Curling
U SPORTS Curling Championships: Day 5
Curling Canada is coming back to Fredericton to launch a curling extravaganza. The city has become a curling hotbed and will continue its commitment to the sport by hosting three national championships during the 2023-24 season.
The Aitken University Centre at the University of New Brunswick and the Capital Winter Club will host the 2024 U SPORTS/Curling Canada University Championships and 2024 Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA)/Curling Canada College Curling Championships from March 12-16, followed by the 2024 Canadian Mixed Doubles Curling Championship from March 17-22.
“Fredericton’s curling community is among the most dedicated and committed to hosting outstanding national championships. The city, and the province at large, have dedicated leaders committed to bringing major events to the community and growing the game at the grassroots level, said Curling Canada CEO Katherine Henderson. “We’re thrilled to be coming back and experience their hospitality during the upcoming season. I know all athletes, coaches, volunteers and fans will have a first-call event.”
It marks the second time Fredericton will host the trio of events. In 2019, Fredericton was home to the events, which were capped off with Jocelyn Peterman and Brett Gallant winning their record-setting second Canadian mixed doubles title.
Most recently, Fredericton hosted the inaugural 2022 PointsBet Invitational, won by Team Jennifer Jones in women’s competition and Team Reid Carruthers in men’s action.
This announcement continues Fredericton’s proud tradition of being a curling hub in Canada. Other past events include the 2017 Everest Canadian Senior Championships, the 2013 World Mixed Doubles and Seniors Championships, the 2005 Canadian Junior Championships, the 1988 Scotties Tournament of Hearts, the 1985 Canadian Junior Women’s Championship, the 1982 World Junior Men’s Championship, the 1980 Canadian Senior Women’s Championship, the 1975 Brier and the 1965 Canadian Junior Men’s Championship.
The U SPORTS and CCAA championships are again staged together in partnership with Curling Canada for the fifth time.
Last year, the events were held in Sudbury, Ont., with the University of Alberta’s Team Serena Gray-Withers (Edmonton) and Team Sam Mooibroek of Wilfrid Laurier University in Waterloo, Ont., earning the U SPORTS women’s and men’s titles, respectively.
In addition to being national champions, the women’s and men’s winners will have the potential to represent Canada at the 2025 FISU World University Games in Torino, Italy.
The University of New Brunswick REDS serve as hosts for the event. The UNB REDS women’s curling team last earned silver at the 2020 national championship, earned by Team Justine Comeau, at Portage la Prairie, Man. The men’s team most recently competed at the 2023 championship in Sudbury, Ont., with Team Jamie Stewart finishing the round robin with three wins and four losses.
“U SPORTS is pleased to once again partner with Curling Canada and the CCAA to bring the best post-secondary curling action back to Fredericton,” said Lisette Johnson-Stapley, U SPORTS Chief Sport Officer. “Fredericton has a rich history in hosting U SPORTS championships, including this event back in 2019 and we know that participating student-athletes, coaches and fans will have an outstanding experience during the 2024 event.”
In the CCAA event, the men’s Humber College team of Toronto, skipped by Jacob Dobson, enter the event as reigning champions. The team’s lineup included Austin Snyder, who represented Canada at the 2023 World Junior Curling Championships. On the women’s side, Team Josie Zimmerman of Augustana University College in Camrose, Alta., are the reigning women’s champions.
“The Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association is looking forward to returning to Fredericton in 2024,” said Sandra Murray-MacDonell, CCAA Chief Executive Officer. “The City of Fredericton and this host committee have demonstrated their ability to provide a high standard of excellence, both technically and administratively, in hosting this event. CCAA student-athlete curlers will be provided with an enriching experience as they vie for top honours at the Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association/Curling Canada Championships.”
After the university and collegiate events, the Canadian Mixed Doubles Curling Championship takes centre stage. The national championship is coming off a highly successful and well-attended 2023 event in Sudbury.
“Fredericton is an excellent city for curling and has established itself as a premiere location for the sport in Canada. From the elite game through grassroots, New Brunswick’s curling community has a passion for the sport and that will be on full display this upcoming March,” said Gail Samaan, President of the New Brunswick Curling Association.
Reigning Canadian champions Jennifer Jones and Brent Laing are coming off a fourth-place finish at the 2023 world mixed doubles event. The 2024 mixed doubles event winner will represent Canada at the 2024 World Mixed Doubles Curling Championship. The World Curling Federation will announce the dates and location at a later date.
“We loved hosting this event in 2019 and are honoured to be able to host it again this coming March,” said Host Committee Chair Wayne Tallon. “This time will be extra special because we are partnering with the University of New Brunswick to host it at the Aitken University Centre. UNB, the City of Fredericton, the business community, the Capital Winter Club and curling fans from all over New Brunswick were the reason this event was such a success before, and we cannot wait to work with everyone again.”
After the Canadian Mixed Doubles Championships wraps up the Capital Winter Club will host the New Brunswick Little Rock’s Jamboree where it is expected over 60 teams of curlers between the ages of four through 12 will compete on the arena ice.