A team of rookies is rarely considered a strong contender to make a deep run at the Scotties Tournament of Hearts.
But that happens to be the case for Team Taylor Reese-Hansen, the British Columbia champions out of the Victoria Curling Club.
“The first time sliding over the Hearts, you know, I made it halfway down the sheet and I started giggling a little bit,” Reese-Hansen told TSN.ca Friday after their practice session at Mississauga’s Paramount Fine Foods Centre.
Team Reese-Hansen takes on Manitoba’s Team Kaitlyn Lawes on Friday night in the opening feature match of this year’s Scotties.
You can watch the game at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT on TSN1, TSN.ca and the TSN App
The 28-year-old skip started curling in Grade 7 and began watching the Scotties in high school when her dream of playing in the prestigious event began to blossom.
“I even wrote in my high school yearbook in Grade 12 that that’s what I wanted to do in life,” she said. “I wanted to go to Scotties. That was my big dream and big accomplishment and it’s really cool that it’s finally happening.”
Not only is Reese-Hansen’s dream being realized in Mississauga this week, but she also has a real shot at making a significant run.
Reese-Hansen’s rink has been one of the most consistent teams in Canada this season. They’ve made the final in six of 10 events, winning three times, including the Canadian Open Tier 2 Grand Slam over Team Kaitlyn Lawes and the B.C. women’s championship over Team Corryn Brown.
They even defeated world No. 2 Silvana Tirinzoni at a bonspiel in Okotoks, Alta., back in October.
“Anytime you win, especially when you beat a team that’s higher ranked than you, obviously it gives you confidence,” said Reese-Hansen. “And I just think it’s a little reassurance for us to knowing that we do belong here and we are a strong contender.”
Their impressive play has them ranked third in Canada and second at this year’s Tournament of Hearts, right behind four-time champion Team Kerri Einarson.
Team Reese-Hansen are positioned in Pool A, alongside Canada’s Team Einarson and Manitoba’s Team Lawes. Finishing in the top three following round-robin play will earn them a spot in the playoffs.
Team Reese-Hansen, rounded out by third Megan McGillivray, second Kim Bonneau, lead Julianna Mackenzie and coach Todd Troyer, are in their second season together.
Last year’s focus was winning the U25 NextGen Classic, an event that propelled them to Curling Canada’s NextGen Future program, says the skip.
They ended up dropping the 3 vs. 4-page playoff game at the B.C. playdowns.
“Obviously, we wanted to make it to the Scotties [last season], but you kind of had to go through those up and downs, trial and error,” she said. “We’ve really found our groove this season.”
Team Reese-Hansen’s motto this season has been “process over outcome.”
“We definitely love to have a lot of rocks in play,” said the Kitimat, B.C., skip, who also works as a project coordinator at Zanron Mechanical Services. “I think we manage to scoreboard really well. And yeah, when we’re playing our best, we’re making those precise draws and connecting on run backs.”
Another key to their success in 2025-26 has been consistency.
“I think there’s never really been a time where we don’t walk out there prepared or feel like it’s not going to be good,” explained Reese-Hansen. “We do the same thing before every event. We talk about our goals. We have a pre-event practice, even outside of this one on the arena ice. We’re eating the same things. We have a schedule. Like it’s really consistent routine for us. I never worry about stepping on the ice with the wrong mindset. You know, these girls are, they’re borderline professional athletes at this point. I feel really confident in what we’ve got going on.”
A B.C. team hasn’t won the Scotties since Kelly Scott accomplished the feat in back-to-back years in 2006 and 2007. Despite the lofty possibilities this week, Reese-Hansen is trying to take everything in stride.
“It’s always such an honor to wear the B.C. jacket and to represent your province,” she said. “As much as we do this for our province, we also do this for ourselves, so we’re just trying to take it one step at a time.”
And, of course, Reese-Hansen and company are going to try their best at having some fun outside of the rink with the traditions that go along with the Tournament of Hearts, including The Patch.
“We’re going to make the most of this event too,” she said. “We don’t want to leave here with any regrets.”
Related Stories
