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Jonathan Hayward / THE CANADIAN PRESS files Erin Pincott is moving to Winnipeg with partner Matt Dunstone after suffering a breakup of sorts when Team Corryn Brown out of B.C. disbanded.

Pincott joins partner Dunstone in Winnipeg as she takes up with new team

Taylor Allen 5 minute read 7:46 PM CDT

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When Matt Dunstone and Erin Pincott pack up their things in Kamloops and move to Winnipeg later this year, the Brier champion won’t be the only one returning to his roots.

In a way, Pincott will be, too.

Her family tree goes through Manitoba with her grandparents meeting in Flin Flon before raising a family out west.

Her grandfather, Grant Young — who passed away in 2009 — represented B.C. at the 1981 Brier, playing lead for Barry McPhee, and helped ensure the apple didn’t fall far from the tree.

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Team Kurz caps off undefeated week by capturing provincial mixed curling crown

Taylor Allen 5 minute read Preview

Team Kurz caps off undefeated week by capturing provincial mixed curling crown

Taylor Allen 5 minute read Tuesday, Apr. 14, 2026

Nearly seven years after their world championship run, Colin Kurz wanted to get the band back together.

“I laughed… I think we all thought he was joking at first,” admitted Meghan Walter.

Kurz, Walter, Brendan Bilawka and Sara Krym (née Oliver) wore the Maple Leaf at the 2019 World Mixed Curling Championship in Aberdeen, Scotland, and ran the table en route to a gold medal finish.

“We still talk about that and tell stories about that to this day when we see each other,” said Kurz.

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Tuesday, Apr. 14, 2026

Curl Manitoba Photo

Team Kurz got the band back together last week and won the 2026 Manitoba Mixed Curling Provincial Championship on Sunday. From left: skip Colin Kurz, third Meghan Walter, second Brendan Bilawka and lead Sara Krym.
Curl Manitoba Photo Team Kurz got the band back together last week and won the 2026 Manitoba Mixed Curling Provincial Championship on Sunday. From left: skip Colin Kurz, third Meghan Walter, second Brendan Bilawka and lead Sara Krym.

Longtime Gushue third returns to Manitoba to play second for Dunstone

Taylor Allen 4 minute read Preview

Longtime Gushue third returns to Manitoba to play second for Dunstone

Taylor Allen 4 minute read Tuesday, Apr. 14, 2026

It was an announcement that everyone who keeps tabs on curling saw coming.

Early Monday, Matt Dunstone officially revealed that Mark Nichols will join him, Colton Lott and Ryan Harnden to play second ​next season.

The 2026 Brier champion ​and world silver medallist had a hole to fill at the position ​with E.J. Harnden​’s recent retirement.

Nichols, 46, was available for hire after his longtime skip and friend Brad Gushue retired after this year’s Brier.

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Tuesday, Apr. 14, 2026

Paul Daly / THE CANADIAN PRESS FILES

Mark Nichols playing for Team Newfoundland and Labrador during the Montana’s Brier Canadian men’s curling championship, in March. Matt Dunstone revealed Monday that Nichols will join him, Colton Lott and Ryan Harnden to play second ​next season.
Paul Daly / THE CANADIAN PRESS FILES Mark Nichols playing for Team Newfoundland and Labrador during the Montana’s Brier Canadian men’s curling championship, in March. Matt Dunstone revealed Monday that Nichols will join him, Colton Lott and Ryan Harnden to play second ​next season.

Sweeting lands on her feet

Taylor Allen 4 minute read Preview

Sweeting lands on her feet

Taylor Allen 4 minute read Monday, Apr. 13, 2026

Not even the reigning Scotties champions are immune to change at the end of a quadrennial cycle.

Days after returning home with a silver medal from the world women’s curling championship in Calgary, Gimli’s Kerri Einarson announced she was parting ways with third Val Sweeting — a teammate since 2018.

“It wasn’t a complete surprise. I had a sense there would be changes to the team moving forward,” Sweeting told the Free Press.

“It’s always tough when those chapters close, but I’m looking forward to what’s next.”

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Monday, Apr. 13, 2026

Jeff McIntosh / THE CANADIAN PRESS files

Third Val Sweeting, centre, has said her goodbyes to Team Kerri Einarson after playing for Canada at the World Women’s Curling Championship in Calgary.
Jeff McIntosh / THE CANADIAN PRESS files Third Val Sweeting, centre, has said her goodbyes to Team Kerri Einarson after playing for Canada at the World Women’s Curling Championship in Calgary.

Shield Curling Club tops Typhoon Curling Club to win inaugural Rock League title

The Canadian Press 2 minute read Preview

Shield Curling Club tops Typhoon Curling Club to win inaugural Rock League title

The Canadian Press 2 minute read Sunday, Apr. 12, 2026

TORONTO - Shield Curling Club won the inaugural Rock League championship, defeating Typhoon Curling Club 2-1 on Sunday at Mattamy Athletic Centre.

After Anna Hasselborg led Typhoon to a 7-5 win in the women's game, Shield captain Brad Jacobs led his side to an 8-7 win in the men's game.

In the final game, a mixed doubles match, Marlee Powers and Benoît Schwarz-van Berkel came back to score two in the eighth end to tie it at 7-7 and force a draw-to-the-button shootout to determine the winner.

Tori Koana went first for Typhoon, with her shooter rolling deep to the back of the eight-foot circle. Schwarz-van Berkel then placed it right on the button to pull out the victory.

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Sunday, Apr. 12, 2026

Switzerland's Benoit Schwarz-van Berkel competes during a men's curling bronze medal match between Norway and Switzerland, at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, Friday, Feb. 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Misper Apawu)
Switzerland's Benoit Schwarz-van Berkel competes during a men's curling bronze medal match between Norway and Switzerland, at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, Friday, Feb. 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Misper Apawu)

Typhoon, Northern round out Rock League semis alongside Alpine and Shield

The Canadian Press 2 minute read Preview

Typhoon, Northern round out Rock League semis alongside Alpine and Shield

The Canadian Press 2 minute read Saturday, Apr. 11, 2026

TORONTO - Typhoon Curling Club needed to score just seven points combined across its pair of mixed-fours games against Northern United and got the job done Saturday night.

The two will meet again in one of two semifinal games on Sunday in the Rock League. Alpine Curling Club and Shield Curling Club will meet in the other, having also qualified Saturday.

The final is set for late Sunday afternoon at Toronto's Mattamy Athletic Centre.

Typhoon’s Anna Hasselborg scored a deuce in the fifth end to take a 5-2 edge, leaving it to Niklas Edin to secure the playoff berth. Edin, trailing 2-1 at the time on the other sheet, scored one more in a 5-2 loss, doing just enough to get Typhoon into the semifinals.

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Saturday, Apr. 11, 2026

Switzerland's Alina Paetz in action during the women's curling round robin session against Sweden at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, Monday, Feb. 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Fatima Shbair)
Switzerland's Alina Paetz in action during the women's curling round robin session against Sweden at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, Monday, Feb. 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Fatima Shbair)

Njegovan forms new Manitoba rink

Taylor Allen 5 minute read Preview

Njegovan forms new Manitoba rink

Taylor Allen 5 minute read Friday, Apr. 10, 2026

There’s a new contender based out of Manitoba.

Selena Njegovan — who previously played third for Kaitlyn Lawes — announced Friday that she has formed a team with third Erin Pincott, second Margot Flemming and lead Krysten Karwacki.

Njegovan and Karwacki played together over a decade ago at the University of Manitoba where they won a CIS (now U Sports) national title in 2013 under Breanne Meakin. With Team Lawes going their separate ways and Karwacki on the hunt for a full-time role after several years as an alternate with Kerri Einarson, the two Winnipeggers started chatting about a reunion.

“We were just kind of looking to build something new. Selena sounded like she was really interested in stepping into the skip role, which was awesome to hear,” said Karwacki.

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Friday, Apr. 10, 2026

Chris Young / The Canadian Press

Selena Njegovan throws a stone during her team’s session against Nova Scotia-Black at the Scotties Tournament of Hearts in January.
Chris Young / The Canadian Press Selena Njegovan throws a stone during her team’s session against Nova Scotia-Black at the Scotties Tournament of Hearts in January.

Cool Runnings-inspired curling series set in Winnipeg years in the making

Taylor Allen 5 minute read Preview

Cool Runnings-inspired curling series set in Winnipeg years in the making

Taylor Allen 5 minute read Friday, Apr. 10, 2026

When you think of the island country of Jamaica, curling isn’t what comes to mind.

But when Chris Sharpe’s high school gym class at Vincent Massey Collegiate crossed the street to try the sport at the Pembina Curling Club, it gave the Jamaican Canadian an idea.

You’ve heard of Cool Runnings — the hit movie inspired by the Jamaican bobsled team at the 1988 Winter Olympics. And while the country has yet to make its “ice chess” debut on the world’s biggest stage, that hasn’t stopped Sharpe from coming up with Cool Sweepings.

Sharpe, founder and creative producer of Black Film Space Manitoba, and his team filmed four episodes of the fictional series inside the Fort Rouge Curling Club in November. The show is scheduled to air this spring or summer on Bell Fibe TV’s streaming service.

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Friday, Apr. 10, 2026

MIKAELA MACKENZIE / FREE PRESS

Cool Sweepings creator and producer Chris Sharpe at the Fort Rouge Curling Club, where the series was filmed. Cool Sweepings is a fictional series about a Jamaican-Canadian curling team based out of Winnipeg.
MIKAELA MACKENZIE / FREE PRESS Cool Sweepings creator and producer Chris Sharpe at the Fort Rouge Curling Club, where the series was filmed. Cool Sweepings is a fictional series about a Jamaican-Canadian curling team based out of Winnipeg.

Shield Curling Club sweeps Maple United to land atop Rock League standings

The Canadian Press 3 minute read Preview

Shield Curling Club sweeps Maple United to land atop Rock League standings

The Canadian Press 3 minute read Friday, Apr. 10, 2026

TORONTO - Shield Curling Club earned the third sweep of the week in Rock League curling action Friday, defeating Maple United 3-0 to climb atop the standings heading into the weekend's playoffs.

Shield (3-2, 3.5 points) is in a three-way tie with Alpine (3-2, 3.5 points) and Northern (3-2, 3.5 points) but holds the tiebreaker thanks to an advantage on points scored with 102.

Teams get one point for a win, plus an extra half-point for a sweep.

Shield will take on Maple, Alpine Curling Club faces Frontier Curling Club and Northern United matches up against Typhoon Curling Club in the opening round of the playoffs on Saturday. The semifinals and final of the inaugural event will be played Sunday at Toronto's Mattamy Athletic Centre.

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Friday, Apr. 10, 2026

Sweden's Niklas Edin in action during the men's curling round robin session against Switzerland, at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2026. (AP Photo/Misper Apawu)
Sweden's Niklas Edin in action during the men's curling round robin session against Switzerland, at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2026. (AP Photo/Misper Apawu)

Mouat leads Northern to sweep of Typhoon in curling’s Rock League

The Canadian Press 2 minute read Preview

Mouat leads Northern to sweep of Typhoon in curling’s Rock League

The Canadian Press 2 minute read Thursday, Apr. 9, 2026

TORONTO - Northern United rebounded from being on the wrong side of the first sweep in Rock League history with a sweep of its own in a win over the Typhoon Curling Club on Thursday afternoon.

A day after getting swept by Alpine Curling Club, Bruce Mouat's Northern team improved to 3-1 in the league's inaugural event.

Mouat led Northern's men to a 10-4 win over Typhoon's Niklas Edin.

Kristin Skaslien and Yannick Schwaller downed Tori Koana and Tsuyoshi Yamaguchi 8-5 in mixed doubles action, and Isabella Wrana's women's team won a draw shot challenge shootout after finishing tied 6-6 with Anna Hasselborg after seven ends.

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Thursday, Apr. 9, 2026

Britain's Bruce Mouat, centre, competes during a men's curling gold medal match between Britain and Canada, at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026. (AP Photo/Fatima Shbair)
Britain's Bruce Mouat, centre, competes during a men's curling gold medal match between Britain and Canada, at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026. (AP Photo/Fatima Shbair)

Manitoba skip Kate Cameron heads east in search of spark

Taylor Allen 5 minute read Preview

Manitoba skip Kate Cameron heads east in search of spark

Taylor Allen 5 minute read Wednesday, Apr. 8, 2026

Kate Cameron was leaning towards taking a step back from curling.

She played on a torn meniscus last season and was mentally fatigued at the end of her first Olympic cycle as a skip.

“There’s only maybe one or two teams that really feel happy at the end of the quad,” Cameron told the Free Press on Wednesday.

“We’re all fighting for the ultimate goal of trying to go to the Olympics and we put so much time and energy into doing that and I think for me, this past season was a bit of a bust… I just didn’t know if the grind of doing it all seemed worth the reward anymore.”

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Wednesday, Apr. 8, 2026
Cameron heads east in search of spark

Alpine moves to top of the table after first-ever Rock League sweep

The Canadian Press 2 minute read Preview

Alpine moves to top of the table after first-ever Rock League sweep

The Canadian Press 2 minute read Wednesday, Apr. 8, 2026

TORONTO - Team Alpine completed the first-ever sweep in curling's Rock League with a 3-0 win over Team Northern in Wednesday's early match.

Almida de Val and Oskar Eriksson clinched the sweep with an 8-7 extra-end win over Giulia Lacedelli and Rasmus Wrana in mixed doubles action.

Alina Paetz skipped Alpine's women's team to a 4-3 win over Northern's Isabella Wrana, while Joel Retornaz led the men's team to an 8-3 victory over Bruce Mouat.

Team Frontier beat Team Maple 2-1 in Wednesday's afternoon draw, while Team Typhoon handed Team Shield a 2-1 loss in the late match.

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Wednesday, Apr. 8, 2026

Italy's Joel Retornaz yells during the men's curling round robin session against Britain, at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, Friday, Feb. 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Misper Apawu)
Italy's Joel Retornaz yells during the men's curling round robin session against Britain, at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, Friday, Feb. 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Misper Apawu)

Northern United early leader in curling’s Rock League

The Canadian Press 3 minute read Preview

Northern United early leader in curling’s Rock League

The Canadian Press 3 minute read Tuesday, Apr. 7, 2026

TORONTO - Northern United, captained by Scotland's Bruce Mouat, won a second game in a row to lead curling's Rock League on Tuesday.

Northern United beat Shield, captained by Canada's Brad Jacobs, 2-1 in their match to top the six-team standings at 2-0.

The Rock League is a new event from The Curling Group, which also owns the Grand Slam series and has Olympic gold medallists John Morris and Jennifer Jones as its strategic advisers.

The inaugural event at Toronto's Mattamy Athletic Centre runs until Sunday. The competition offers US$250,000 in prize money, with $100,000 going to the winning team.

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Tuesday, Apr. 7, 2026

Maple United captain and women's skip Rachel Homan (right) discusses strategy with her third Xenia Schwaller (left) in a Tuesday, April 7, 2026 handout photo during a Rock League game against Typhoon at Toronto's Mattamy Athletic Centre. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Handout, The Curling Group, Anil Mungal (Mandatory Credit)
Maple United captain and women's skip Rachel Homan (right) discusses strategy with her third Xenia Schwaller (left) in a Tuesday, April 7, 2026 handout photo during a Rock League game against Typhoon at Toronto's Mattamy Athletic Centre. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Handout, The Curling Group, Anil Mungal (Mandatory Credit)

Dunstone satisfied with silver

Taylor Allen 5 minute read Preview

Dunstone satisfied with silver

Taylor Allen 5 minute read Tuesday, Apr. 7, 2026

Moments after losing the Canadian Curling Trials final in November, a devastated Matt Dunstone stood in front of a scrum of reporters and did his best to answer questions while fighting back tears.

Fast forward to this past Saturday in Utah, Dunstone suffered another heartbreaking final loss — this time, a 9-6 result in the world men’s curling championship game to Sweden’s Niklas Edin.

No one dreams of settling for second place, but on this occasion, Dunstone managed to step off the ice and immediately have an appreciation for what his team accomplished.

“It’s the happiest silver medal I’ve ever won,” Dunstone said at the time.

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Tuesday, Apr. 7, 2026

Canada’s Matt Dunstone, Colton Lott, E.J. Harnden and Ryan Harnden celebrate winning silver at the curling world championships, Saturday. (AP Photo/Tyler Tate)
Canada’s Matt Dunstone, Colton Lott, E.J. Harnden and Ryan Harnden celebrate winning silver at the curling world championships, Saturday. (AP Photo/Tyler Tate)

Lawes talks pause, and possible retirement, from curling

Taylor Allen 5 minute read Preview

Lawes talks pause, and possible retirement, from curling

Taylor Allen 5 minute read Monday, Apr. 6, 2026

It was a decision Kaitlyn Lawes wrestled with all season.

Curling has been the only constant in the 37-year-old’s life, but with two daughters — Myla and Ella — under the age of three at home, the Winnipeg skip ultimately decided she needed to take a step back and focus on her young family.

“It just felt like the right time if I were to ever take a break,” Lawes told the Free Press on Monday. “I didn’t take maternity leave with either of my girls. It was just kind of feeling like I needed to be home and needed some time to rest and recover from these last four years.”

It was two weeks after this year’s Scotties — an event Lawes went undefeated at before dropping the final to Kerri Einarson on Feb. 1 — when she officially made up her mind. She had several curlers reach out before and after nationals about potential new teams for the upcoming quadrennial, and while there were some intriguing conversations, Lawes knew what she had to do.

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Monday, Apr. 6, 2026

Frank Gunn / THE CANADIAN PRESS FILES

Kaitlyn Lawes delivers a rock for Team Manitoba during the 2026 Scotties Tournament of Hearts finals in February. The Winnipeg skip has decided to step away from curling and focus on her family.
Frank Gunn / THE CANADIAN PRESS FILES Kaitlyn Lawes delivers a rock for Team Manitoba during the 2026 Scotties Tournament of Hearts finals in February. The Winnipeg skip has decided to step away from curling and focus on her family.

Rock League launches, shakes up curling teams and introduces new formats

The Canadian Press 4 minute read Preview

Rock League launches, shakes up curling teams and introduces new formats

The Canadian Press 4 minute read Tuesday, Apr. 7, 2026

TORONTO - The Rock League launched Monday in Toronto with a bar right next to a curling sheet and frenemies as teammates.

The Rock League is a new event from The Curling Group, which also owns the Grand Slam series and has Olympic gold medallists John Morris and Jennifer Jones as its strategic advisors.

The inaugural event at the Mattamy Athletic Centre runs until Sunday. The competition offers US$250,000 in prize money, with $100,000 going to the winning team.

The format draws elements from golf's Ryder Cup, as well as the Continental Cup of Curling that ran from 2002 to 2020, which pitted North America against other regions.

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Tuesday, Apr. 7, 2026

Team Jacobs skip Brad Jacobs delivers a stone during Canadian Olympic curling trials finals action against Team Dunstone in Halifax on Friday, November 28, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darren Calabrese
Team Jacobs skip Brad Jacobs delivers a stone during Canadian Olympic curling trials finals action against Team Dunstone in Halifax on Friday, November 28, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darren Calabrese

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