NEW SET OF CURLING GUIDELINES

Curlers who suffer suspected head injuries at Curling Canada events will be subject to a return-to-play protocol starting next season. A new set of guidelines surrounding head injuries and protection has also been recommended for adoption by Canadian curling centres, Curling Canada said Friday in a release. The concussion protocol will be mandatory for all athletes attending events operated by the sport’s national governing body. Head injuries are rare at curling’s elite level. But Brad Gushue’s scary fall at the Masters last October moved the issue into the spotlight. He said he experienced concussion-like symptoms afterwards.