Hundreds of U-15 athletes developed skills at four RockFest events across Canada this season

The 2024-25 curling season was highlighted by some of the best Canadian curlers vying for national and international titles. While that was happening, over 350 Canadian youth curlers were also honing their skills, many with hopes of one day following the same slide paths as the Canadian athletes they watched at the Scotties Tournament of Hearts and Montana’s Brier.

Four locations hosted the 2025 U-15 RockFest events from February through April: Kelowna, B.C. (West), Halifax (Atlantic), North Bay, Ont. (East) and Winnipeg (Prairies). These regional events help youth curlers develop skills and compete against neighbouring provinces/territories in singles and triples curling. The events aim to create a well-rounded skillset in all aspects of the game while balancing competitiveness and fun for the athletes.

Triples, in particular, is a superb discipline for training well-rounded athletes as it allows the curlers to throw, sweep, call the line, and dictate strategy.

This season, Curling Canada added more curler development opportunities to the events, with new off-ice sessions and an increased number of coaches providing technical expertise during the skill development clinics.

In total, 355 U-15 athletes participated in the RockFest events, helping them gain confidence in their abilities as curlers while also adding an element of competitiveness.

“The U-15 RockFest schedule is designed around the idea of building a ‘5-Star Curler’, which is a key element of Curling Canada’s Long-Term Curler Development framework. RockFest events provide young athletes a stage-appropriate blend of training and competition experiences that develop their technical, tactical, physical, mental, and social skills,” said Curling Canada’s Manager, Youth Development & Programming, Dustin Mikush.

Ridge Kriger and Lily Ward had the opportunity to compete at the U-15 RockFest Prairies event in Winnipeg. They didn’t miss the opportunity to compete and meet new people.

“The RockFest this year gave me a challenge in my singles curling, and the triples team I was placed with, my teammates were respectful and had a tone of sportsmanship,” Kriger said.

“The RockFest for me was a super great experience, with lots of skill development and networking opportunities. It also allowed me to compete and learn from the best in my league,” said Ward.

Some of the biggest names in Canadian curling took time out of their schedules to work with the youth at the events, including Brendan Bottcher, Briane Harris, Christina Black, Colleen Jones, Geoff Walker, Jill Brothers, Jill Officer, Luke Saunders, Paul Webster and Tyrel Griffith, to name a few.

Six-time Montana’s Brier competitor Tyrel Griffith coached at the U-15 RockFest West event in his hometown of Kelowna and could see how impactful the opportunity was.

“I was very impressed with the turnout of youth from across western Canada. They were keen to learn and listened well. For the youth, the event presents a great opportunity to use modern technology to develop their technical skills. They also have a chance to engage with top coaches and players in the country,” Griffith said. “The best part of it all was seeing them play triples on the arena ice. I had so much fun seeing them enjoy that opportunity. I think it will be something they will remember forever and take with them in their curling journeys.”

The U-15 RockFest West marked the largest regional event yet, with 120 young curlers from Alberta, British Columbia, and Yukon participating. The event in Kelowna coincided with another major event on the curling schedule, the 2025 Montana’s Brier. Twenty-three Montana’s Brier athletes and coaches took the time out of their busy schedules to join as on-ice coaches and support the youth athletes’ technical skill development.

Curling Canada provided over 300 tickets to youth curlers and their families to take in a draw and have a fantastic experience. During the game, TSN featured the group on the national broadcast.

“RockFest West was an unforgettable experience. Bringing together 120 top U-15 curlers from multiple provinces and territories to the countries best event at the Montana’s Brier is an unmatched experience. It was really special watching the athletes learn from Brier athletes and then getting to follow that up by playing on the championship ice. Not only was it a great experience for their skill development, but getting to meet and learn from some of their curling heroes takes the experience to a whole new level. I am grateful for all the efforts of Curling Canada, the Kelowna Curling Club, and all the Coaches / Volunteers for making it all possible. I can’t wait for next year’s RockFest!” said Paul Cseke, alternate with Team BC, and who one of the on-ice coaches for the event, along with being the Youth Development Manager with Curl BC.

Parents are seeing the long-term value of the U-15 RockFest program as well. Youth are getting opportunities to meet new curlers from across the country while learning from some of the best to play the game.

“The U-15 RockFest West was a wonderful experience for Team Yukon. Our curlers (and parents!) had a terrific time, top to bottom. My daughter can’t stop talking about it. She wants Paul Webster to be her coach. Since RockFest, my daughter has dragged me out for practice ice multiple times. Watching the Brier playoffs together on TV was extra special after being in the building the same week,” said parent Scott Cameron. “Upon arriving home, the four Yukon participants delivered a talk and slideshow to the Little Rockers and Juniors at the Whitehorse Curling Club. They shared photos and stories from RockFest West 2025, and then we highlighted the 2026 event in Calgary, to motivate our young curlers to set goals for next season.”

“The U-15 RockFest program is so fantastic. In Kelowna, I had my two kids plus five others that I coach. I had one curler that was iffy if he would stick with it next year, and now he is absolutely in. All of them are so much more invested in the game and determined to be there one day. They loved it all,” said parent and coach Kristen Windsor. “They had learned so much, and to have the opportunity to meet the players, be on the Brier ice, watch the games, and meet others was so extraordinary. To be a part of something like this was so special for them.”

U-15 RockFest events are part of the final framework of the Foundational Stages within Curling Canada’s Long Term Curler Development, a strategy designed to develop curlers’ skills for all aspects of the game, from recreational to high performance. This Train-to-Train stage prepares U-15 curlers for both the competitive and recreational pathways. After this stage, youth curlers generally decide to follow the recreational path or go down the competitive pathway.

The U-15 RockFest events also give youth a taste of that competitive aspect through its singles competition. Here are the regional winners from each event:

U-15 ROCKFEST WEST

Female

1. Allie Grant (AB)
2. Makena Martz (BC)
3. Ella Walker (BC)

Male

1. Spencer Rempel (BC)
2. Brody Dhaliwal (BC)
3. Mason Wolter (BC)

U-15 ROCKFEST ATLANTIC

Female

1. Emily Pembleton (NS)
2. Sophie Canning (NS)
3. Grace Myers (PE)

Male

1. Henry Salzman (NS)
2. Aaron Haight (NS)
3. Lennox Francis (NS)

U-15 ROCKFEST EAST

Female

1. Natalia Sharpe (ON)
2. Raina Phillips (ON)
3. Charlotte Wilson (ON)

Male

1. Isaac Cram (ON)
2. Trevor Meldrum (QC)
3. Grayson Dann (ON)

U-15 ROCKFEST PRAIRIES

Female

1. ‎Joëlle Plourde (MB)
2. Makena Kriger (SK)
3. Ahinoam Ruka (MB)

Male

1. Parker Schwab (MB)
2. Alexandre Newcombe (MB)
3. Zach Malenchak (MB)

The 2026 U-15 RockFest event dates and locations were announced earlier this year. Stay tuned for more information on how to qualify for next year’s events!