
Nov. 22 – Kerri Einarson
Nov. 23 – Rachel Homan, Kaitlyn Lawes
Nov. 24 – Corryn Brown
Nov. 25 – Kayla Skrlik, Selena Sturmay
Nov. 26 – Kate Cameron
Expert Analysis from TSN’s Cathy Gauthier
Team Black will have a successful week at the Canadian Curling Trials if...
“If the sixth person (the hometown crowd in Halifax) is accepted as a gift and not a burden. Clear communication with a rotating front end is needed.”
Team Story
Christina Black put together a career season in 2024-25, capped by a third-place finish at the Scotties Tournament of Hearts.
Team Black also won five events on Tour and finished the season ranked fourth in Canada with 51 wins and just 13 losses.
The large accumulation of points has given Team Black the opportunity to play more prominent events in 2025-26, squaring off against tougher opponents in comparison to the ones they typically play in smaller bonspiels on the East coast.
As a result, the wins have been tougher to come by this season.
Team Black has missed the playoffs in four of six competitions, including both Grand Slams and October’s PointsBet Invitational. They went 0-4 at their most recent Slam in Nisku, Alta., last month.
Against Trials teams, Black owns an 0-4 record.
The Bluenosers are coming in with some renewed confidence after a solid showing at the Stu Sells 1824 Halifax Classic the weekend before the Trials. They went 7-1 and defeated Ontario’s Team Danielle Inglis in the final, 6-4.
Team Black will need to find their form from last season - and last week - if they want to compete for a playoff spot at the Canadian Curling Trials.
On a positive note, they will have the support from fans as the hometown team, something Black is excited to experience.
“Maybe not walking down the street but definitely have been recognized a few times in like Costco and grocery stores,” Black told The Canadian Press regarding the excitement in Halifax.
“People tell us how they’re big fans of ours, so that’s kind of cool. We’ve been travelling a ton lately and talking to people that we’re sitting near and flight attendants about curling and the trials.
“It’s really fun to know that there’s people that are fans of ours and recognize me. That’s hilarious. I wouldn’t expect anyone to ever really recognize me.”
This will be the first Trials for all members of Team Black.
The Halifax rink will have no time to get settled in with games against Team Kerri Einarson, Team Rachel Homan and Team Kaitlyn Lawes, the top three ranked teams in the tournament, to open the Trials.
Team Black has played each of those teams once this season, losing each time while being outscored by a total of 25-10.
An 0-3 start could put Team Black out of contention early.
The hometown rink will be a wild card at the Canadian Curling Trials.
