Curling controversy: Unusual finish generates boos, ruffles feathers at Slam event

The Grand Slam of Curling's competition committee plans to meet this week to discuss an unusual finish at the Co-op Invitational that sent two Canadian teams into the playoffs and led to pointed words from an American rink left outside the cutline.

Boos were heard throughout Victoria's Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre when teams skipped by Matt Dunstone and Brendan Bottcher were not aggressive in the final end of their round-robin finale Friday night.

Both teams deliberately threw stones through the house early in the end before Bottcher scored one for a tie that forced a shootout. That gave both sides enough points to advance and eliminated Danny Casper's rink from playoff contention.

"They're on ESPN in the U.S. and [Sportsnet] in Canada, thousands of people are watching it, I'm sure, and it looks horrible," Team Casper second Ben Richardson said from Victoria over the weekend. "It definitely leaves a bitter taste in my mouth.

"I can't speak [for] all the people that watched it, but it's definitely not a good look for our sport.”

Normally, a one-point game would lead to a tense eighth and final end. But with the stakes clear — reach the shootout and you're guaranteed a playoff spot — both rinks chose a passive style down the stretch.

When it became obvious both teams were comfortable with a tied score, many spectators voiced their displeasure that any late-game excitement had been scuttled.

"Don't be upset with the players, be upset with the format," said Dunstone, who earned two points for the 6-5 shootout victory.

Einarson wins 7th Grand Slam of Curling title, 1st since 2024

Bottcher picked up one point for the shootout loss, giving him seven points overall and the final berth. Casper, who would have played a