The Crown Royal Players’ Championship is currently underway in southeastern Manitoba, featuring the top 24 curling teams from around the world. This event serves as the final preparation before the upcoming 2026 Milano Cortina Olympics.
Taking place at the Southeast Event Centre in Steinbach, the top 12 men’s and women’s teams based on year-to-date rankings are competing in the Grand Slam of Curling event. Notably, 13 of the teams participating in this tournament will also be representing their countries at the Winter Olympics in Italy next month.
In a recent match, Scotland’s Ross Whyte led his team to a 6-3 victory over Winnipeg’s Mike McEwen’s team. BJ Neufeld, playing as the third for McEwen’s team, acknowledged the strong performance by Scotland, mentioning that they made it challenging for them to secure a win.
Neufeld, who has familial ties to Steinbach, expressed his appreciation for playing in the new Southeast Event Centre and highlighted the potential for hosting more major events in Manitoba. The communications director of the Southeast Event Centre, Michelle Sawatzky-Koop, emphasized the positive impact of such events in attracting visitors to Steinbach.
Among the spectators is curling enthusiast Billy Morton from Scotland, who traveled to Manitoba to support his friends and former teammates. He praised the facilities at the Southeast Event Centre, noting their superior quality compared to those in Scotland.
In another match, Gimli’s Kerri Einarson led her team to victory against Momoha Tabata’s team from Japan. The Players’ Championship will continue throughout the weekend, with the finals scheduled for Sunday.
The tournament has drawn attention to the vibrant curling community in Steinbach, showcasing top talent from around the world competing at the new event center.