In a major development for Saskatchewan's curling scene, the province's top men's curling team is officially disbanding after three successful seasons together.
Team Split Announced on Social Media
Skip Mike McEwen confirmed the separation from teammates Colton Flasch, Kevin Marsh, and Daniel Marsh through a social media announcement on Thursday afternoon. The Saskatoon-based team, which has been one of Saskatchewan's most prominent curling squads, will not continue with McEwen at the helm next season.
"The team has chosen a different path without me next season," McEwen stated, indicating the decision was mutual but marking the end of their collaboration.
McEwen's Emotional Farewell
The 45-year-old skip, originally from Manitoba who served as the team's import player, shared heartfelt reflections on their time together. "Dug deep and gave it everything," McEwen wrote. "Some great runs and results together, and I'll always be grateful for the incredible support from Saskatchewan."
Despite the team's dissolution, McEwen emphasized his continued passion for the sport. "I may be getting older, but the fire's still very much there. The rocks don't seem to care," he added, concluding with the announcement that he is now a "free agent for next season."
Three Seasons of Notable Achievements
McEwen joined the Saskatchewan squad for the 2023-24 season and quickly made an impact. The team's most significant accomplishment came in 2024 when they captured the provincial championship, earning the right to represent Saskatchewan at the prestigious Brier tournament in Regina.
That championship run was particularly memorable as McEwen and his team nearly ended Saskatchewan's Brier drought. They compiled an impressive 7-1 round robin record and advanced all the way to the championship game before ultimately falling to curling legend Brad Gushue.
Continued Competitive Performance
The following season in 2025, the team pre-qualified for the Brier and once again posted a strong 7-1 round robin record. Their championship hopes ended with losses to Matt Dunstone in the 1 vs. 2 page qualifier and then to Reid Carruthers in the 3 vs. 4 page qualifier.
This past season, Team McEwen—which had finished third at the Canadian Olympic Curling Trials—once again pre-qualified for the Brier as one of the top three teams in the Canadian Team Ranking System. However, they managed a 5-3 round robin record, which proved insufficient to advance to the playoff round.
McEwen's Curling Legacy
Since first qualifying for the Brier in 2016, McEwen has established himself as one of Canada's elite curlers. The 2026 championship marked his 11th career Brier appearance. Remarkably, he has missed the playoffs only twice throughout his Brier career—in 2021 and again this past season.
McEwen's curling journey has taken him across multiple provinces. Before joining the Saskatchewan team, he skipped an Ontario-based team in 2023, following years of curling out of Manitoba since 1998. His departure from the Saskatchewan squad represents a significant transition point for both the player and provincial curling.
The disbanding of this successful team creates uncertainty about Saskatchewan's representation in future national curling competitions while opening new opportunities for the individual players involved.
