Shield Curling Club Wins Inaugural Rock League Championship
Olympic champion Brad Jacobs and the Canadian-based Shield Curling Club captured the first-ever Rock League title on Sunday, defeating Typhoon Curling Club 2-1 in a thrilling best-of-three final at the Mattamy Athletic Centre.
The victory earned Shield the inaugural championship trophy and the $100,000 USD prize.
Final Result: Shield Curling Club 2 – Typhoon Curling Club 1
How the Final Unfolded
Shield took an early lead by defeating Typhoon 8-6 in the men’s match, with captain Brad Jacobs leading the way.
Typhoon responded with a 7-5 victory in the women’s game, highlighted by a strong performance from Anna Hasselborg.
The series came down to a dramatic mixed-doubles tiebreaker after the teams split the first two matches.
In the deciding draw-to-the-button shot, Shield’s Benoît Schwarz-van Berkel delivered a perfect stone to the button under intense pressure, clinching the championship for Shield. His teammate Kerri Einarson initially thought the shot was heavy, but the rock settled perfectly for the win.Schwarz-van Berkel was named MVP of the final and earned an additional $5,000. Alpine’s Alina Pätz was voted “The Ultimate Competitor” by the players and also received $5,000.
Brad Jacobs’ Reaction“
There’s no feeling like winning,” Jacobs said. “We wanted to be the first champions of this league. Our theme today was to empty the tank — and we did that.”Schwarz-van Berkel added: “You just want to throw it as good as you can… and thankfully that happened.
”Rock League’s Successful Launch
The inaugural season of the innovative mixed-team professional curling league featured new formats, mixed fours, and a lively fan atmosphere. Despite some early challenges with attendance, organizers — led by The Curling Group CEO Nic Sulsky — expressed optimism about the league’s future and growth.The event blended high-level competition with entertainment, including in-arena bars and creative fan experiences, and was well-received by the participating athletes after a demanding Olympic season.
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