Curling season is ramping up - here's what's new
The Canadian curling season is undergoing significant roster changes following the recent Olympic cycle. Several high-profile veterans have retired, leading to new team formations as players prepare for the 2030 Olympics.
Why it matters
Curling is a major sport in Canada, and these shifts represent a generational transition for the country's top competitive teams.
The powerhouse Canadian teams skipped by Brad Jacobs and Rachel Homan remain intact after winning Olympic gold and bronze, respectively, last winter in Italy. But the start of a fresh Olympic cycle always brings about sweeping changes, and that's certainly the case this season — both on and off the ice.
Here's a quick primer to help you sort it all out.
After a 20-plus-year run as one of the world's premier skips, Brad Gushue retired following the Brier in his hometown of St. John's, where he was eliminated in the playoffs by Jacobs. Gushue, now 46, walked away with a record six Brier titles as a skip, one world championship, an Olympic gold (in 2006, when veteran Russ Howard called the shots for him) and an Olympic bronze (in 2022).
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