In a surprise update that reshapes one of Canada’s most decorated rinks, team einarson curling announced it will continue without longtime third Val Sweeting. The press release, issued March 26, 2026 at 11: 11AM ET, also confirmed the departures of alternate Krysten Karwacki and coach Reid Carruthers, leaving the five-time national champions facing a rapid roster reset after a world silver finish.
Team Einarson Curling: Background and Context
The core quartet — Kerri Einarson, Val Sweeting, Shannon Birchard and Briane Harris — came together before the 2018-19 season, each arriving with skip experience from previous rinks. That alignment translated into sustained domestic dominance: four consecutive Scotties Tournament of Hearts titles from 2020 to 2023, followed by a fifth Scotties crown this year in Mississauga with Karlee Burgess moved into the lead position.
Across the lineup change announced in the press release, several concrete details frame the decision: Val Sweeting, identified as a longtime third for the group, said she was uncertain about her next step but looked forward to her next chapter. Krysten Karwacki, who has served as alternate since 2021, will also depart, and Reid Carruthers — who joined the operation in 2022 and who retired from men’s competitive curling at the end of this season — will no longer be coach. The team said they will provide an update on their future “coming soon. “
Deep analysis: World final misses, domestic success and the ripple effects
The split arrives after a season that offered both validation and frustration. Team einarson curling captured its fifth national title but again fell short on the world stage: bronze medals were secured in previous world appearances, and this year the rink finished with silver after a loss in the world women’s final. The championship match, decided by a pair of crucial misses at key moments, left the Canadians with a second-place finish and renewed questions about how to translate domestic supremacy into global gold.
Personnel turnover now creates multiple operational implications. On-ice chemistry had been built around a back-end tandem that combined experience and complementary shotmaking; removing a longtime third alters both shot-calling dynamics and strategic comfort. Off-ice, the loss of a coach who had been part of the program since 2022 and an alternate who has been with the squad since 2021 changes preparation, practice patterns and in-competition support. The team’s plan to announce next steps will be watched closely by competitors, selectors and national program planners who track elite team construction and international readiness.
Expert perspectives, regional impact and what comes next?
Voices from inside the season underscore the tight margins that shaped this outcome. Kerri Einarson, skip of Team Einarson, reflected on a handful of shots that came up light in the world final and conceded they left opportunities for the opponent; that silver marked the team’s best world finish after earlier bronze results. Val Sweeting, longtime third for Team Einarson, said, “I’m not sure exactly what the future holds yet, but I look forward to seeing where the next chapter takes me. ” Xenia Schwaller, Switzerland skip who won the world title, emphasized the performance of her youthful squad in taking gold.
Regionally, the shakeup will reverberate through national selection conversations and provincial programs. Team einarson curling’s domestic record — five Scotties titles and multiple Grand Slam victories during Sweeting’s tenure — had set a benchmark for continuity producing sustained success. Now, with multiple departures, provincial rivalries and national trial fields will likely see renewed opportunity as the reigning national champions reconfigure.
For fans and stakeholders tracking elite women’s curling, the central questions are clear: Can the core regroup to chase that elusive world title, or will falling back on new personnel require a season of recalibration? With an update promised soon, the next moves will shape not only the team’s trajectory but the balance of power at upcoming national and international events. How will team einarson curling translate five-time domestic success into a retooled bid for world gold?
