The free agency period at the start of an Olympic quadrennial is a time of significant player movement and team adjustments in the sport of curling. Recently, surprise announcements and speculation have created a sort of mid-quad trade deadline, with teams looking to make strategic moves before the final 18-month push to the Canadian Curling Trials. This period has seen some big names changing teams, as well as a few curling legends announcing their retirement, making it a memorable week in the sport.
One of the notable team adjustments saw veteran skip Brad Jacobs leaving Reid Carruthers’ side to join Brendan Bottcher’s team. Jacobs’ new teammates, Marc Kennedy, Brett Gallant, and Ben Hebert, made a change at the skip position by replacing Bottcher, who became a top free agent. Jacobs’ decision to join Bottcher’s team was finalized, while Carruthers was left to consider his options with his front end. Jacobs expressed excitement about the challenge of joining a new team and welcomed the opportunity that came his way.
On the retirement front, Jennifer Jones, considered one of the greatest women’s skips of all time, played her last game at the Players’ Championship in Toronto. Four-time world men’s champion Glenn Howard also announced his retirement after a career that spanned over 40 years. Other changes in teams across the country have been seen, including Karsten Sturmay’s team disbanding, Kyle Doering joining Aaron Sluchinski’s rink, John Epping forming a new team, and Meghan Walter stepping away to focus on her studies.
The Canadian Curling Trials, set for late November 2025 in Halifax, will determine the teams that will represent Canada at the 2026 Milan Olympics. The quadrennial cycle offers teams the opportunity to make changes if things are not working out, allowing for a fresh start leading into the final push to qualify for the Trials. The competitive nature of the sport means that players are always looking to improve their teams, even if it means making unexpected changes.
Former teammates of retiring curlers, such as Brent Laing, reflect on the impact these players had on the sport. The end of the quadrennial cycle provides a time for reflection and adjustment within teams, as they aim to optimize their chances of success in upcoming competitions. Brad Gushue’s team topped the Canadian rankings, closely followed by Brendan Bottcher’s squad, who aims for a successful next iteration. The decision to make changes within a team is often driven by the desire to achieve set goals and objectives in the sport.
