Curler Karlee Burgess joins Team Einarson to replace injured Shannon Birchard

When Shannon Birchard’s knee injury flared up last month, it set in motion a series of events that changed the face of two teams and impacted the year’s biggest Canadian women’s curling championship.

Team Kerri Einarson now has a replacement player in Karlee Burgess, Team Chelsea Carey has lost its vice and berths in the Scotties Tournament of Hearts and Canadian Curling Trials, and Team Selena Sturmay has an unexpected place in the national qualifiers.

This all adds up to a wild start to a critical calendar year ahead of the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan-Cortina, Italy.

“It’s crazy. I don’t think we’ve ever seen anything like it,” Sturmay said Friday from Edmonton. “Obviously there have been team changes and player changes, but this one really had a trickle-down effect.”

Birchard made his season debut last month at a tour event in Swift Current, Sask., but was unable to finish the competition. A team meeting was held after the event to determine next steps.

“Shannon decided it would probably be best for the team if she focused on rehabbing her knee and allowing us to find someone to replace her for the rest of the season,” Einarson said from Gimli, Man. “It was definitely a difficult conversation to have. We were very sad about that.

“I love Shannon and she’s a great teammate, so it was tough for everyone.”

The team decided to reach out to Burgess, Einarson said, to see “where she was” and if she would be willing to join the four-time national champions.

“She took a few weeks to really think about it and thought it was a great opportunity for her,” Einarson said. “She decided to join us, so we’re very happy. It’s nice to have some good news for a change.”

Einarson leader Briane Harris has not played with the team since she was provisionally suspended last February for up to four years after testing positive for the banned substance Ligandrol.

The Court of Arbitration for Sport has yet to announce a decision on his doping violation appeal. Substitute Krysten Karwacki has played the lead role in his absence.

Einarson received an injury waiver from Curling Canada to retain eligibility for nationals Feb. 14-23 in Thunder Bay, Ont.

The federation also confirmed Friday that Carey’s team would lose its seeding spots at the women’s national championships and trials later this year, as it was already without three of four members returning from last season.

Carey replaced Jennifer Jones when the veteran player retired from the four-player game. For pre-classified places, last season’s classifications were used. The next teams were Sturmay and Einarson.

“Obviously the news surprised us,” Sturmay said. “We definitely weren’t expecting this just a month away from the Scots. We’re really excited to be back.”

Sturmay can now skip Alberta’s traditionally deep provincial championship. It’s unclear what the next steps will be for Carey’s Winnipeg-based team as the Manitoba championship field is already set.

In a Thursday press release confirming Burgess’ departure, the Carey team said it would have “no further comment.”

Carey said in a text message Friday that the team will likely make an announcement “in the coming days.”

Carey, Burgess, second Emily Zacharias and leader Lauren Lenentine fell to 10th in the national rankings and failed to qualify for the Jan. 14-19 WFG Masters Grand Slam stop in Guelph, Ont.

Zacharias played a limited schedule due to other commitments, forcing the team to use substitute players frequently.

‘Great shooter’

Burgess, 26, is a three-time junior world champion. She reached the finals at the Scotties the last two years with Jones at the skip, losing to Einarson in 2023 and Ottawa’s Rachel Homan last year.

“She’s a great shooter,” Einarson said when asked about her new teammate’s skills. “But it’s his energy that he brings to the game, his enthusiasm and his youth.”

So Einarson, Sturmay and Winnipeg’s Kaitlyn Lawes now have the seeded spots in the Scotties with Homan returning as the defending champion.

Einarson and the top-ranked Homan have the top two spots for the Nov. 22-30 trials.

The eight-team field in that event, which will be determined by Canada’s Olympic representatives, will be completed after the pre-trials competition Oct. 21-26 in Wolfville, N.S.

Brad Gushue of St. John’s, NL, and the Calgary-based team skipped by Brad Jacobs have pre-qualified for the eight-team men’s tryout field.

Defending champion Gushue will wear the Maple Leaf at Montana’s Brier from February 28 to March 9 in Kelowna, BC

Jacobs, Matt Dunstone’s Winnipeg-based team and the Saskatoon team skipped by Mike McEwen have pre-qualified for the Brier.