Mid-Season Roster Changes Highlight Growing Trend in Canadian Curling
The recent mid-season departure of Karlee Burgess from Team Chelsea Carey to join Team Kerri Einarson has brought attention to a growing trend in Canadian curling: mid-quadrennial roster changes. As the sport’s competitive landscape intensifies in the lead-up to the Canadian Curling Trials and national championships, top teams—including those led by Kevin Koe, Brad Gushue, and Matt Dunstone—have also made adjustments to their lineups. These changes underscore the high stakes as teams strive to build the most competitive rosters ahead of the upcoming Olympic Trials and the 2026 Milan Olympics.
Strategic Shifts Amid High-Pressure Goals
Team Einarson’s addition of Burgess, replacing the injured Shannon Birchard, is just one example of how curling teams are making tactical roster adjustments late in the Olympic cycle. For Einarson, these moves are simply a part of the nature of high-performance sports. As the pressure mounts to form the strongest possible team, especially with the Olympic Trials approaching in November 2025, teams are looking for any edge they can get to maximize their chances of securing spots in the 2026 Olympics.
In this high-stakes environment, players like Karlee Burgess find themselves navigating both opportunity and uncertainty. While joining a top team offers the potential for great success, it also comes with risks. For Burgess, the move to Team Einarson was both a tactical decision and a leap into the unknown. It provided an opportunity to compete at the highest level, but it also left her without the security of a long-term contract for the next season. This uncertainty is a common reality in high-performance curling, where players often face precarious positions despite their talent and dedication.
Challenges of Mid-Season Changes
While mid-season roster changes can offer teams the chance to optimize their lineup, they also come with significant challenges. One of the key hurdles is the time required to build team chemistry. For some teams, this might take just a few events; for others, it could take an entire season. With the Olympic Trials just around the corner, the urgency to solidify lineups is higher than ever.
Significant roster changes have already been seen among some of Canada’s top teams. Kevin Koe, for example, added Aaron Sluchinski to his squad, while Brad Gushue brought on Brendan Bottcher. These changes signal shifts in strategy as teams look to solidify their rosters before the competitive season reaches its peak. The Olympic Trials represent a major milestone, and the pressure to make the right roster decisions in the short window of time left is immense.
The Ripple Effect: Team Carey and the Future of Roster Stability
The impact of Burgess’s departure is particularly pronounced for Team Carey, which lost its pre-qualified status for both the Scotties and the Olympic Trials. Without a vice, Carey’s team now faces difficulties entering major competitions in the upcoming months. This has sparked discussions within the curling community about the need for greater roster stability, especially during the lead-up to high-stakes events like the Olympics. Some argue that the sport could benefit from a moratorium on mid-season roster changes, which might offer teams more time to develop cohesion and stability.
Curling Canada has taken notice of these unprecedented roster shifts and has indicated that the issue will be addressed in future evaluations of the sport’s high-performance operations. The challenges posed by mid-season changes, including the risk of destabilizing teams and making it harder for top teams to enter major events, are being closely examined as part of broader efforts to improve the sport's competitive structure.
Nunavut’s Return to the Scotties: A New Chapter
In addition to these roster developments, another noteworthy event in Canadian curling is the return of Nunavut to the Scotties Tournament of Hearts after a year’s absence. Nunavut will be represented by Julia Weagle’s team at the 2025 Scotties, to be held in Thunder Bay, Ontario. The Nunavut Curling Association did not field a team in 2024 due to a lack of competitive players and the early closure of its curling facility.
Nunavut’s return marks a significant milestone for the region and underscores the dynamic changes unfolding in Canadian curling as teams prepare for both national championships and the Olympic stage. The re-entry of Nunavut into the Scotties highlights the broader growth and development of the sport in Canada, where teams are continually adapting to changing circumstances and striving for excellence.
As Canadian curling teams make roster changes in the run-up to the Olympic Trials and the 2026 Milan Olympics, the sport is undergoing a period of significant evolution. These mid-season shifts are reflective of the high-pressure, results-driven nature of the sport. With key decisions being made now, teams are focused on building the best possible lineup to secure Olympic berths. While these changes can enhance a team’s chances, they also pose challenges in terms of chemistry and stability. The curling community will be closely watching how these shifts impact the competitive landscape and whether measures are taken to ensure greater roster stability in the future.
