This week, we are running a conversation from 2017 between Sean and Jean-Marie Leduc, who had one of the world's largest private collections of skates. Mr. Leduc passed away on August 12, so we wanted to share this conversation as a tribute to him - a man with an incredible passion for sports on ice. 

If you're so inclined, check out Lace Up or the French version Coup de patin

This week we take a couple questions from the listeners before checking out what's being asked over on the curling sub-reddit. From new schedules to best positions to how to improve your club, we offer up our answers to these questions.

For more, visit us at GameofStonesPod.com

It's a busy time of year in the curling world and we're excited to be talking about it all. We start by recapping what was a fun week at the Women's World Curling Championship. We talk about Rachel Homan's win, the game/shot of the year, and how the rest of the field broke down over the course of the week. We then move on to preview the field for the Men's World Curling Championship. We go through the field and talk about all 13 teams before offering up our picks for the week.

For more, visit us at GameofStonespod.com

In this episode, Sean and Scott talk about a weekend when the world of curling really went off the rails. They start by talking about the cancellation of the 2022 Continental Cup, which was scheduled for January in Fredericton before moving onto the Olympic Qualifying Event talking place in the Netherlands, including the playoff matchups for the mixed doubles and the fields for the men's & women's qualifiers, which kick off on the weekend. They also get into the sex toy sponsorship 'controversy' that disrupted the broadcasts. They then move to the Canadian Senior Curling Championship taking place in Sault Ste Marie and the absolutely loaded women's field. They also discuss the coverage of Team Bottcher's announcement that Darren Moulding would no longer be on the team and how business arrangements could infuence team dynamics moving forward. FInally, they debate who would win an all-curling version of the Lou Marsh Award.

For more, be sure to visit us at GameofStonesPod.com

In this episode, Sean and Scott look back at the week that was at the Canadian Olympic Curling Trials. They start by talking about the women's final, the missed opportunities in that game, and a couple technical issues spotted during the late ends. Then the discuss the men's final, the cause of the low score, and Brad Jacobs' final shot. They also chat about Team Jones and Team Gushue as Team Canada at the Olympics before finishing by recapping the results from the 2021 European Curling Championship.

For more, be sure to visit us GameofStonesPod.com

In this episode, Sean and Scott preview the 2021 Canadian Olympic Curling Trials.. They talk about all 18 teams in the field and chart a path for how each of them can stand tall at the end of the week. They also talk about the schedule, the expected crowds, and their Broomstacking plans for the week.

To join us for our daily Broomstacking following the afternoon draws, follow us on Facebook

For more, visit us at GameofStonesPod.com

In this episode, Sean and Scott are joined by Jonathan & Ryan from Rocks Across the Pond for their annual Bad Beer Bet. They talk about the fields for the European Championship and the Canadian Olympic Curling Trials, both of which start on Saturday, before making their picks for the week. Whichever show loses has to drink some terrible beer live on our end of year Broomstack.

For more, visit us at GameofStonesPod.com

In this episode, Sean and Scott talk about this week's Pacific Asia Curling Championship before welcoming in Team Hong Kong Skip Jason Chang. Jason talks about the new-look field this year, adding new players to the team, and his expectations for the week. We also discuss the women's field, world championship qualification, and the legacy of the Pacific Asia Curling Championship.

You can watch all this week's action here.

Be sure to visit us GameofStonesPod.com

In this episode, Sean and Scott talk about a busy weekend in the world of curling. They discuss a couple crazy comebacks for Krista McCarville, the tough spot facing Mackzenzie Zacharias, and teams Horgan and Gunnlaugson qualifying at the Pre-Trials before looking ahead to how the four teams who got through this weekend may fare during the Olympic Curling Trials later this month. They then recap China's extra-end win at the World Wheelchair Curling Championship, Sweden's strong 3-three run, and the teams that qualified for the 2022 Paralympic Games. The guys finish out the show by talking about Team Bottcher securing Canada's spot in the 2022 World Championship, Plys/Persinger winning the US Mixed Doubles qualifier, and who they're picking in this week's National Grand Slam.

Visit us at GameofStonesPod.com

In this episode, Sean and Scott talk about this week's Canadian Olympic Curling Pre-Trial event in Liverpool, Nova Scotia and give 1 key stat for each of the 28 teams in the field. They talk about how teams can use the stats to their advantage, how they stack up with regards to Hammer Factor, and who is playing well going into the event. They wrap up by making their picks for who will earn berths to the Trials in Saskatoon and talk about where you can watch this week.

For more, please visit us at GameofStonesPod.com

In this episode, Sean flies solo to talk about the 2021 World Wheelchair Curling Championship, which kicks off Saturday in Beijing. He goes through the Paralympic Games qualification process and talks about who is in, who is out, and who has to perform this week to earn a spot. He then goes through all 12 teams in the field, breaking down lineup changes, experience v. rookies, and which team has the strongest roster as we start to look ahead to who may be at the top of the podium at the end of the week.

For more curling, please join us at GameofStonesPod.com

In this episode, Sean and Scott talk about the return of the Grand Slam of Curling by talking about next week's Masters. With this being an Olympic year, they look back at how the Olympic teams from 2018 fared in the Slams leading up to the Games to try to determine if there is a correlation between success in the Slams and success in the Olympics. They also talk about the triple knockout format, the 32 teams in the field, and make their picks for the week.

Be sure to visit us at GameofStonesPod.com

In this episode, Sean and Scott talk about their first games back on the ice with their teammate Maegan Hough. They talk about the Covid protocols in place for this season, the difference from last year, and their level of comfort being back in the arena. They also chat about the new developments that have come to rec curling, including changes to the post-game socializing, and their expectations for the 2021-22 season.

For more, be sure to visit us at GameofStonesPod.com

In the midst of the very busy Season of Champions, we're back to recap the week that was at the Brier and look ahead to the Women's World Curling Championship. We start by recapping the Brier, including Gushue's run of dominance, a great week for Saskatchewan, and some of the best stand out performances of the week. At 31:05 we look ahead to the Women's Worlds by previewing all 13 teams in the field, including Silvana Tirinzoni going for her 5th consecutive title. We wrap the show by talking about our attempt to watch curling at Montana's during the Brier.

For more, visit us at GameofStonesPod.com

In this episode, Sean and Scott recap the Pre-Pre-Trials. They talk about the teams that qualified for the Trials, the format of the Trials Direct Entry Event, and what to expect from the teams that didn't punch their tickets to Saskatoon. They then discuss the Pre-Pre-Trials, remarkable weeks for Sean Grassie and Jill Brothers, and Kerry Galusha earning a berth to the Pre-Trials. They also go over their experience in the building, the protocols in place, and give credit to Curling Canada for investing in this event before going over some other results from the weekend and a great news story from the world of curling.

Be sure to visit us at GameofStonesPod.com

In this week's episode, Sean and Scott talk about this week's Pre-Pre-Trials event being held in Ottawa. In one of the two concurrent events, 2 men's and 3 women's teams will qualify for the Olympic Trials in Saskatoon, with the other teams heading to the Pre-Trials in Liverpool, Nova Scotia in October. In the other event, the Pre-Pre-Trials, 2 men's and 2 women's teams will qualify for the Pre-Trials. The Game of Stones team will be on-site throughout the event, so be sure to follow along @GameofStonesPod on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.

Visit us at GameofStonesPod.com

In this episode, Sean and Scott are joined by Nevin Demiliano, who runs Team Brendan Bottcher's social media accounts. Nevin talks about how he got involved with the team, their use of train GIFs, and how Brendan's socks became a thing during the World Championship. He also discusses interacting with fans without encouraging trolls, the epps and flows of social media during the curling season, and offers up some tips for curling teams looking to improve their social media presence.

For more on Nevin's experience with Team Bottcher, check out the blog post he wrote in the spring.

Be sure to visit us GameofStonesPod.com

In this episode, Sean and Scott are joined by Kirk Muyres, second for Team Dunstone, to talk about how television coverage can influence fans' perceptions of players. Kirk talks about learning to play with cameras and fans, how teams are interacting with fans in an age of social media, and how TV games can shape that engagement. He also offers some insight into how players think of TV games, the differences between players' real-world and in-game personas, and how fans can distinguish between the two.

If you would like to watch our chat, the video is available on our Facebook page.

For more, please visit us at GameofStonesPod.com & follow us on social media @GameofStonesPod

In this episode, Sean and Scott wrap up their series ranking the top curlers by decade. This week, it's the 2010s! From Vancouver to the start of the pandemic, they talk about who they think stands atop the rest of the past decade. Disagree? Do get in touch @GameofStonesPod

Be sure to visit us at GameofStonesPod.com

In this episode, Sean and Scott offer up their rankings of the best players from the first decade of the 2000s. Agree with their picks? Let them know if they missed someone on social media @GameofStonesPod

Visit us at GameofStonesPod.com

In this episode, Sean and Scott welcome former Team Switzerland skip Elena Stern to discuss the upcoming referendum on same-sex marriage. We talk about the backgrounmd to the referendum, the state of the campaign, and how the curling community can support the LGBTQ2+ community. You can find more information about the campaign to support marriage equality here.

If you missed it, be sure to check out the roundtable hosted by the Global Initiative for DEI in Curling on the International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia.

Here are some of our past episodes on LGBTQ2+ representation in curling:

Great Smith LGBTQ2+ Representation in Curling

Curling & Pride

Behind the Scenes at the Canadian Gay Curling Championship

Be sure to visit us at GameofStonesPod.com

In this episode, Sean and Scott continue their series looking at the best players by decade. Today, it's pop music and big clothes as they look back at the 1990s. They go through the decade and talk about the best performances from national, world, and Olympic championships to rank the top 10 players of the decade. Be sure to let us know what you think of our rankings and how you think the best players of the 1990s stack up.

Visit us at GameofStonesPod.com

In this episode, Sean and Scott talk about some of the key skills needed to succeed in curling and how they may be useful in some of the sports we've been watching as part of Tokyo 2020. They talk about balance, strategy, teamwork, and yelling, among others, and debate in which summer sports those skills would be most useful. From Beach Volleyball to Weightlifting they talk about how curling attributes can help Summer Olympic athletes while also doing a deep dive into the modern pentathlon.

In this episode, Sean and Scott look back on the 1980s in curling to rank the top 10 players from the decade. The first decade with a full complement of Women's World Championships and the first time curling was in the Olympics (as a demonstration sport) was full of some of the best players to ever take to the ice. Do you agree with our rankings? Be sure to let us know if we missed anyone who should have been included.

Visit us at GameofStonesPod.com

The Season of Champions is in full swing withe the first ever Montana's Brier set to kick off on Friday. We talk about the format, the storylines, and all 18 teams heading to Regina before making our picks for who will stand tall at the end of the week.

For more, visit us at GameofStonesPod.com

This week we kick off a new series of episodes ranking the top players by decade and we're starting with the 1970s. Who topped the world of curling in the era of bell-bottoms and platform shoes? The 1970s brought us the first women's world championship & some of the best players the sport has ever seen. Let us know if you agree with our rankings and visit us at GameofStonesPod.com.

In this episode, Sean and Scott talk about some of the biggest innovations in the history of curling and how they were received within the Spirit of Curling. Some were deemed perfectly acceptable while others prompted accusations of cheating and going against the sport's integrity. These include the advent of turns, long slides, broom technology, and time clocks. The guys talk about each and what themes emerged and how the Spirit of Curling has influenced the sport's evolution.

Be sure to visit us at GameofStonesPod.com

With Wimbledon in full swing, Sean and Scott offer up their curling comparisons for the top 5 players on the WTA and ATP tours. The break down each players' strengths and weaknesses in order to determine which top curling team has the most similar profile. Let us know if you agree with our picks.

Be sure to check out one of our favourite episodes offering our curling comparisons for some of the world's top golfers.

Visit us at GameofStonesPod.com

In this episode, we play another round of Canada's fastest growing game show, Name That Shot! This time it's shots from the 2021 Calgary Bubble. Play along as Sean plays clips of some of the season's best shots and Scott tries to Name That Shot!

If you missed them, be sure to check out our past Name That Shot! episodes:

https://www.gameofstonespod.com/episodes/2021/1/28/name-that-shot
https://www.gameofstonespod.com/episodes/2020/11/25/guess-that-shot

Be sure to visit us at GameofStonesPod.com

In this episode, Sean talks with Greg Smith, skip of Team Newfoundland and Labrador at the 2021 Brier, about LGBTQ2+ representation in curling. They talk about the importance of Pride Month, inclusion at the highest level of the sport, Greg playing John Epping in the first ever Brier game between two out skips, and the impact on young athletes.

Be sure to check out our episode visiting the 2019 Gay Nationals: https://www.gameofstonespod.com/episodes/2019/6/27/behind-the-scenes-at-the-canadian-gay-curling-championship

Visit us at GameofStonesPod.com

In this episode, we re-visit the most prominent curling commercials from the Bubble. We talk about all the overplayed ads to which we were subjected: Bad Coffee, Everybody Poops, 40 Years of Scotties and so many more and see how they stack up against each other. Agree with our picks? Think we're way off? Did we miss an ad? Be sure to let us know @gameofstonespod or GameofStonesPodcast@gmail.com

Be sure to visit us at GameofStonesPod.com!

In this episode, Sean and Scott look at where the men's teams rank after the 2021 season. Scott breaks down the numbers to offer up his rankings while Sean provides his reaction. Let us know how you think the teams stack up.

Be sure to visit us at GameofStonesPod.com

In this episode, Sean offers up his power rankings of women's teams following the 2021 World Championship. Using the results from the Bubble and the eye test, Sean goes through his top 10 teams while Scott chims in with his thoughts. Let us know if you agree with these rankings or if you think Sean is way off.

Be sure to subscribe to Game of Stones wherever you get your podcasts and visit us at GameofStonesPod.com

In this episode, Sean and Scott recap the World Mixed Doubles Curling Championship. They talk about Bruce Mouat and Jennifer Dodds' win, a great week for Norway, and some missed opportunities in the gold medal game. They also talk about the teams that qualified for the Olympics, relegation, and the struggles of the specialists.

Join us at GameofStonesPod.com for all our past episodes and links to the merch.

In this episode, we dish out some superlatives from the curling bubble. We talk about the best team, best shot, best game, plus some fun categories included Strangest Oddity and Most Fun Character. Let us know if we got these awards right or if we missed some categories.

Visit us at GameofStonesPod.com for a full list of nominees and winners.

Be sure to check out Matt Sussman's article profiling some of the best bubble games: https://www.si.com/curling/news/the-11-most-popular-curling-bubble-games

We join you nearly live from the Ottawa Curling Club, home of Team Homan, to talk about an action packed week at the Scotties. From Rachel Homan capturing her fourth title to Kerri Einarson's remarkable streak coming to an end to the retirement of Jennifer Jones, there was a lot going on in Calgary and we try to cover it all.

For more, visit us at GameofStonesPod.com

In this episode, Sean and Scott look ahead to the 2021 World Mixed Doubles Curling Championship in Aberdeen, Scotland. They talk about Olympic qualificaition, potential bubble hangovers, and the advantage of mixed doubles specialists. They also talk about some of the less known teams, the countries who haven't been represented at a world championship so far this year, and the playoff format.

Be sure to subscribe and rate wherever you get your podcasts and visit us at GameofStonesPod.com

In this episode, Sean and Scott look back 2021 Women's World Curling Championship. They talk about back to back wins for Switzerland and Silvana Tirinzoni, a strong performance for the Russian Curling Federation, and the first American medal in 15 years. They also talk about Anna Hasselborg's week, Denmark qualifying for the Olympics, and Kerri Einarson's and Team Canada's tough week. They finish by talking about Scotland's tough week, looking ahead to the Olympic Qualifying Event next December and what that could look like for Korea and Japan, and wrapping up the week for Estonia, Italy, and the Czech Republic.

In this episode, Sean and Scott briefly talk about the final Grand Slam (1:37) before discussing which teams they think will punch their tickets to the 2022 Winter Olympics (4:35). They then go through the field team by team (12:00) and finish off by talking about the positive Covid tests for one of the incoming teams (1:04:34).

Be sure to head to GameofStonesPod.com for all our past episodes and be sure to check out our new merch!

In this episode, Sean and Scott talk about an outstanding win for Rachel Homan at the Champions Cup, Bruce Mouat bouncing back after the World Championship final, & all the other stories coming out of the Champions Cup, including a tough week Anna Hasselborg & a terrific run for Tracy Fleury. They also discuss the pros and cons of 'around the rings' coverage and look ahead to the Players Championship.

In this episode, Sean and Scott talk about 5 thigns they'll be watching at this week's Champions Cup. They talk about the teams making their first appearance in the bubble, lineup change, the format, & make their picks for the week.

Visit us at GameofStonesPod.com

In this episode, Sean and Scott are joined by Curling Canada CEO Katherine Henderson to talk about the new diversity and inclusivity initiatives announced last month. They talk about the program's background, the consultation process, and efforts to diversify curling and both the rec and elite levels. You can find more info on the initiatives here: https://www.curling.ca/diversity-inclusivity/#:~:text=Diversity%20and%20Inclusivity,new%20wave%20of%20diverse%20members

Check out more episodes, posts, plus our merch at GameofStonesPod.com

In this episode, Sean and Scott preview the 2021 Men's World Curling Championship. They talk about all 14 teams heading to Calgary, the format, and the importance of this event to the 2022 Olympics. They also talk about the TV coverage, who they expect to punch their tickets to Beijing 2022, and what they're looking forward to this week.

Visit us at GameofStonesPod.com for all our episodes, plus a link to our Merch, with all proceeds going to the Sandra Schmirler Foundation and Food Banks Canada.

In this episode, Sean and Scott talk about Canadian Mixed Doubles Curling Championship. They talk about Kerri Einarson and Brad Gushue's win, the divide between mixed doubles specialists and players from 4-person teams, and the future of mixed doubles. They also talk about some of the communication issues we saw, the debate around the playoff format, the 'controversy' surrounding Olympic qualification and much more.

Sean and Scott are back to talk about the next event heading to the Calgary Curling Bubble: the Canadian Mixed Doubles Championship! They talk about the qualification process, the very convoluted playoff system, and which pool looks the strongest. They also debate whether players who participated in the Scotties and Brier have an advantage over those making their debut in the bubble and look forward to the TV coverage.

Be sure to subscribe to Game of Stones wherever you get your podcasts and visit us at GameofStonesPod.com, where you can find our merch, with all proceeds going to Food Banks Canada and the Sandra Schmirler Foundation.

It's our favourite event of the year, the Scotties Tournament of Hearts. To get you set for the week, we give our full preview, including the new playoff format, new rules, and the biggest storylines of the week. We also preview all 18 teams in the field, the expectations for each, and give our picks for how things will stack up at the end of the week. But before all that, we give our initial reactions to the news that this year will be Jennifer Jones' last Scotties as she steps away from the 4-person game.

For more, visit us at GameofStonesPod.com

In this episode, Sean and Scot break down the week that was in the Brier bubble. They talk about Brendan Bottcher finally breaking through, Kevin Koe's incredible shotmaking, and another step forward for Matt Dunstone. They also go through the field and talk about Wayne Middaugh's fun week, a great run for Mike Fournier, and tough weeks for Mike McEwen, James Grattan, Jason Gunnlaugson, and Brad Gushue. They also revisit their picks and look ahead to the mixed doubles.

Be sure to subscribe and rate Game of Stones!

Visit us at GameofStonesPod.com for all past episodes, plus our merch, with all proceeds going to Foods Bank Canada and the Sandra Schmirler Foundation.

In this episode, Sean and Scott talk about all 18 teams heading the Brier Bubble in Edmonton. They discuss which pool is stronger, the depth of the field, and look ahead to what some of the TV games could be. They also go team by team to look at rosters, expectations, and make their picks for who will stand tall with the Tankard at the end of the week.

In this episode, Sean and Scott talk about the 2021 Scotties Tournament of Hearts. They break down the final, back to back wins for Kerri Einarson, and a couple curious strategy decisions. They also talk about the third consecutive finals loss for Rachel Homan, the struggle with ice conditions, and the biggest stories of the week.