United States Men's Curling Championship
Established1957
2024 host cityEast Rutherford, New Jersey
2024 arenaThe Rink at American Dream
2023 championMinnesota John Shuster
Current edition

The United States Men's Curling Championship is the annual men's national curling championship for the United States. It is run by the United States Curling Association (USCA) and typically held in conjunction with the Women's Championship. The champion is eligible to represent the United States at the World Men's Curling Championships if they also rank in the top 75 teams over the last two seasons in the World Curling Tour Order of Merit or have earned 40 points in the Order of Merit year-to-date rankings.[1]

History

The United States Men's Curling Championship was started when Marshall Field and Company was inspired to host an American equivalent to the popular Macdonald Brier in Canada.[2][3] The first championship was held March 27 to 30, 1957 at the Chicago Stadium in Chicago, Illinois.[4] Opening night of the championship included a performance by the Scotch Highlander band of University of Iowa, an all female bagpipe and drum band, and were televised by the local television channel WGN-TV.[5][6] Ken Watson, three-time Canadian champion, was hired as the commissioner of play and tasked with overseeing the umpires. Ten teams from nine states and one territory (Alaska) competed in a round-robin tournament with Harold Lauber's team from Hibbing, Minnesota coming out victorious.[7][8]

Marshall Field and Company again ran the Championship in 1958, held at the Milwaukee Arena in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.[9] In 1959 the newly formed United States Curling Association took over the operations of the Championship while Marshall Field and Company continued on as a sponsor.[10] That year's Championship was held in Green Bay, Wisconsin at the Brown County Memorial Arena.[11]

In 1961 Frank Crealock and his team out of Seattle won the fifth National Men's Championship, earning them the opportunity to represent the United States at the 1961 Scotch Cup in Scotland.[12][13] While it was the third year that the Scotch Cup, which would later become the World Men's Curling Championship, was held it was the first year that the United States was invited to compete. Crealock competed against the national champions from Canada and Scotland and after a double round-robin all three teams were tied with a 2–2 record.[14] A playoff was held to break the tie and the United States lost to Canada to finish third. For many years after this the national champion would go on to represent the United States at the World Championships, though eligibility prerequisites were added in recent years.

The 2021 Championship was originally planned to be held February 6–13 at the ImOn Ice Arena in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and it would have been the first time the Men's National Championship was held in Iowa.[15] But in August, 2020 the arena was damaged during a severe derecho storm. The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic caused delays in repairing the arena and in November, 2020 the USCA announced that an alternative host site would be found.[16] Only a month later, the USCA announced another change to the 2021 Championship when they declared that all remaining 2020–21 events would be either cancelled or postponed until late spring 2021. This postponement delayed the Men's National Championship until after the 2021 World Men's Championship and so the 2020 champions, John Shuster's team, were selected to represent the United States. This gave the team the opportunity to compete at Worlds which they missed the previous year when the 2020 World Men's Championship was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[17] On March 29, 2021 it was announced that the 2021 Men's Championship will be held in conjunction with the Women's Nationals and Mixed Doubles Nationals in a bio-secure bubble at Wausau Curling Club in Wausau, Wisconsin in May, 2021.[18]

Qualification

The qualification methods and format of the championship has changed over time, but currently ten teams play in each championship. Five spots are awarded to the top American teams in the World Curling Federation (WCF) World Team Ranking System at a particular date roughly two months out from the championship.[19] Four spots are awarded to the top teams from a Challenge Round, open to all United States curlers.[20] The final spot is awarded to a team from that year's Junior Championships, as selected by the USCA.

Previously the USCA's High Performance Program has had the ability to select two of the competitors from their pool of teams.

For the 2021 Championship the qualification methods were modified slightly due to impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. The field was cut down to eight teams, included were the 2020 champion and runner-up, the top three teams in the WCF World Team Ranking System on September 1, 2020, and the top three teams from the Challenge Round.[21] The tournament was later postponed to May 2021; as it falls after the 2021 World Men's Curling Championship, the 2020 winners will represent the United States in their place.[22]

Format

The current format begins with a complete nine game round robin where each of the ten teams play every other team. At the end of the round robin the top four teams qualify for the playoffs; if there is a tie for fourth place then a tiebreaker game is played. The playoffs are conducted in the page playoff format, a common playoff format in curling. In a page playoff the 1 seed and 2 seed play with the winner advancing straight to the championship game. The 3 seed and 4 seed teams play and the winner of that match plays the loser of the 1 vs 2 game. The winner of this third game advances to the championship to face the winner of the 1 vs 2 game.[23]

Past champions

The location and champion of every men's national championship since it began in 1957:[24]

Year Site Winning club Skip Third Second Lead Finish
at Worlds1
1957Chicago, ILMinnesota Hibbing, MNHarold LauberLouis LauberPeter BeasyMatt Berklich
1958Milwaukee, WIMichigan Detroit, MIMike SlyziukDouglas FiskErnest SlyziukMerritt Knowlson
1959Green Bay, WIMinnesota Hibbing, MNDick BrownTerry KleffmanFran KleffmanNick Jerulle
1960Chicago, ILNorth Dakota Grafton, NDOrvil GilleshammerGlenn GilleshammerWilmer ColletteDonald LaBonte
1961Grand Forks, NDWashington (state) Seattle, WAFrank CrealockKen SherwoodJohn JamiesonBud McCartneyBronze
1962Detroit, MIMinnesota Hibbing, MNDick BrownTerry KleffmanFran KleffmanNick JerulleSilver
1963Duluth, MNMichigan Detroit, MIMike SlyziukNelson BrownErnest SlyziukWalter HubchickSilver
1964Utica, NYMinnesota Duluth, MNRobert Magie Jr.Bert PayneRussell BarberBritton PayneBronze
1965Seattle, WAWisconsin Superior, WIBud SomervilleBill StrumAl GagneTom WrightGold
1966Hibbing, MNNorth Dakota Fargo, NDBruce RobertsJoe ZbacnikGerry ToutantMike O’LearyBronze
1967Winchester, MAWashington (state) Seattle, WABruce RobertsTom FitzpatrickJohn WrightDoug WalkerBronze
1968Madison, WIWisconsin Superior, WIBud SomervilleBill StrumAl GagneTom WrightBronze
1969Grand Forks, NDWisconsin Superior, WIBud SomervilleBill StrumFranklin BradshawGene OvesenSilver
1970Ardsley, NYNorth Dakota Grafton, NDArt TallacksonGlenn GilleshammerRay HoltTrueman Thompson4th
1971Duluth, MNNorth Dakota Edmore, NDDale DalzielDennis MellandClark SampsonRodney MellandBronze
1972Wilmette, ILNorth Dakota Grafton, NDRobert LaBonteFrank AasandJohn AasandRay MorganSilver
1973Colorado Springs, COMassachusetts Winchester, MACharles ReevesDoug CarlsonHenry SheanBarry Blanchard5th
1974Schenectady, N.Y.Wisconsin Superior, WIBud SomervilleBob NicholsBill StrumTom LockenGold
1975Detroit, MIWashington (state) Seattle, WAEd RislingCharles LundgrenGary SchneeDave TellvikSilver
1976Wausau WIMinnesota Hibbing, MNBruce RobertsJoe RobertsGary KleffmanJerry ScottGold
1977Northbrook, ILMinnesota Hibbing, MNBruce RobertsPaul PustovarGary KleffmanJerry Scott4th
1978Utica, NYWisconsin Superior, WIBob NicholsBill StrumTom LockenBob ChristmanGold
1979Superior, WIMinnesota Bemidji, MNScott BairdDan HaluptzokMark HaluptzokBob Fenson5th
1980Bemidji, MNMinnesota Hibbing, MNPaul PustovarJohn JankilaGary KleffmanJerry Scott4th
1981Fairbanks, AKWisconsin Superior, WIBob NicholsBud SomervilleBob ChristmanBob BuchananSilver
1982Brookline, MAWisconsin Madison, WISteve BrownEd SheffieldHuns GustrowskyGeorge Godfrey6th
1983Colorado Springs, COColorado Colorado Springs, CODon CooperJerry Van Brunt Jr.Bill ShipstadJack McNelly6th
1984Hibbing MNMinnesota Hibbing, MNJoe Roberts (4th)Bruce Roberts (skip)Gary KleffmanJerry Scott6th
1985Mequon, WIIllinois Wilmette, ILTim WrightJohn JahantJim WilsonRuss Armstrong3rd
1986Seattle, WAWisconsin Madison, WISteve BrownWally HenryGeorge GodfreyRichard MaskelBronze
1987Lake Placid, NYWashington (state) Seattle, WAJim VukichRon SharpeGeorge PepelnjakGary Joraanstad5th
1988St. Paul, MNWashington (state) Seattle, WADoug JonesBard NordlundMurphy TomlinsonMike Grennan7th
1989Detroit, MIWashington (state) Seattle, WAJim VukichCurt FishBard NordlundJames Pleasants,
alt.: Jason Larway
8th
1990Superior, WIWashington (state) Seattle, WABard NordlundDoug JonesMurphy TomlinsonTom Violette6th
1991Utica, NYWisconsin Madison, WISteve BrownPaul PustovarGeorge GodfreyWally Henry,
Mike Fraboni
Bronze
1992Grafton, NDWashington (state) Seattle, WADoug JonesJason LarwayJoel LarwayTom VioletteBronze
1993St. Paul, MNMinnesota Bemidji, MNScott BairdPete FensonMark HaluptzokTim JohnsonBronze
1994Duluth, MNMinnesota Bemidji, MNScott BairdPete FensonMark HaluptzokTim Johnson5th
1995Appleton, WIWisconsin Superior, WITim SomervilleMike SchneebergerMyles BrundidgeJohn Gordon4th
1996Bemidji, MNWisconsin Superior, WITim SomervilleMike SchneebergerMyles BrundidgeJohn Gordon5th
1997Seattle, WANorth Dakota Langdon, NDCraig DisherKevin KakelaJoel JacobsonPaul Peterson6th
1998Bismarck, NDWisconsin Stevens Point, WIPaul PustovarDave VioletteGreg WilsonCory Ward6th
1999Duluth, MNWisconsin Superior, WITim SomervilleDon Barcome Jr.Myles BrundidgeJohn Gordon4th
2000Ogden, UTWisconsin Madison, WICraig BrownRyan QuinnJon BruntJohn Dunlop4th
2001Madison, WIWashington (state) Seattle, WAJason LarwayGreg RomaniukJoel LarwayTravis Way,
Doug Kauffman
6th
2002Eveleth, MNWisconsin Madison, WIPaul PustovarMike FraboniGeoff GoodlandRichard Maskel4th
2003Utica, NYMinnesota Bemidji, MNPete FensonEric FensonShawn RojeskiJohn Shuster8th
2004Grand Forks, NDWashington (state) Seattle, WAJason LarwayDoug PottingerJoel LarwayBill Todhunter,
Doug Kauffman
9th
2005Madison, WIMinnesota Bemidji, MNPete FensonShawn RojeskiJoe PoloJohn Shuster6th
2006Bemidji, MNMinnesota Bemidji, MNPete FensonShawn RojeskiJoe PoloJohn Shuster4th
2007Utica, NYMinnesota CaledonianTodd BirrBill TodhunterGreg JohnsonKevin BirrBronze
2008Hibbing, MNWisconsin Madison, WICraig BrownRich RuohonenJohn DunlopPete Annis7th
2009Broomfield, COMinnesota Duluth, MNJohn ShusterJason SmithJeff IsaacsonJohn Benton5th
2010Kalamazoo, MIMinnesota Bemidji, MNPete FensonShawn RojeskiJoe PoloTyler George4th
2011Fargo, NDMinnesota Bemidji, MNPete FensonShawn RojeskiJoe PoloRyan Brunt10th
2012Philadelphia, PANew York (state) Ardsley, NYHeath McCormickBill StoperaMartin SatherDean Gemmell8th
2013Green Bay, WIWashington (state) Seattle, WABrady ClarkSean BeightonDarren LehtoPhilip Tilker,
Steve Lundeen
9th
2014Philadelphia, PAMinnesota Bemidji, MNPete FensonShawn RojeskiJoe PoloRyan Brunt10th
2015Kalamazoo, MIMinnesota Duluth, MNJohn ShusterTyler GeorgeMatt HamiltonJohn Landsteiner5th
2016Jacksonville, FLWashington (state) Seattle, WABrady ClarkGreg PersingerColin HufmanPhilip TilkerBronze (Shuster1)
2017Everett, WAMinnesota Duluth, MNJohn ShusterTyler GeorgeMatt HamiltonJohn Landsteiner4th
2018Fargo, NDWashington (state) Seattle, WAGreg PersingerRich RuohonenColin HufmanPhilip Tilker6th
2019Kalamazoo, MIMinnesota Duluth, MNJohn ShusterChris PlysMatt HamiltonJohn Landsteiner5th
2020Cheney, WAMinnesota Duluth, MNJohn ShusterChris PlysMatt HamiltonJohn LandsteinerT5th2
2021Wausau, WI[18]Minnesota Chaska, MNKorey DropkinMark FennerThomas HowellAlex Fenson4th 3
2023Denver, CO[25]Minnesota Duluth, MNJohn ShusterChris PlysMatt HamiltonJohn Landsteiner8th
2024East Rutherford, NJ[26]
Notes
  1. ^ This column shows the results of the team representing the United States at the World Curling Championships. Based on the rules implemented by the United States Curling Association for the 2013–14 season, the United States team at the World Curling Championships is not necessarily the team that won the national championship.
  2. ^ Record is for the 2021 World Men's Curling Championship. The 2020 World Men's Curling Championship was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
  3. ^ Record is for the 2022 World Men's Curling Championship. The 2022 US Championship was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Champions by state

United States Men's Curling Championship is located in the United States
United States Men's Curling Championship
United States Men's Curling Championship
United States Men's Curling Championship
United States Men's Curling Championship
United States Men's Curling Championship
United States Men's Curling Championship
United States Men's Curling Championship
United States Men's Curling Championship
United States Men's Curling Championship
United States Men's Curling Championship
United States Men's Curling Championship
United States Men's Curling Championship
United States Men's Curling Championship
United States Men's Curling Championship
United States Men's Curling Championship
United States Men's Curling Championship
United States Men's Curling Championship
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Men's Curling Champions
13, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 3, 2, 1
Rank State Trophies
1Minnesota Minnesota25
2Wisconsin Wisconsin16
3Washington (state) Washington13
4North Dakota North Dakota6
5Michigan Michigan2
6Colorado Colorado1
6Illinois Illinois1
6Massachusetts Massachusetts1
6New York (state) New York1

Sportsmanship Award

The Ann Brown Sportsmanship Award has been presented annually since 2007 to one male and one female athlete at the National Championships who are judged to best embody the USCA Spirit of Curling as voted on by their peers. The award is given in memory of Ann Brown, who was the first female president of the United States Curling Association and was the second female inductee into the USCA Hall of Fame.[27]

Male recipients:
Year Recipient
2007 Joel Jacobson
2008 Greg Romaniuk
2009 Mike Farbelow
2010 Kevin Kakela
2011 Todd Birr
2012 Kroy Nernberger
2013 Mike Farbelow
2014 Josh Bahr
2015 Mark Haluptzok
2016 Jason Smith
2017 Hunter Clawson
2018 Tucker Smith
2019 Sam Strouse
2020 Jason Smith
2023

See also

References

  1. "USA Curling relaxes the World Team Qualification Process for 2018". Team USA. Archived from the original on August 21, 2017. Retrieved 2019-04-07.
  2. "Curling Teams Open National Meet". Lubbock Evening Journal. March 27, 1957. Retrieved September 10, 2020.
  3. "Local Curlers May Compete in Nationals". Fairbanks Daily News Miner. September 13, 1956. Retrieved September 10, 2020.
  4. "Curling Reviving All Over Alaska; Nationals Eyed". The Spokesman-Review. November 18, 1956. Retrieved September 10, 2020.
  5. Page, Eleanor (February 20, 1957). "Bagpipes Will Skirl at Curling Tourney". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved September 10, 2020.
  6. "Men's Curling Tourney on TV Wednesday". Chicago Tribune. March 24, 1957. Retrieved September 10, 2020.
  7. Watson, Ken (January 8, 1958). "Curling Crescendo in Chicago". The Chilliwack Progress. Retrieved September 10, 2020.
  8. Cromie, Robert (March 27, 1957). "Curlers Open Title Meet Tonight". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved September 10, 2020.
  9. Carlson, Laurie (April 19, 1958). "With The Curlers". The Capital Times. Retrieved September 10, 2020.
  10. Maier, Harry (November 27, 1958). "Green Bay Picked as Site for 1959 National Men's Curling Tourney". Appleton Post Crescent. Retrieved September 10, 2020.
  11. Maier, Harry (March 30, 1959). "Civic Leaders Will Welcome Curlers". Appleton Post Crescent. Retrieved September 10, 2020.
  12. "Seattle Rink Cops Curling Championship". The La Crosse Tribune. March 20, 1961. Retrieved September 11, 2020.
  13. "Portage Rink All Set for National". Portage Daily Register. March 14, 1961. Retrieved September 11, 2020.
  14. "Curling Teams In 3-Way Tie". Madison Capital Times. March 25, 1961. Retrieved September 11, 2020.
  15. Gewirtz, Jason (Aug 7, 2019). "2021 USA Curling Nationals Headed to Iowa". Sports Travel Magazine. Retrieved Mar 29, 2021.
  16. "2021 NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS HOST SITE". USA Curling. Nov 17, 2020. Retrieved Mar 29, 2021.
  17. "USA Curling postpones national championships until after worlds". NBC Sports. Dec 3, 2020. Retrieved Mar 29, 2021.
  18. 1 2 "2021 MEN'S, WOMEN'S, AND MIXED DOUBLES NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS". USA Curling. Mar 29, 2021. Retrieved Mar 29, 2021.
  19. "First nine teams qualify to 2020 Nationals". USA Curling. Dec 4, 2019. Archived from the original on December 27, 2019. Retrieved Jan 13, 2020.
  20. "2020 Nationals field nearly complete". USA Curling. Jan 5, 2020. Archived from the original on January 14, 2020. Retrieved Jan 13, 2020.
  21. "2021 NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP QUALIFYING PROCEDURES". Team USA. July 30, 2020. Archived from the original on August 5, 2020. Retrieved September 18, 2020.
  22. "USA Cancels or Postpones 2021 Championships". The Curling News. Retrieved 2021-03-01.
  23. "2019 National Championship Media Guide" (PDF). www.teamusa.org. Retrieved 2019-04-06.
  24. "Men's Champions". www.teamusa.org. Archived from the original on April 6, 2019. Retrieved 2019-04-06.
  25. "Fields set for USA Curling men's and women's national championships — USA CURLING". USA CURLING. Retrieved 2023-01-14.
  26. "2024 US men's & women's national championships slated for The Rink at American Dream". USA Curling. June 5, 2023. Retrieved January 1, 2024.
  27. "Awards". Team USA. Archived from the original on April 6, 2019. Retrieved 2019-04-06.
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