Team Kerri Einarson’s lineup will be slightly different this week at the WFC Masters in Guelph, ON.
With Shannon Birchard out due to injury, filling her place at second is three-time world junior champion Karlee Burgess who hails from Winnipeg.
Burgess, 26, spent the 2024 season on Team Chelsea Carey, which had competed against Team Einarson at past events.
This week she threw with Team Einarson for the first time and will make her season debut with the team when the WFC Masters gets underway Tuesday at the Sleeman Centre.
“It’s going really well and it’s nice that we’re all on the same program in working with Curling Canada and coaches and doing these training camps,” said Einarson, the five-time Grand Slam of Curling champion and Gimli native.
“We all kind of throw quite similar so it’s definitely been easy putting the broom down for her and we’ll see what it’s like in an actual game in a week. I know that she’s got a lot of energy and we’re excited to have that. She’s very patient out there, and we’re looking forward to having her and think she’ll be a great addition to our team.”
Birchard’s knee injury is expected to keep her out for the remainder of the season.
She last hit the sheet a month ago in Swift Current at a tour event where she was unable to finish the competition.
Einarson and the team hope she can now make a full recovery and eventually return to the lineup healthy for next season.
“When we found out and Shannon made the call to step back for the rest of the season it was definitely very difficult on her and on us,” said Einarson. “I love having her on the ice, she’s a great teammate and shot maker so to not have her, it’s going to be tough but Karlee’s a great teammate and shot maker as well. It was a hard decision for her and she’s just worried about recovering and rehabbing her knee. She just wants to really focus on that and get ready for next season.”
Team Einarson’s lineup now includes skip Kerri Einarson (Gimli), third Val Sweeting (Lottie Lake), second Karlee Burgess (Winnipeg), lead Briane Harris (Petersfield), and alternate Krysten Karwacki (Winnipeg).
Their tournament begins at 3 p.m. Tuesday when they take on Team Skrlik in the preliminary round.
They will then face Team Tabata on Wednesday, Team Homan on Thursday, and Team Fujisawa on Friday to finish off the preliminary round before the quarterfinals, semi-finals, and finals on Saturday and Sunday.
The full schedule can be found at thegrandslamofcurling.com
