The Curling Hotline

Rock League Season 2 is beginning to take shape as the first-ever draft was held a few weeks ago. John discusses the results and what it means for each franchise before welcoming in Maple United GM Glenn Howard to discuss why he loved Season 1 of Rock League so much, the new additions to his squad, and why Team Y. Schwaller is so damn good (and the role he's played in their success). Then, Isabella Wranå calls in live from the European Championships to give the scoop on representing Sweden for the third straight major event, her Olympic Gold Medal win and subsequent crazy summer, and how Moa Dryburgh is fitting into the squad. And then John takes your calls about building up a social media presence at your home club and the US Arena Nationals. This episode is brought to you by Goldline Curling. For all your curling needs, check out "The Choice of Champions" at goldlinecurling.com. Give us a call! 1-877-CURL-HOT (1-877-287-5468) to ask a question or tell us what's your mind. You can also email the show at [email protected].

The Hotline is back after a wild week in Victoria at the first Slam of the year that saw multiple controversies spring up around the points system and celebrating made shots, and John breaks it all down. He also gives his overall thoughts on the winners Yannick Schwaller and Kerri Einarson, and Team Einarson third Shannon Birchard joins the show to discuss winning the Slam, their new team dynamic, and balancing motherhood with curling. And finally, the Hotline is BURSTING after a busy week in Victoria, with John answering your questions about the new stats, sponsor's exemptions, and space aliens. This episode is brought to you by Goldline Curling. For all your curling needs, check out "The Choice of Champions" at goldlinecurling.com. Give us a call! 1-877-CURL-HOT (1-877-287-5468) to ask a question or tell us what's your mind. You can also email the show at [email protected].

We are less than a week away from the first Grand Slam of Curling event of the season, the Co-op Invitational, and so John calls up Taylor Reese-Hansen, Victoria-based skip, to ask her about her thoughts on competing in her first-ever Slam and that Slam being on home soil. The two also discuss the burgeoning Victoria curling community, her learning to curl in the remote outpost of Kitimat, BC, and why this particular lineup of hers has been so good over the last few seasons. Then GSOC broadcaster Brent Laing joins John to break down the event from his expert perspective, weighing in on some of the new rivalries on tour, the softer schedule some teams played to start the season, and to make some bold predictions for the first Slam. And finally, John takes your calls (and an email!) to discuss sharpening stones and the Canadian curling conundrum. This episode is brought to you by Goldline Curling. For all your curling needs, check out "The Choice of Champions" at goldlinecurling.com. Give us a call! 1-877-CURL-HOT (1-877-287-5468) to ask a question or tell us what's your mind. You can also email the show at [email protected].

John is joined this week by the newly-minted World #1 Yannick Schwaller, the first Swiss skip to ever top the table, and the two discuss what that means to the team, how they're approaching this quad, their two-coach system, and Curling Baby. And then John is joined by one of Canada's up-and-coming talents Serena Gray-Withers. The two go over John's victory in a sprint race over her entire team last season, if there will be a rematch, what Laura Walker has added to the squad, and the interview ends with a surprise.  Then John answers YOUR calls about this year's compressed schedule, Brad Gushue in the booth, and arena curling. This episode is brought to you by Goldline Curling. For all your curling needs, check out "The Choice of Champions" at goldlinecurling.com. Give us a call! 1-877-CURL-HOT (1-877-287-5468) to ask a question or tell us what's your mind. You can also email the show at [email protected].

The Hotline returns for your weekly dose of curling news and interviews, as John discusses the Rock League Season 2 announcement, the Korean Federation's decision to take Bo-bae Kang off of 4-player duty, and some World ranking changes before being joined by Jordon McDonald and Alina Pätz. Fresh off of a finalist finish in Oakville, the young skip Jordon McDonald joins John for his first-ever podcast interview as the two discuss balancing school and curling, his team's constant quest for improvement, Brad Jacobs' mentorship, and who the worst Mario Kart player is on his team. And then Alina Pätz calls in to discuss her team's rapid start to the season with 3 straight wins, what it's like returning to skipping, her new teammates, and the budding rivalry between her and Xenia Schwaller. Finally, John takes YOUR calls from The Curling Hotline, answering a fan question about the new rules around playing with 3. This episode is brought to you by Goldline Curling. For all your curling needs, check out "The Choice of Champions" at goldlinecurling.com. Give us a call! 1-877-CURL-HOT (1-877-287-5468) to ask a question or tell us what's your mind. You can also email the show at [email protected].