The landscape of professional curling changed dramatically on Tuesday with a major announcement. The sport's future brightened as The Curling Group unveiled the complete athlete roster for the groundbreaking Rock League. This new worldwide professional circuit will feature 60 of the planet's top curlers, equally split between 30 men and 30 women.
A New Era for the Sport
The revelation of the six teams and their star players marks a pivotal moment for curling. The league, which is set to launch its inaugural season this coming spring, is designed as the world's first truly mixed-gender professional sports circuit. Each of the six squads will be managed by a General Manager and will consist of five men and five women, creating a unique and dynamic team structure.
"This was a chance to help shape something truly new for curling," said Rock League strategic advisor and Olympic champion John Morris. He emphasized the significance of the moment, noting the assembled talent is both energetic and impressive. Morris believes the innovative team dynamics will elevate the sport in a fresh way that fans have never witnessed before.
The Teams and Their Star-Studded Rosters
The six franchises represent a global footprint for the new league, with teams based in Europe, Asia-Pacific, Canada, and the United States. To maintain regional identity, at least 60% of each roster is comprised of athletes from the team's home region. For competitive balance in this first season, teams were allowed to sign up to four import players.
The talent pool is a who's who of modern curling. Canadian fans will recognize reigning national champion skips like Rachel Homan and Brad Jacobs among the headliners. Other notable skips and stars from around the world, including Sweden's Niklas Edin, Switzerland's Alina Pätz, Italy's Stefania Constantini, and Scotland's Bruce Mouat, have also been assigned to teams.
The six competing clubs are:
- Alpine Curling Club (Europe): GM Eve Muirhead. Captains: Alina Pätz (Women), Joël Retornaz (Men).
- Typhoon Curling Club (Asia-Pacific): GM JD Lind. Captains: Chinami Yoshida (Women), Niklas Edin (Men).
- Maple United (Canada): GM Glenn Howard. Captains: Rachel Homan (Women), Matt Dunstone (Men).
- Frontier Curling Club (USA): GM Chris Plys. Captain: Stefania Constantini (Women).
- Shield Curling Club (Canada): GM to be announced. Captains: Kerri Einarson (Women), Brad Jacobs (Men).
- Northern United (Europe): GM to be announced. Captains: Marianne Rørvik (Women), Bruce Mouat (Men).
Shaping the Future of Curling
The creation of the Rock League represents the most significant structural change to professional curling in decades. By committing to a fully mixed-gender model from its inception, the league is positioning itself as a progressive and fan-friendly product. The move is expected to create new rivalries, showcase diverse playing styles, and provide athletes with a premier, consistent competitive platform outside of traditional national and world championships.
With the teams and athletes now officially named, the focus shifts to the spring launch. Curling enthusiasts across Canada and the globe are eagerly anticipating the first stones thrown in this ambitious new chapter for the sport, one that promises to blend elite competition with an innovative team format.
