The Crown Royal Players’ Championship is currently underway in southeastern Manitoba, featuring the world’s top 24 curling teams. This event serves as a crucial preparation ahead of the 2026 Milano Cortina Olympics.
Hosted at the Southeast Event Centre in Steinbach, the tournament showcases the top 12 men’s and women’s teams based on year-to-date rankings. Notably, thirteen of the participating teams are set to compete in the upcoming Winter Olympics in Italy.
In a recent match, the team led by Mike McEwen from Winnipeg faced a 6-3 defeat against Scotland’s Ross Whyte. BJ Neufeld, filling in as the third player for McEwen’s team, acknowledged Scotland’s strong performance, stating that they made it challenging for his team.
Growing up in Gimli, Manitoba, Neufeld has familial ties to Steinbach, making the match on Wednesday particularly meaningful for him. He also praised the new Southeast Event Centre, expressing hope that it will attract more major events like the Grand Slam of Curling.
The event has drawn attention to Steinbach, a city with a population of around 20,000 people, showcasing its capabilities beyond being perceived as a small community. The tournament has also welcomed international spectators like Billy Morton from Scotland, who praised the facilities and the quality of play on display.
Kerri Einarson from Gimli led her team to victory against Momoha Tabata’s team from Japan in another match on Wednesday. The Players’ Championship will continue throughout the weekend, with the finals scheduled for Sunday.