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The Manitoba women’s curling scene saw rapid change this week as two of the province’s highest-ranked rinks announced significant personnel moves. On March 26, 2026, Team Kerri Einarson revealed a reworking of its lineup including the departure of longtime third Val Sweeting and alternate Krysten Karwacki, while also confirming that Reid Carruthers will step away from his role as coach after recently retiring as a player. The news arrives days after Team Einarson took silver at the World Women’s Curling Championship in Calgary, where they lost the gold-medal game on March 22, 2026, to Switzerland.
At the same time, Team Kaitlyn Lawes announced it was splitting. Skip Kaitlyn Lawes and lead Kristin Gordon said they would take a year away from competitive play, while second Jocelyn Peterman and third Selena Njegovan continue to evaluate options for the coming season. These moves follow a season in which Lawes’ rink won the 2026 Manitoba Scotties but fell to Team Einarson in the national Scotties final in February, and ultimately did not reach the grand slam victory many expected.
What changed within Team Einarson
Team Einarson, a unit that first formed eight years ago, confirmed that Shannon Birchard (second) and lead Karlee Burgess will remain with skip Kerri Einarson. The decision to part ways with third Val Sweeting marks the end of a partnership that produced five national Scotties Tournament of Hearts titles, including four consecutive championships. The team also announced that alternate Krysten Karwacki will depart; Karwacki had been temporarily elevated to lead during the period when Briane Harris was suspended in early 2026 for a doping-related matter before Burgess joined the lineup. In addition to roster changes, the team confirmed that Reid Carruthers, who recently retired from playing, will no longer serve as the squad’s coach.
Why Team Lawes is pausing and what that means
Team Kaitlyn Lawes has chosen to disband after four seasons together. The decision is partly personal and partly performance-driven: while they were a top-five team nationally, they failed to secure a grand slam victory and did not make the Olympic trials playoffs last season. Lawes and lead Kristin Gordon announced plans to step away from competition for one season, creating immediate uncertainty for second Jocelyn Peterman and third Selena Njegovan, who have begun exploring new partnerships. Njegovan’s connection to both Einarson and Birchard has been noted by observers as a logical fit should Team Einarson seek a replacement with existing chemistry.
Implications for Manitoba and national curling
These developments will reverberate across Manitoba and Canada. Team Einarson remains a high-profile outfit despite the recent silver at the world championship, and the loss of Sweeting alters both experience and strategic dynamics within the rink. Meanwhile, Team Lawes’ pause removes a consistent contender from the lineup of teams that challenge for provincial and national titles. For fans and rival teams, the changes raise immediate questions about who will form competitive rinks for the next season and how provincial rankings will be affected.
Potential replacements and short-term timeline
With announcements made on March 26, 2026, teams have limited time to finalize rosters before the next competitive cycle. Names already in circulation include former teammates and free agents who can slot into positions such as third or alternate. Selena Njegovan, who has prior playing connections with members of Team Einarson, is frequently mentioned as a candidate to step into the third position, though no formal moves have been confirmed. The window for forming competitive teams will also be shaped by player decisions about breaks, retirements and coaching availability.
What this means for competition and development
Beyond immediate roster mechanics, the shakeup affects development pathways and the balance of experience across the field. Team Einarson’s departure of a veteran third interrupts a long-standing core that captured multiple national Scotties titles, while Team Lawes’ hiatus reduces the depth of established teams at top events. For younger players and bench athletes, vacancies present opportunity: provincial trials, grand slams and national playdowns will now feature a reshuffled competitive map. Coaches, administrators and athletes will watch closely as new alliances form ahead of the next season.