A new era in professional curling is set to begin this spring, with a strong Manitoba connection at the forefront.
The Curling Group announced the schedule and format for the inaugural Rock League season, a new professional league aimed at reshaping how the sport is presented and experienced. The league will launch with a condensed preview season April 6-12, at the Mattamy Athletic Centre in Toronto.
Among the headliners is Gimli’s Kerri Einarson, who will suit up for Shield Curling Club as part of a deep Canadian roster that blends elite experience with international talent.
Einarson joins a women’s lineup that includes Tracy Fleury, Agnes Knochenhauer, Carole Howald and Marlee Powers, while the men’s side is led by Olympic champion Brad Jacobs.
Gimli’s Colton Lott was initially slated to join Shield Curling Club, he will not compete in the inaugural season after opting to take extended time off following a busy curling season.
The six-team league, featuring Alpine Curling Club, Frontier Curling Club, Maple United, Northern United, Shield Curling Club and Typhoon Curling Club, will introduce a unique format combining men’s, women’s and mixed doubles play within each matchup.
“Today’s fans want more than a seat in the stands. They want to feel the energy, be part of the action, and share in the passion of the sport,” Curling Group CEO Nic Sulsky said in a release. “Rock League’s debut season will be a showcase of the innovation and atmosphere that will define a new era in curling, honouring the game’s roots while making it more accessible, more interactive, and way more fun.”
Each game will see two franchises facing off against each other in three different matchups across the sheets: men’s teams, women’s teams and mixed doubles. The franchise that takes at least two of the matchups wins the game.
Things get “mixed” up for the final day of preliminary play on Friday, April 10. Each franchise will field two mixed fours teams, with each game worth one point toward the standings.
The top four franchises advance to the semifinals on Saturday, April 11, followed by the third-place game and championship finals on Sunday, April 12. All playoff games will follow the round-robin format.
Following the preview season, Rock League is set to expand into a full five-week schedule in 2027, further establishing what organizers hope will become a staple on the international curling calendar.
With Olympic champions, world medallists and fan-focused innovation at its core, the league’s launch marks a significant step toward modernizing the sport.
