This week, the Crown Royal Players’ Championship in southeastern Manitoba features the world’s top 24 curling teams, serving as a final preparation before the 2026 Milano Cortina Olympics.
At the Southeast Event Centre in Steinbach, the top 12 men’s and women’s teams from the year-to-date rankings are competing in the Grand Slam of Curling event, which commenced on Tuesday.
Thirteen of the teams participating in Steinbach are set to compete in the Winter Olympics in Italy next month.
In a match on Wednesday, Scotland’s Ross Whyte led his team to a 6-3 victory over Winnipeg’s Mike McEwen’s team.
BJ Neufeld, substituting as the third player for McEwen’s team, acknowledged Scotland’s strong performance, stating they made it challenging for his team by excelling in their play.
Neufeld, with family ties to Steinbach, found the match on Wednesday particularly significant. It was his first time playing at the new Southeast Event Centre, which opened in August.
Expressing admiration for the venue, Neufeld highlighted its uniqueness in Manitoba and expressed hope for hosting more prominent events like the Grand Slams in the future.
The event at the Southeast Event Centre is seen as a positive development for Steinbach by drawing visitors to the city, according to communications director Michelle Sawatzky-Koop.
Despite Steinbach’s perception as a small community, with a population of around 20,000, the new event centre is expected to pave the way for more opportunities in the future.
Curling enthusiast Billy Morton, who traveled from Scotland to support his friends and former teammates, praised the top-notch facilities in Steinbach, surpassing those in Scotland.
Gimli’s Kerri Einarson’s team also secured a victory on Wednesday, defeating Momoha Tabata’s team from Japan 8-7.
The Players’ Championship will continue throughout the weekend, culminating in the finals on Sunday.
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