New events in place for youth curling in 2021-22 and beyond

As we slowly approach the light at the end of the tunnel of the COVID-19 pandemic, young curlers across Canada can now start planning for the 2021-22 season.

After extensive consultation with provincial and territorial Member Associations, it was determined that a return to the traditional Under-21 and Under 18 formats was preferred, and that will be the case next season.

But over the next two seasons, Curling Canada will operate some new events to fill the gap for players who aged out of juniors (Under-21) competition during the pandemic.

As well, there will be a series of regional Under-15 events.

Here’s a look at youth events next season:

Curling Canada Under-15 RockFest

*NEW* 

• U15 RockFest West, Prairie, East and Atlantic events will be held in March 2022 (locations TBD).
• Athletes will participate in both Singles and Triples in the Regional events. Participants must pay their own expenses.
• Any athlete 14 years of age or less on June 30, 2021, will be able to register to have scores entered on our new Curling Canada Singles App for iOS and Android. Curling Canada’s Singles App will be launched next season. 
• Curling Canada’s Singles App data will be used to determine athletes who will be eligible to compete at one of the four Regional U15 RockFest events.

Under-23 Invitational Event

*NEW*

• This is a one-time event intended to provide an opportunity for athletes who were affected by missed junior events due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
• To be held at the Lethbridge (Alta.) Curling Club, March 3-6, 2022.
• Format will be an invitational four-person men’s and women’s team event. Athletes can form a team with anyone in Canada.
• Event will be held during the opening weekend of the 2022 Tim Hortons Brier and teams will watch the Wild Card game in person.
• Athlete ages are calculated on June 30, 2021; cumulative team age must be 88 years or less and no athlete can be under 20 years old. Participants must pay their own expenses. Cash prizes.
• Age-eligible teams will be required to submit a written application to Curling Canada before Dec. 1, 2021. Previous provincial/national experience is an asset. Additional information and the application process will be released after this curling season is over.

Under-18 Men’s and Women’s National Championships 

• All athletes must be 17 years of age or less on June 30, 2021.
• Under-18 Canadian Championship will be in Timmins, Ont., Feb. 14-20, 2022,
• Member Association championships will determine teams.
• Format will have 21 teams of each gender (increased from 14 teams in previous events).

Under-21 Men’s and Women’s National Championships

• Scheduled for March 25-April 1, 2022, location to be announced.
• Athletes must be 20 years of age or less on June 30, 2022 (as per World Curling Federation rules to be eligible for 2023 World Juniors).
• Teams may have one overage athlete (21 years of age or less on June 30, 2022).
• Winning teams will represent Canada at the 2023 World Junior Championships. If a winning team has an overage player who is not eligible to compete at the 2023 World Juniors, Curling Canada will work with the winning team to determine the replacement player.
• Member Association championships will determine teams.
• Format will have 18 teams of each gender (increased from 14 teams in previous events).

2022 World Junior Championship Canadian Team Qualification Event

*NEW* 

• This one-time World Juniors Qualifier event is intended to provide a short-term fix to a problem created by the pandemic, and will determine two high-performance teams with medal potential at the 2022 World Junior Championships (Feb. 19-26, location to be announced by the World Curling Federation). Member Associations will send teams (one team per gender) to the Junior Qualifier event. Participants must pay their own expenses.
• Event will be held at the Granite Curling Club in Saskatoon, Nov. 22-27, 2021.
• All athletes must be 20 years of age or less on June 30, 2021 (as per World Curling Federation rules to be eligible for 2022 World Juniors).
• Curling Canada will bring the winning teams to the Continental Cup, Jan. 20-23, 2022, to train with National Coaches on arena ice.

U SPORTS/Canadian College Athletic Association (CCAA) National Championships 

• Athletes must be eligible to compete for their university or college. Age and eligibility for university students will follow FISU rules.
• 32 teams; eight teams of each gender for U SPORTS and eight teams of each gender for CCAA.
• Championships will be held March 15-19, 2022 (location to be announced).
• U SPORTS winners will represent Canada at the 2023 Winter Universiade in Lake Placid, N.Y.

2021 Winter Universiade

• Lucerne, Switzerland; event rescheduled to Dec. 11-21, 2021.
• Canadian women’s team from the University of Alberta and men’s team from Wilfred Laurier University.

Also, there are plans in place for events in the 2022-23 season:

Under-25 Invitational Event

*NEW*

• Starting in 2022, a U-25 Invitational event will be held in September each year.
• Teams will apply and selections will be based on Canadian Team Ranking System/Canadian Mixed Doubles Rankings standings from previous year.
• Four-person men’s and women’s teams, and mixed doubles teams, will compete for cash prizes. Participants must pay their own expenses.
• Winning teams will be placed into Curling Canada’s NextGen Program that season.• Athlete ages will be calculated on June 30, 2022; cumulative team age must be 96 years or less for four-person teams and 48 years or less for mixed doubles teams.

2023 Canada Winter Games

• Prince Edward Island, Feb. 18-March 5, 2023.|
• We are adding a new Under-20 Mixed Doubles event to this competition.
• Under-18 Men’s and Women’s team events will also be played.

For further information, contact:

Helen Radford
Manager, Youth Curling and NextGen
Curling Canada
[email protected]