The Grand Slam of Curling is revisiting traditional formats in its ongoing events, notably the reintroduction of extra ends. This decision coincides with the HearingLife Canadian Open in Saskatoon, where twelve teams from nine countries are competing. Acknowledging the importance of these athletes who are heading to the Olympics, organizers opted to incorporate extra ends in tiebreakers and playoffs, while keeping the draw-to-the-button shootout for round-robin matches.
Background on the Format Changes
In September, a shootout format was first trialed during the AMJ Masters as a replacement for extra ends. This was later expanded during playoffs in the Co-op Tour Challenge in October and November’s Kioti GSOC Tahoe. The shifts aimed to create thrilling moments, leading to events such as:
- Anna Hasselborg from Sweden narrowly missed advancing due to a draw by Rachel Homan.
- Bruce Mouat from Scotland won against Canada’s Matt Dunstone by just three millimeters in Tahoe’s men’s final.
Marketing considerations, including the desire to limit game length for television and introduce a competitive edge reminiscent of NHL shootouts, influenced these changes. However, feedback from curlers has been mixed.
Feedback from Athletes
Many athletes expressed varied opinions on the new format. Jennifer Jones, a world and Olympic champion, noted that strategies shifted with players divided in their preferences. She stated,
“Some players loved it. Some players didn’t like it at all. And some players said ‘I’m OK with it during the round robin, but in the playoffs, I want to have an extra end.’”
Jones confirmed that extra ends would remain for the playoffs in the upcoming Players’ Championship in Steinbach, Manitoba. A customary end-of-season player survey will help determine future format changes.
Innovations in Curling
The Grand Slam events have historically served as testing grounds for new curling adaptations. Examples include:
- Transitioning from traditional ten-end games to eight-end contests.
- Implementation of center line guard rules adopted by Curling Canada in 2023, following Grand Slam trials.
- Reduction of team thinking time to 30 minutes for eight-end games, down from 31.
Furthermore, a new rule was applied where teams can blank an end only once per game. Repeating the blank results in losing the hammer, promoting more aggressive play.
Upcoming Events and League Formation
The Curling Group recently announced the formation of a new Rock League, scheduled to debut in April 2024 in Toronto. This league features six international teams with mixed male and female rosters. Key highlights include:
- Each team will consist of five men and five women, allowing up to four imports.
- Rachel Homan and Brad Jacobs will lead Canada’s teams.
- A total prize purse of $250,000 will be awarded.
The Rock League will begin with a seven-day preview season, later expanding into a five-week season in selected locations, including Moose Jaw, Halifax, and Utica, New York, among others.
The Grand Slam of Curling continues to innovate and adapt, providing exciting developments for players and fans alike. These changes aim to enhance the sport’s appeal while maintaining a competitive edge.
