United States Men's Curling Championship

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]

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

History

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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

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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

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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

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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
1957 Chicago, IL   Hibbing, MN Harold Lauber Louis Lauber Peter Beasy Matt Berklich
1958 Milwaukee, WI   Detroit, MI Mike Slyziuk Douglas Fisk Ernest Slyziuk Merritt Knowlson
1959 Green Bay, WI   Hibbing, MN Dick Brown Terry Kleffman Fran Kleffman Nick Jerulle
1960 Chicago, IL   Grafton, ND Orvil Gilleshammer Glenn Gilleshammer Wilmer Collette Donald LaBonte
1961 Grand Forks, ND   Seattle, WA Frank Crealock Ken Sherwood John Jamieson Bud McCartney Bronze
1962 Detroit, MI   Hibbing, MN Dick Brown Terry Kleffman Fran Kleffman Nick Jerulle Silver
1963 Duluth, MN   Detroit, MI Mike Slyziuk Nelson Brown Ernest Slyziuk Walter Hubchick Silver
1964 Utica, NY   Duluth, MN Robert Magie Jr. Bert Payne Russell Barber Britton Payne Bronze
1965 Seattle, WA   Superior, WI Bud Somerville Bill Strum Al Gagne Tom Wright Gold
1966 Hibbing, MN   Fargo, ND Bruce Roberts Joe Zbacnik Gerry Toutant Mike O’Leary Bronze
1967 Winchester, MA   Seattle, WA Bruce Roberts Tom Fitzpatrick John Wright Doug Walker Bronze
1968 Madison, WI   Superior, WI Bud Somerville Bill Strum Al Gagne Tom Wright Bronze
1969 Grand Forks, ND   Superior, WI Bud Somerville Bill Strum Franklin Bradshaw Gene Ovesen Silver
1970 Ardsley, NY   Grafton, ND Art Tallackson Glenn Gilleshammer Ray Holt Trueman Thompson 4th
1971 Duluth, MN   Edmore, ND Dale Dalziel Dennis Melland Clark Sampson Rodney Melland Bronze
1972 Wilmette, IL   Grafton, ND Robert LaBonte Frank Aasand John Aasand Ray Morgan Silver
1973 Colorado Springs, CO   Winchester, MA Charles Reeves Doug Carlson Henry Shean Barry Blanchard 5th
1974 Schenectady, N.Y.   Superior, WI Bud Somerville Bob Nichols Bill Strum Tom Locken Gold
1975 Detroit, MI   Seattle, WA Ed Risling Charles Lundgren Gary Schnee Dave Tellvik Silver
1976 Wausau WI   Hibbing, MN Bruce Roberts Joe Roberts Gary Kleffman Jerry Scott Gold
1977 Northbrook, IL   Hibbing, MN Bruce Roberts Paul Pustovar Gary Kleffman Jerry Scott 4th
1978 Utica, NY   Superior, WI Bob Nichols Bill Strum Tom Locken Bob Christman Gold
1979 Superior, WI   Bemidji, MN Scott Baird Dan Haluptzok Mark Haluptzok Bob Fenson 5th
1980 Bemidji, MN   Hibbing, MN Paul Pustovar John Jankila Gary Kleffman Jerry Scott 4th
1981 Fairbanks, AK   Superior, WI Bob Nichols Bud Somerville Bob Christman Bob Buchanan Silver
1982 Brookline, MA   Madison, WI Steve Brown Ed Sheffield Huns Gustrowsky George Godfrey 6th
1983 Colorado Springs, CO   Colorado Springs, CO Don Cooper Jerry Van Brunt Jr. Bill Shipstad Jack McNelly 6th
1984 Hibbing MN   Hibbing, MN Joe Roberts (4th) Bruce Roberts (skip) Gary Kleffman Jerry Scott 6th
1985 Mequon, WI   Wilmette, IL Tim Wright John Jahant Jim Wilson Russ Armstrong 3rd
1986 Seattle, WA   Madison, WI Steve Brown Wally Henry George Godfrey Richard Maskel Bronze
1987 Lake Placid, NY   Seattle, WA Jim Vukich Ron Sharpe George Pepelnjak Gary Joraanstad 5th
1988 St. Paul, MN   Seattle, WA Doug Jones Bard Nordlund Murphy Tomlinson Mike Grennan 7th
1989 Detroit, MI   Seattle, WA Jim Vukich Curt Fish Bard Nordlund James Pleasants,
alt.: Jason Larway
8th
1990 Superior, WI   Seattle, WA Bard Nordlund Doug Jones Murphy Tomlinson Tom Violette 6th
1991 Utica, NY   Madison, WI Steve Brown Paul Pustovar George Godfrey Wally Henry,
Mike Fraboni
Bronze
1992 Grafton, ND   Seattle, WA Doug Jones Jason Larway Joel Larway Tom Violette Bronze
1993 St. Paul, MN   Bemidji, MN Scott Baird Pete Fenson Mark Haluptzok Tim Johnson Bronze
1994 Duluth, MN   Bemidji, MN Scott Baird Pete Fenson Mark Haluptzok Tim Johnson 5th
1995 Appleton, WI   Superior, WI Tim Somerville Mike Schneeberger Myles Brundidge John Gordon 4th
1996 Bemidji, MN   Superior, WI Tim Somerville Mike Schneeberger Myles Brundidge John Gordon 5th
1997 Seattle, WA   Langdon, ND Craig Disher Kevin Kakela Joel Jacobson Paul Peterson 6th
1998 Bismarck, ND   Stevens Point, WI Paul Pustovar Dave Violette Greg Wilson Cory Ward 6th
1999 Duluth, MN   Superior, WI Tim Somerville Don Barcome Jr. Myles Brundidge John Gordon 4th
2000 Ogden, UT   Madison, WI Craig Brown Ryan Quinn Jon Brunt John Dunlop 4th
2001 Madison, WI   Seattle, WA Jason Larway Greg Romaniuk Joel Larway Travis Way,
Doug Kauffman
6th
2002 Eveleth, MN   Madison, WI Paul Pustovar Mike Fraboni Geoff Goodland Richard Maskel 4th
2003 Utica, NY   Bemidji, MN Pete Fenson Eric Fenson Shawn Rojeski John Shuster 8th
2004 Grand Forks, ND   Seattle, WA Jason Larway Doug Pottinger Joel Larway Bill Todhunter,
Doug Kauffman
9th
2005 Madison, WI   Bemidji, MN Pete Fenson Shawn Rojeski Joe Polo John Shuster 6th
2006 Bemidji, MN   Bemidji, MN Pete Fenson Shawn Rojeski Joe Polo John Shuster 4th
2007 Utica, NY   Caledonian Todd Birr Bill Todhunter Greg Johnson Kevin Birr Bronze
2008 Hibbing, MN   Madison, WI Craig Brown Rich Ruohonen John Dunlop Pete Annis 7th
2009 Broomfield, CO   Duluth, MN John Shuster Jason Smith Jeff Isaacson John Benton 5th
2010 Kalamazoo, MI   Bemidji, MN Pete Fenson Shawn Rojeski Joe Polo Tyler George 4th
2011 Fargo, ND   Bemidji, MN Pete Fenson Shawn Rojeski Joe Polo Ryan Brunt 10th
2012 Philadelphia, PA   Ardsley, NY Heath McCormick Bill Stopera Martin Sather Dean Gemmell 8th
2013 Green Bay, WI   Seattle, WA Brady Clark Sean Beighton Darren Lehto Philip Tilker,
Steve Lundeen
9th
2014 Philadelphia, PA   Bemidji, MN Pete Fenson Shawn Rojeski Joe Polo Ryan Brunt 10th
2015 Kalamazoo, MI   Duluth, MN John Shuster Tyler George Matt Hamilton John Landsteiner 5th
2016 Jacksonville, FL   Seattle, WA Brady Clark Greg Persinger Colin Hufman Philip Tilker Bronze (Shuster1)
2017 Everett, WA   Duluth, MN John Shuster Tyler George Matt Hamilton John Landsteiner 4th
2018 Fargo, ND   Seattle, WA Greg Persinger Rich Ruohonen Colin Hufman Philip Tilker 6th
2019 Kalamazoo, MI   Duluth, MN John Shuster Chris Plys Matt Hamilton John Landsteiner 5th
2020 Cheney, WA   Duluth, MN John Shuster Chris Plys Matt Hamilton John Landsteiner T5th2
2021 Wausau, WI[18]   Chaska, MN Korey Dropkin Mark Fenner Thomas Howell Alex Fenson 4th 3
2023 Denver, CO[25]   Duluth, MN John Shuster Chris Plys Matt Hamilton John Landsteiner 8th
2024 East Rutherford, NJ[26]   Duluth, MN John Shuster Chris Plys Colin Hufman Matt Hamilton
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

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Men's Curling Champions
  13,   9,   8,   7,   6,   5,   3,   2,   1
Rank State Trophies
1   Minnesota 26
2   Wisconsin 16
3   Washington 13
4   North Dakota 6
5   Michigan 2
6   Colorado 1
6   Illinois 1
6   Massachusetts 1
6   New York 1

Sportsmanship Award

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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

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References

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  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. ^ a b "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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