The prestigious Crown Royal Players’ Championship is underway in southeastern Manitoba, featuring the top 24 curling teams globally before the 2026 Milano Cortina Olympics. The Grand Slam of Curling event at the Southeast Event Centre in Steinbach has brought together the leading 12 men’s and women’s teams based on year-to-date rankings.
Thirteen of the teams participating in the tournament are set to compete at the Winter Olympics in Italy next month. In a recent match, Scotland’s Ross Whyte outplayed the team led by Mike McEwen of Winnipeg, resulting in a 6-3 victory for the Scottish team.
BJ Neufeld, stepping in as the third player for McEwen’s team, acknowledged Scotland’s strong performance, expressing that they faced tough competition. Neufeld, with family ties to Steinbach and roots in Gimli, highlighted the significance of playing in the newly opened Southeast Event Centre.
Southeast Event Centre’s communications director, Michelle Sawatzky-Koop, emphasized the event as a significant boost for Steinbach, attracting visitors to the city. The population of Steinbach, often seen as a small community, is around 20,000 residents.
Visitors like Billy Morton from Scotland have praised the facilities at the event, emphasizing the high-quality infrastructure compared to what they have in Scotland. The tournament has drawn international spectators like Morton, who are eager to support their friends and former teammates competing in Manitoba.
The tournament will continue throughout the weekend, with the finals scheduled for Sunday. The event has not only showcased top-level curling but also brought attention to Steinbach as a host city for major sporting events.
