The Crown Royal Players’ Championship is currently underway in southeastern Manitoba, featuring the world’s top 24 curling teams. This event serves as the final preparation before the upcoming 2026 Milano Cortina Olympics. Taking place at the Southeast Event Centre in Steinbach, the tournament includes the top 12 men’s and women’s teams from the year-to-date rankings.
Thirteen of the competing teams are set to participate in 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. BJ Neufeld, who played as the substitute third for McEwen’s team, acknowledged Scotland’s exceptional performance, noting that they presented a tough challenge.
Neufeld, with family ties to Steinbach, expressed the significance of playing in the new Southeast Event Centre, which recently opened in August. Impressed by the venue, he highlighted its potential to attract more major events like the Grand Slam of Curling. The event has brought new visitors to Steinbach, a city with a population of around 20,000, according to Southeast Event Centre communications director Michelle Sawatzky-Koop.
Billy Morton, a curling enthusiast from Scotland, traveled to Manitoba to support his friends and former teammates competing at the championship. He praised the facilities in Steinbach, emphasizing their superior quality compared to those in Scotland. Meanwhile, Gimli’s Kerri Einarson led her team to victory against Momoha Tabata’s Japanese team.
The Players’ Championship will continue throughout the weekend, with the finals scheduled for Sunday. This event showcases some of the world’s best curlers in action and is expected to draw further attention to Steinbach.