Team Dunstone and Team Einarson will get the opportunity to defend their national titles next season.
Dunstone and Einarson were among the six teams Curling Canada confirmed Wednesday that have pre-qualified for the 2027 Montana's Brier and Scotties Tournament of Hearts.
While Dunstone and Einarson will return as the reigning champions, four other teams received spots based on the 2025-26 Canadian Team Ranking System (CTRS).
Team Homan and Team Reese-Hansen earned entries to the Scotties Tournament of Hearts, and Team Jacobs and Team Tardi received berths to the Montana's Brier.
Four teams typically pre-qualify for the Scotties Tournament of Hearts and Montana's Brier: the defending champions plus the top three teams from the previous season's CTRS. Teams must retain three of four players to remain eligible.
Mike McEwen's former teammates linked up with Tyler Tardi to retain their spot on the list.
Team Epping and Team Lawes had finished within the top three, however, neither met the requirements to receive a pre-qualifier berth. John Epping lost two players from his lineup, while Team Lawes disbanded, with Kaitlyn Lawes and Kristin Gordon taking breaks from the sport.
The fourth pre-qualifier berth in both events will now go to the top-ranked teams from the 2026-27 CTRS that haven't already qualified following the conclusion of playdowns.
The Scotties Tournament of Hearts is scheduled for Feb. 12-21 in Charlottetown, followed by the historic 100th Montana's Brier, Feb. 26 to March 7, in Saskatoon. The winners will represent Canada at the world championships.
