The Curling Group plans to launch professional curling league next spring
Article content
'Today's announcement is just the beginning with many more details to come, as we work to build a premium experience that will elevate the game for all.'
Specifics on player earnings, broadcast plans and event formats were not released. Details on the financial investment and cash structure were also not included.
The release did say that teams will be organized by region, with two each from Canada and Europe, and one each from the Asia-Pacific region and the United States.
There was no word on host cities but events are planned for Canada, the U.S., and Europe.
Each team will include five men and five women. Captains include Canada's Rachel Homan and Brad Jacobs, Scotland's Bruce Mouat, Switzerland's Alina Paetz, American Korey Dropkin and Japan's Chinami Yoshida.
Additional athletes and team names were expected to be announced later this year. The Curling Group said it will be the initial owner of each franchise.
Six-time Brier champion Brad Gushue said he was approached about participating but didn't feel ready to commit, adding he felt 'there's still some questions and some uncertainty there.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Winnipeg Free Press
6 hours ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
Canadian bantamweight boxer Amanda Galle signs with MVP, looks to add titles
TORONTO – Canadian boxer Amanda (Bambola) Galle already holds the IBO bantamweight title. Now the 36-year-old from Mississauga, Ont., wants to add to her collection. Galle (11-0-1) will get a bigger platform to do so, having signed with Most Valuable Promotions (MVP) co-founded by Jake Paul and Nakisa Bidarian. 'I know it's going to put me on big cards with tremendous viewership … Just a bigger stage, a bigger audience,' Galle said of what she expects from the new partnership. 'Family members having the ability to tune in from their couch and watch me on TV.' After signing with MVP, Canadian lightweight (Prince) Lucas Bahdi found himself on the undercard of Paul's November 2024 bout with Mike Tyson before a crowd of 72,300 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, where Bahdi won a majority decision over Italian Armando (La Furia del Quadraro) Casamonica. Shown on Netflix, the main event maxed out at 65 million concurrent streams. In addition to fighting before a bigger audience, Galle is looking to 'take my career to the next level and go collect all the goods that I'm working so hard for.' That would be the big four WBA, WBC, IBF and WBO titles. 'I want all the (championship) belts,' said Galle. The undisputed bantamweight (118-pound) title is on the line July 11 on MVP's all-women boxing card at Madison Square Garden, headlined by the trilogy fight between Ireland's Katie Taylor and Puerto Rico's Amanda Serrano for the undisputed super-lightweight title. The card sees American Shurretta Metcalf take on New Zealand-born Australian Cherneka Johnson with the bantamweight titles on the line. Galle won the vacant IBO title by in December 2023 defeating Venezuela's Niorkis Carreno and won a rematch last time out in December. She has won five straight since a draw with Mexico's Jaqueline Mucio Munoz in July 2022 and says she is ready to go again. 'I've been in the gym the last six months … feeling very strong, healthy and in shape,' she said. So ready that she told MVP that she is ready to step in, if needed, on the July 11 card. Denmark's Dina Thorslund was originally slated to face Metcalf in New York but has stepped away from fighting to have a baby. The MSG show also features Canadian Tamm Thibeault, a former Olympian and world amateur middleweight champion from Shawinigan, Que., who takes on American Mary Casamassa. Montreal's Jessica Camara takes on England's Chantelle Cameron on the card for the WBC interim super-lightweight title. Galle was handled previously by DiBella Entertainment and Toronto-based Lee Baxter Promotions. 'I have to give them gratitude that they did keep me busy' Galle said. 'And Lee Baxter brought the IBO world championship belt to my backyard in Toronto, so I was able to fight for it in front of all my fans … I displayed an Italian buffet of punches.' She said that win made her realize 'I could be the best. I can beat the best.' That's because Carreno fought Thorslund in April 2022, losing a unanimous decision for the WBO bantamweight title. 'And she gave (Thorslund) a hell of a more difficult time than she gave me,' added Galle. Galle started in combat sports at age six, earning her black belt in karate after being inspired by TV's 'Mighty Morphin Power Rangers.' Switching to boxing, she had her first fight at 16 and went on to win three national titles (on 2009, 2013 and 2018). Galle turned pro in 2019. Her nickname Bambola is Italian for doll. 'Fourteen years as an amateur (boxer), six years as a pro, I'm doing 20 years of boxing and I still classify my face as being a beautiful doll. So I'm fulfilling that name all right,' she said with a chuckle. A graduate of Toronto Metropolitan University (formerly Ryerson University) in early childhood education, Galle has always trained at All Canadian Martial Arts Academy in Mississauga. Today she teaches boxing at the gym's academy. She is also an ambassador for Fight To End Cancer in honour of her mother, who died in 2022 — nine years after being diagnosed with Stage 3 breast cancer. Galle won the Canadian super-bantamweight title two weeks before her mother died. — This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 11, 2025
Global News
7 hours ago
- Global News
‘Completely unacceptable': Mary Lou Retton apologizes after DUI charge
American gymnastics icon Mary Lou Retton on Tuesday entered a no contest plea to driving under the influence stemming from a May traffic stop in her hometown of Fairmont. A Marion County judge fined her USD$100, consistent with sentencing guidelines for first-time, non-aggravated offences, her lawyer Edmund J. Rollo said in a statement. Story continues below advertisement In a statement released through her lawyer, the 57-year-old Retton said she took full responsibility for her actions. Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy 'What happened was completely unacceptable. I make no excuses,' she said. 'To my family, friends and my fans: I have let you down, and for that I am deeply sorry. I am determined to learn and grow from this experience, and I am committed to making positive changes in my life. I truly appreciate your concern, encouragement and continued support.' Fairmont police stopped Retton on May 17 following a report about a person in a Porsche driving erratically. According to the criminal complaint, Retton smelled of alcohol and was slurring her words, and she failed a field sobriety test. Officers also reported observing a container of wine in the passenger seat. Retton was 16 when she became the first American female gymnast to win the all-around at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics. She also won two silver and two bronze medals to help bring gymnastics into the mainstream in the United States. View image in full screen Mary Lou Retton in action on balance beam during the Women's All-Around Team competition at Pauley Pavilion at the 1984 Summer Olympics inLos Angeles, CA. Jerry Cooke / Getty Images In 2023, Retton's family disclosed she was recuperating from a rare form of pneumonia that landed her in intensive care. Doctors found her oxygen levels dangerously low. Her medical team considered putting her on a ventilator as her condition worsened. Retton went on oxygen treatment and, after weeks in the hospital, improved enough to be sent home.
Winnipeg Free Press
8 hours ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
Tyler Adams says US soccer team tunes out criticism from former players
Tyler Adams says the U.S. soccer team has tuned out criticism from former players. Landon Donovan and Clint Dempsey, who share the American goals record with 57 each, are among those who have been critical of current regulars not in the struggling roster preparing for the CONCACAF Gold Cup. 'We don't talk about that internally as a group,' Adams said Wednesday during a Zoom interview with The Associated Press. 'The noise on the outside is the noise on the outside. I think we need to focus on what we need to do as a group and continue to build.' Star Christian Pulisic is skipping the June camp and Gold Cup to rest after playing about 120 games for club and country over two seasons. 'Whether it was Gold Cup, whether it was Copa (América), whether it was Confederations Cup, whether it was the World Cup, I wasn't going to miss competitions,' Dempsey said last week on the 'Men in Blazers' podcast. 'For me, I don't understand it because that wasn't my mentality. I always wanted to play in those games.' Watching Portugal celebrate its win over Spain in Sunday's European Nations League final, Donovan said on the Fox postgame show: 'I can't help but think about our guys on vacation not wanting to play in Gold Cup.' Pulisic has not spoken publicly of his decision. The U.S. has lost four straight games, its longest skid since 2007, following a 4-0 rout Tuesday night by Switzerland. 'This is part of the process,' Adams said. 'You're going to win games. You're going to lose games. It's about continuing to build that. I think we're on the right path. We have to continue to build and try the things that we've been training. It'll take a little bit of time, but it will come together.' Adams didn't dress for the Switzerland friendly but is confident he will be ready for the Gold Cup, where the Americans open Sunday against Trinidad and Tobago. 'A little turf toe-type injury. More of an overuse thing probably than anything — overload. It was something that I picked up when I came into camp,' Adams said. 'Progressing well right now, but just trying to be smart and manage it.' Adams, who captained the U.S. at the 2022 World Cup, funded a pair of mini-pitches at Pulaski Park in Poughkeepsie, New York, near his home in Wappinger. He spoke on the Zoom about his work with Allstate, the U.S. Soccer Foundation and Black Star Soccer to construct fields about the size of basketball courts at the Fisher Magnet Upper Academy in Detroit and The Bell Avenue School in Yeadon, Pennsylvania. 'Before the World Cup hopefully we plan to do one more with a city unnamed yet,' Adams said. 'It's something that I think has real impact, continues to grow the sport, serves underserved communities.' Now 26, Adams is feeling back to his old self. He had back surgery last July with Dr. Robert Watkins and returned to the field with England's Bournemouth on Oct. 26. Adams played in 28 Premier League matches this season after being limited to three in 2023-24 because of leg injuries. 'It's definitely enjoyable when you're healthy,' he said. 'The 16-to-18 months that it was just on and off inconsistency is something I never had in my career and never had to battle. And then when it hits you and you go through that, you just learn different ways to navigate things, enjoy life, just not take things for granted, all the little things.' Since Mauricio Pochettino took over as U.S. coach last fall, players have had more autonomy to break away from rigid positioning employed by his predecessor, Gregg Berhalter. Winnipeg Jets Game Days On Winnipeg Jets game days, hockey writers Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe send news, notes and quotes from the morning skate, as well as injury updates and lineup decisions. Arrives a few hours prior to puck drop. 'From a positional standpoint, obviously we had probably a little bit of a different structure under Gregg,' Adams said. 'Maurizio gives the players freedom to find spots they're comfortable in and see how they can affect the game in different ways. I think our attacking players definitely have freedom to try and find the ball and create things in the right areas of the field. So, yeah, I think he gives everyone freedom, but there's still structure to the way that we want to play.' Adams will be with the U.S. team in Austin, Texas, next Wednesday, and following intently when the Premier League releases its 2025-26 schedule at 3 a.m. CDT. He feels improved because of his time with Leeds in 2022-23 and Bournemouth the past two seasons. 'After you play in the Premier League, every game feels slow,'' he said. 'No matter what game I play in now the game feels slow. You look at your schedule when the season comes out and you have to play in a row Arsenal, Tottenham, Man City, Liverpool, Manchester United, all these big games back to back to back you just learn how to make decisions quicker and if you don't, you get punished.' ___ AP soccer:
