Canada’s curling controversy is the talk of the Winter Olympics, and St. Albert’s Marc Kennedy is at the centre of it.
It was just another round-robin draw for the Canadian men’s curling team on Friday until an incident involving Kennedy late in their game against Sweden.
That’s when Sweden claimed the 44-year-old, who curls third on skip Brad Jacobs’s squad, gave his rock an extra, illegal push as he released it.
At least one video replay out there appears to show Kennedy poking the granite portion of the rock.
His alleged poke and subsequent swear-riddled outburst is a touchy subject at his home rink, the St. Albert Curling Club, which declined comment on Monday and politely asked CTV News Edmonton to leave the premises.
The Kennedy poke has sparked chatter not only in curling circles but in general around the Olympics.
Canada’s Brad Jacobs, Marc Kennedy, Brett Gallant, and Ben Hebert in action during the men’s curling round robin session against Sweden, at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy, Friday, Feb. 13, 2026.
Alberta curling legend Randy Ferbey says the showdown between Kennedy and Sweden’s Oskar Eriksson, and the accusation that started it, is all anyone in his circles is talking about.
“It’s so far from cheating that it’s ridiculous, but it is an infraction, but that infraction is almost impossible to call,” Ferbey, a six-time Canadian champion and four-time world title-holder, told CTV News Edmonton.
He said he believes the contact would not have had an impact on the shot, and that it’s Kennedy’s profanity-laced defence that has captured curiosity beyond curling fans.
“We Canadians are pretty proud, and we think we do no wrong a lot of times, and we do,” Ferbey said. “It was the emotions that got to Marc a little bit. He blew up, and I know he regrets it.”
Kennedy has expressed regret over his outburst, and the Canadians got a verbal warning from World Curling, the sport’s global governing organization, about the language.
In its statement, World Curling also clarified that “during forward motion, touching the granite of the stone is not allowed. This will result in the stone being removed from play.”
No infractions were observed for the rest of that game, but several other rocks have been removed from play in other matches in the days since.
Video review is not currently allowed in curling. Ferbey says players typically umpire themselves, even at the highest levels.
“I don’t know what the answer is, but obviously they’ve got to address this, because it could get ugly in time,” Ferbey said. “People are not going to forget this.”
The Canadian men’s team of Jacobs, Kennedy, Brett Gallant and Ben Hebert is expected to play for a medal later this week.
News
A recording no one could ignore — as the case concludes, a chilling 8-word statement captured on audio is now defining what happened next… 👇👇
As proceedings in the case involving Athena Strand reached their final stage, attention turned to a 20-minute audio recording presented in court—evidence that prosecutors say played a decisive role in shaping the outcome. The recording, analyzed alongside other evidence, reportedly left Tanner Horner visibly affected during proceedings. The Audio Recording: Why It Mattered According to […]
A 20-minute recording brings the case to a close — and the final 8 words attributed to Tanner Horner are now the detail that’s leaving the courtroom shaken… 👇👇
As proceedings in the case involving Athena Strand reached their final stage, attention turned to a 20-minute audio recording presented in court—evidence that prosecutors say played a decisive role in shaping the outcome. The recording, analyzed alongside other evidence, reportedly left Tanner Horner visibly affected during proceedings. The Audio Recording: Why It Mattered According to […]
The search may be over — yet what’s now emerging about Madeleine McCann is leaving her family with more heartbreak than answers… 👇👇
The claim that the case of Madeleine McCann has been “officially closed” or that she has been found is not supported by verified public information. What Is Actually Confirmed Madeleine McCann disappeared in 2007 in Praia da Luz The case remains open and under investigation by authorities Over the years, investigators—particularly in Germany and the […]
ONE BED. ONE NIGHT. — MY BOSS LOCKED THE DOOR… THEN WHISPERED, “WE’RE NOT ALONE IN THIS ROOM” There was only one bed… and my boss—the most dangerous man I knew—didn’t even hesitate.
“That seems to be the theme tonight.” “If I get into that bed,” he said quietly, “I’m not confident I’ll behave like a gentleman.” The room tipped. I swallowed. “Maybe I didn’t ask for a gentleman.” His face hardened immediately, not with anger, but with fear so controlled it almost looked cruel. “That,” he said, […]
Charged after a brutal assault — yet what Jeffrey Free’s wife documented over pages of her diary is now exposing a much longer, darker history… 👇👇
A man identified as Jeffrey Free has been charged in Whitehaven after an alleged violent incident involving his wife—an act that has now drawn deeper scrutiny as investigators uncover what may have been a pattern of behavior over time. The Incident That Led to Charges According to police reports: Free allegedly assaulted his wife during […]
Caught on camera: a crash that split a car in two — as the case unfolds, attention turns to the speed behind Oscar Ramirez’s actions… 👇👇
The tragic crash involving 16-year-old Oscar Ramirez has drawn intense attention after CCTV footage showed the moment a vehicle was split in two, highlighting the severity of the impact. A key question now being asked is: how fast was he driving? What Authorities Typically Analyze In cases like this, investigators determine speed using: CCTV frame […]
End of content
No more pages to load
