Curling – Winnipeg Free Press

Darren Calabrese / THE CANADIAN PRESS FILES
Mike McEwen will curl with Saskatoon’s Rylan Kleiter, Joshua Mattern and Trevor Johnson next season.

McEwen ‘Caught off guard’ by dismissal

Taylor Allen 4 minute read Yesterday at 9:28 PM CDT

Mike McEwen believes his former team made a mistake by cutting him loose.

It was also a move he didn’t see coming.

The 45-year-old Winnipegger was informed last week by his Saskatoon-based teammates — Colton Flasch, Kevin Marsh and Dan Marsh — that they were replacing him with 27-year-old Tyler Tardi of Langley, B.C.

“Yeah, I’m not going to sugarcoat it: I was caught off guard,” McEwen told the Free Press.

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Canada’s Kerri Einarson reaches world curling championship playoffs despite loss

Donna Spencer, The Canadian Press 4 minute read Preview

Canada’s Kerri Einarson reaches world curling championship playoffs despite loss

Donna Spencer, The Canadian Press 4 minute read Updated: 12:22 AM CDT

CALGARY - Canada suffered a second extra-end loss in the world women's curling championship, but nevertheless qualified for playoffs.

Kerri Einarson's Manitoba foursome dropped a 10-6 decision in an extra end to Norway on Thursday evening.

A China or Turkey loss would still have catapulted the Canadians into playoffs and both scenarios occurred in the evening draw.

Switzerland at 9-1, Canada and Japan at 8-2 and Sweden at 8-3 were the first four teams in the playoff door with the remaining two berths still on the table Friday.

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Updated: 12:22 AM CDT

Team Canada skip Kerri Einarson, right, speaks with her teammates lead Karlee Burgess, left, and second Shannon Birchard as they play Turkey at the World Women’s Curling Championship in Calgary on March 18, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh

Karlee Burgess brings the power and the party to Kerri Einarson’s curling team

Donna Spencer, The Canadian Press 3 minute read Preview

Karlee Burgess brings the power and the party to Kerri Einarson’s curling team

Donna Spencer, The Canadian Press 3 minute read 6:00 AM CDT

CALGARY - Her teammates say she's either the life of the party or fast asleep.

Karlee Burgess has been a workhorse on the broom given the volume of draws she's dragged into the rings at the women's world curling championship in Calgary.

Canada's lead also brought enthusiastic rookie energy to her world championship debut, which her teammates have fed upon.

"She sweeps hard and keeps us laughing out there," said Canada's second Shannon Birchard.

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6:00 AM CDT

Team Canada lead Karlee Burgess sweeps against Norway at the World Women's Curling Championship in Calgary, Thursday, March 19, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh

No handshakes: Canada’s Einarson protects sprained finger at women’s world curling

Donna Spencer, The Canadian Press 4 minute read Preview

No handshakes: Canada’s Einarson protects sprained finger at women’s world curling

Donna Spencer, The Canadian Press 4 minute read Updated: Yesterday at 2:44 PM CDT

CALGARY - Kerri Einarson hasn't been shaking hands at the women's world curling championship because the Canadian skip is dealing with a sprained finger.

It's a leftover from the on-ice celebration when she and her teammates won the national championship Feb. 1 in Mississauga, Ont.

"Someone clipped my finger and it bent my knuckle right back," Einarson said Wednesday. "We were celebrating. We hugged and boom."

With a tender ring finger on her right hand, Einarson has been arm-bumping opposing players.

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Updated: Yesterday at 2:44 PM CDT

Team Canada skip Kerri Einarson directs her teammates as she plays Turkey at the World Women’s Curling Championship in Calgary on March 18, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh

Veteran skip Mike McEwen joins forces with Rylan Kleiter on new curling team

The Canadian Press 3 minute read Preview

Veteran skip Mike McEwen joins forces with Rylan Kleiter on new curling team

The Canadian Press 3 minute read Wednesday, Mar. 18, 2026

SASKATOON - Veteran skip Mike McEwen's run as a curling free agent lasted less than a week.

The 45-year-old Winnipeg resident will fill a vacancy on Rylan Kleiter's Saskatoon-based side on a new-look Team Mike McEwen, the rink said Wednesday in a post on social media.

Kleiter will move from skip to third on a team that includes Trevor Johnson at lead and Joshua Mattern at second. Matthew Hall, who played third this season, recently announced he was leaving the team.

McEwen, who has competed at the Montana's Brier on 10 occasions over his career, was let go from a team that included Colton Flasch, Dan Marsh and Kevin Marsh last week.

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Wednesday, Mar. 18, 2026

Mike McEwen of Team Saskatchewan-McEwen calls to his team during Draw 14 at the Montana's Brier in St. John's, N.L., on March 4, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Paul Daly

Canada’s Einarson loses first game in women’s world curling, falls 6-5 to Switzerland

Donna Spencer, The Canadian Press 4 minute read Preview

Canada’s Einarson loses first game in women’s world curling, falls 6-5 to Switzerland

Donna Spencer, The Canadian Press 4 minute read Wednesday, Mar. 18, 2026

CALGARY - Kerri Einarson's curling team battled, but fell 6-5 in an extra end to a fearless young Swiss foursome Tuesday at the women's world curling championship.

Switzerland won a sixth straight game to top the standings at 6-1 ahead of Canada at 5-1.

Xenia Schwaller had beaten Olympic silver medallist Silvana Tirinzoni twice in a best-of-three Swiss championship to punch a ticket to Calgary.

"When you have to play Tirinzoni to get out of your country, you've got to play fearless," Einarson observed. "They're a great young team. We've always had really good battles with them. I hope to play them again."

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Wednesday, Mar. 18, 2026

Team Canada skip Kerri Einarson reacts to her shot against Denmark at the World Women’s Curling Championship in Calgary on March 16, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh

Canada’s Einarson continues to roll in women’s world curling with fourth straight win

Donna Spencer, The Canadian Press 5 minute read Preview

Canada’s Einarson continues to roll in women’s world curling with fourth straight win

Donna Spencer, The Canadian Press 5 minute read Monday, Mar. 16, 2026

CALGARY - Kerri Einarson's curling team passed a tough test in the women's world championship to maintain an unbeaten record Monday.

Einarson's foursome out of Manitoba's Gimli Curling Club was a 9-6 winner over Denmark's Madeleine Dupont, who was a tough out for the Canadians despite a reduced lineup of three players in the back half of the game.

"I knew it was going to be a great game," Einarson said. "They played phenomenal. Madeleine made some really great shots to force us.

"We played really well, too. It's good to have games like that, that test you and that make you make those clutch shots when you need them."

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Monday, Mar. 16, 2026

Switzerland skip Xenia Schwaller, centre, makes a shot against Japan as lead Selina Rychiger, left, and third Selina Gafner sweep at the World Women's Curling Championship in Calgary, Saturday, March 14, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh

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Bottcher returns to skip position on new team with Walker and Horgan brothers

Gregory Strong, The Canadian Press 3 minute read Preview

Bottcher returns to skip position on new team with Walker and Horgan brothers

Gregory Strong, The Canadian Press 3 minute read Monday, Mar. 16, 2026

Brendan Bottcher is returning to the skip position with a new-look rink that will be based in Alberta.

He will team up with third Jacob Horgan, second Tanner Horgan and lead Geoff Walker on a squad that boasts a mix of youth and championship pedigree.

"I'm excited about what I think we can put on the ice," Bottcher said Monday from Spruce Grove, Alta. "Even the (early) conversations we've had, it feels like a really fresh desire to be better, to learn, and I'm excited for that."

Bottcher spent the last year and a half at the second position, throwing after Walker on a team skipped by Brad Gushue, who retired after the recent Montana's Brier.

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Monday, Mar. 16, 2026

Newfoundland and Labrador-Gushue second Brendan Bottcher, right, and lead Geoff Walker sweep a stone during Draw 5 of the 2026 Montana Brier in St. John's on March 1, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Paul Daly

Einarson’s second Shannon Birchard on her game at world curling championship

Donna Spencer, The Canadian Press 5 minute read Preview

Einarson’s second Shannon Birchard on her game at world curling championship

Donna Spencer, The Canadian Press 5 minute read Sunday, Mar. 15, 2026

CALGARY - Unsure a year ago whether her knee would let her curl again at a high level, representing Canada in another world championship feels sweet for Shannon Birchard.

Canada's second posted 100 per cent shooting accuracy in Kerri Einarson's 9-3 win over China on Sunday at Calgary's WinSport Event Centre.

Birchard's hit and roll to the button, with sweeping help from teammate Karlee Burgess, set up a pivotal three points in the fifth end for a 6-2 lead.

Canada improved to 3-0, and also finished off the opposition quickly for a second game in a row.

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Sunday, Mar. 15, 2026

Team Canada skip Kerri Einarson delivers a stone against China at the World Women’s Curling Championship in Calgary, Sunday, March 15, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh

Excited Einarson opens ‘louder’ world championship with wins over Sweden, U.S.

Vicki Hall, The Canadian Press 5 minute read Preview

Excited Einarson opens ‘louder’ world championship with wins over Sweden, U.S.

Vicki Hall, The Canadian Press 5 minute read Saturday, Mar. 14, 2026

CALGARY - Canadian skip Kerri Einarson looked up Saturday and saw real people, instead of cardboard cut-outs, in the stands at Calgary’s WinSport Event Centre. She heard the roar of the crowd instead of the sound of flushing toilets piercing the silence.

The change in sights and sounds — compared to her team’s experience at the 2021 women’s world curling championship in Calgary — made the opening day even sweeter as Canada beat Sweden 7-5 in the afternoon followed by an 11-3 evening rout of the United States at the BKT Women's World Curling Championship.

“You didn’t hear toilets flushing," Einarson said of the difference between then and now. “It was challenging times then, but it's nice to be back playing at the worlds and with fans.

“I get goosebumps every time as soon as they start cheering. It doesn't matter for what shot. It's just a pretty special moment.”

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Saturday, Mar. 14, 2026

Team Canada skip Kerri Einarson contemplates her rocks during play against Sweden at the World Women’s Curling Championship in Calgary, Saturday, March 14, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh

How E.J. Harnden changed curling forever

Mitch Calvert 7 minute read Preview

How E.J. Harnden changed curling forever

Mitch Calvert 7 minute read Saturday, Mar. 14, 2026

I was a young sports reporter the first time I saw E.J. Harnden throw his broom.

It was February 2009 at the Northern Ontario Curling Association playdowns in Fort Frances. The Brad Jacobs rink — Jacobs at skip, E.J. at third, his younger brother Ryan at second — had just absorbed a 9-4 loss to Mike Jakubo in the final, their third straight defeat to the same Copper Cliff team that week. When Harnden’s last rock failed to disturb a pair of Jakubo stones sitting fat in scoring position, he didn’t shake his head or mutter under his breath. He threw his broom.

I remember thinking: that’s not how curlers act. This was, after all, a game still broadly associated with potluck socials and Canadian Club rye whisky. Curlers were supposed to be serene. Stoic. These guys were something else.

Seventeen years later, E.J. Harnden — now 42, and in the final chapter of a career that reshaped Canadian curling — just swept his way to a fourth national Brier title on a retirement tour with Matt Dunstone’s Manitoba rink. He was named tournament MVP, shooting 88 per cent accuracy for the week. He shared a long embrace with Ryan when it was over. And somewhere in that moment, the broom that once hit the ice in frustration became a symbol of everything that followed.

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Saturday, Mar. 14, 2026

PAUL DALY / THE CANADIAN PRESS
E.J. Harnden (centre) committed himself to a strength and fitness routine that help to revolutionize the game of curling.

Spaniards in town for curling documentary, brush up on the game

Taylor Allen 6 minute read Preview

Spaniards in town for curling documentary, brush up on the game

Taylor Allen 6 minute read Friday, Mar. 13, 2026

Joan Baucells looks out onto the ice at the Fort Rouge Curling Club and pauses for a moment, searching for the right words to describe it.

“This is like a cathedral,” he says.

His home country of Spain is world-renowned for its stunning architecture, but none of those buildings have what this one has to offer: pebbled ice, granite rocks and carbon-fiber brooms.

Oh, and don’t forget an in-house restaurant serving fat boy burgers and poutine.

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Friday, Mar. 13, 2026

‘It’s a culture, it’s more than a sport’

Capsule look at 13 countries competing in 2026 women’s world curling championship

Donna Spencer, The Canadian Press 3 minute read Preview

Capsule look at 13 countries competing in 2026 women’s world curling championship

Donna Spencer, The Canadian Press 3 minute read Friday, Mar. 13, 2026

CALGARY - A capsule look at the 13 teams competing March 14-22 in the 2026 BKT World Women's Curling Championship at Calgary's WinSport Event Centre:

Canada (Einarson)

Kerri Einarson, third Val Sweeting, second Shannon Birchard and lead Karlee Burgess seek their first world title. Einarson, Sweeting and Birchard were bronze medallists in both 2022 and 2023.

Australia (Williams)

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Friday, Mar. 13, 2026

Team Canada skip Kerri Einarson delivers a rock during Scotties Tournament of Hearts finals curling action in Mississauga, Ont., Sunday, Feb. 1, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Frank Gunn

Kerri Einarson returns to Calgary with sights set on women’s world curling gold

Donna Spencer, The Canadian Press 5 minute read Preview

Kerri Einarson returns to Calgary with sights set on women’s world curling gold

Donna Spencer, The Canadian Press 5 minute read Friday, Mar. 13, 2026

CALGARY - Kerri Einarson's curling team commences its bid for a women's world title Saturday in an arena where the skip has felt both joy and pain.

Einarson, vice Val Sweeting, second Shannon Birchard, lead Karlee Burgess and alternate Krysten Karwacki open the 13-country BKT Women's World Curling Championship against Sweden at Calgary's WinSport Event Centre.

Einarson, out of Manitoba's Gimli Curling Club, also wants to keep the world title in Canada after back-to-back gold medals by Rachel Homan's team.

"Rachel's definitely set the bar high for us," Einarson said Friday after practice in the arena on Calgary's west side.

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Friday, Mar. 13, 2026

Team Canada, from left to right, lead Karlee Burgess, third Val Sweeting, second Shannon Birchard and skip Kerri Einarson celebrate after they won the Scotties Tournament of Hearts curling finals in Mississauga, Ont., Sunday, Feb. 1, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Frank Gunn

Skip McEwen takes to social media to announce Saskatchewan rink going on without him

The Canadian Press 2 minute read Preview

Skip McEwen takes to social media to announce Saskatchewan rink going on without him

The Canadian Press 2 minute read Friday, Mar. 13, 2026

Saskatchewan skip Mike McEwen is looking for another team.

McEwen, 45, took to social media Thursday night to announce that after three seasons with Colton Flasch, Kevin Marsh and Daniel Mars that "the team has chosen a different path without me next season."

McEwen, of Brandon, Man., and the rink joined forces before the 2023-24 season. The squad reached the final of the 2024 Brier in Regina before losing 9-5 to defending-champion Brad Gushue.

McEwen and Co. posted a 5-3 record in Pool B at this year's Brier in St. John's, Newfoundland, missing the playoffs.

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Friday, Mar. 13, 2026

Mike McEwen of Team Saskatchewan-McEwen calls to his team during Draw 14 at the Montana's Brier Canadian men's curling championship, in St. John's, N.L., on Wednesday, March 4, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Paul Daly

In The Rings: World Curling chief likes the idea of embedded technology in the sport

Gregory Strong, The Canadian Press 5 minute read Preview

In The Rings: World Curling chief likes the idea of embedded technology in the sport

Gregory Strong, The Canadian Press 5 minute read Thursday, Mar. 12, 2026

World Curling president Beau Welling's sporting roots took hold on the golf course. He envisions a day when the Roaring Game follows the broadcast lead of its summer sport cousin.

"Personally I like the idea of more embedded technology into either the stone itself or the scanning of stones," Welling said. "The other benefit from doing some of this technology stuff is that we can then start incorporating it into broadcast and having more data, more presentation, of what's actually going on."

In a recent sit-down interview with The Canadian Press, Welling noted the many strides golf broadcasts have made in recent years, including graphics of shot trajectory, spin data, ball altitude and swing speed.

He foresees something similar for curling in the future.

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Thursday, Mar. 12, 2026

March 20, 2026

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