Canadian U-18 championships to be postponed

Ongoing uncertainty related to the COVID-19 pandemic has forced Curling Canada to look for alternate dates and a new location for the 2022 Canadian Under-18 Championships, it was announced today.

The 2022 event was to be played Feb. 14-20 in Timmins, Ont., but with current restrictions preventing many provinces and territories from staging their respective Under-18 championships, Curling Canada will attempt to reschedule the championships for later in the year in a new location, as there is no other ice availability in Timmins for the remainder of this curling season.

Curling Canada will, however, stage the 2023 Canadian Under-18 Championships in Timmins, Feb. 6-11.

“We understand these are difficult circumstances for Curling Canada, so we were fully supportive of the decision,” said Steve Meunier, co-chair with Tony Chilton of the Timmins host committee. “We now can hit the pause button and start preparing for the 2023 event and make sure that every player, coach and family member has an amazing experience in Timmins.”

Curling Canada is continuing to consult with local, regional and national health authorities in preparation for the remainder of its 2021-22 championship events.

“We understand the importance of the Under-18 championships and how crucial this event is for developing our next generation of athletes,” said Katherine Henderson, Chief Executive Officer of Curling Canada. “We’re grateful to the host committee in Timmins for their understanding, and we will continue to work on giving our Under-18 athletes an opportunity to show their talent this year.”

Additionally, Curling Canada confirmed today that the inaugural Under-23 Lethbridge Classic, scheduled for March in Lethbridge, Alta., will be cancelled.

Details for an Under-25 Invitational event, to be held in September 2022, will be released later this season.

As well, the Under-15 RockFest Regional events will be held virtually instead of in person. Details will be released later in January on how kids can compete using Curling Canada’s new singles curling app in their home curling centres.