Winter is approaching, and the winter sports season, including top events in curling and figure skating, is set to kick off in the coming weeks. The Grand Slam curling season will start with the Invitational in Victoria, featuring five events leading up to the Players’ Cup in December. The Rock League, a new curling league with a unique format, will begin its full season in January, with tournaments in Canada and the United States.
Canadian curling star Brad Gushue retired after a successful career, while Brad Jacobs and Rachel Homan’s teams are gearing up for the upcoming season with some lineup changes. In long track speed skating, the World Cup tour will commence in November in Beijing, with the final stop in Calgary in February. Notable retirements in speed skating include Ivanie Blondin and Ted-Jan Bloemen, with new talent emerging for the upcoming season.
Short track speed skating star Will Dandjinou will be switching to long track this season after a disappointing performance at the Olympics. Canadian Steven Dubois and Courtney Sarault had successful outings at recent competitions, with upcoming events to watch. In figure skating, the Grand Prix circuit will start in France before heading to Canada, with promising Canadian skaters making their mark on the international stage.
On the hockey front, Canada’s men’s team will have to wait until the 2028 World Cup of Hockey for a chance at redemption, while the women’s team aims to challenge the reigning champions at the upcoming world championships in Denmark. Other winter sports, including alpine skiing, ski and snowboard cross, and freestyle skiing, are gearing up for their respective seasons and competitions.
As the winter sports season unfolds, fans can expect thrilling competitions and new talent emerging across various disciplines.
