Atlantic Canadian curling teams have gathered in St. John’s for the rapidly-growing Rick Rowsell Classic
Rick Rowsell was an accomplished Newfoundland and Labrador curler who loved the game, and made Brier appearances over three decades – in 1996, 2000 and 2019.
After succumbing to brain cancer in 2020, the Rick Rowsell Legacy Fund was created – as well as the Rick Rowsell Classic curling event.
In just a few short years the Classic has grown from an in-house St. John’s event to feature 27 Atlantic Canadian squads from four provinces: NL, Prince Edward island, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia.
This year’s edition is underway in St. John’s. It features 18 men’s teams, nine women’s squads and wraps up with the championship finals on Dec. 14.
Organizers are looking to grow the event even further in the next Olympic quadrennial. As Newfoundland and Labrador’s largest World Curling Tour cashpsiel, the Rick Rowsell Classic is well on its way to becoming a flagship competitive tournament in Atlantic Canada.
The event timing is perfect given the imminent start to provincial championships that are compressed on the women’s side, due to the early dates of the 2026 Scotties Tournament of Hearts in Mississauga, Ont.
One provincial or territorial championship has already been decided, with New Brunswick crowning the young Melodie Forsythe squad, who defeated Andrea Kelly twice to win the red hearts.
Naturally, the location of the 2026 Brier – St. John’s – has got men’s teams in a tizzy, which only adds to the shootout hype this weekend.
Admission to the RE/MAX Centre – the St. John’s Curling Club – is free throughout the weekend. Games can also be viewed on the club’s YouTube page.