Welcome to the Minnesota Curling Association, an organization of over 5,000 Minnesota athletes who represent and promote the competitive yet always cordial, great game of curling.
The Minnesota Curling Association exists…
…to promote the sport of curling and unite curling clubs within the state of Minnesota;
…to conduct state curling competitions;
…to coordinate educational programs and activities for Minnesota curlers;
…to provide a channel of communication of state bonspiels, curling rules, winning techniques, equipment updates;
…and to encourage all curlers to enjoy the marvelous, unique facets of curling: honest sportsmanship, athletic competition, and social club recreation.
Two-minute Introduction to Curling (video)
MINNESOTA SKIPS WIN SENIOR NATIONALS
The 2025 USA National Women’s and Men’s Senior Championships, played in Traverse City, Michigan, were captured by two Minnesota skips. Congratulations to skip Margie Smith of the St. Paul Curling Club and her teammates Norma O’Leary (Two Harbors CC), Shelly Kinney (St. Paul CC), Shelly Kosal (Lewiston, MI) and to skip Mike Farbelow also of the St. Paul Curling Club and Rich Ruohonen (St. Paul CC), Bill Stopeta (Ardsley, NY), Darren Lehto (Seattle, WA). Both teams finished first in their pool play. To read the press release (with photos) from USACurling, please click HERE.
The World Senior Curling Championships and World Mixed Doubles will be held at the Willie O’Ree Place in Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada, April 26 – May 3, 2025.
2025 MN HIGH SCHOOL CHAMPIONSHIP
The 2025 Minnesota High School Championship was held February 28 – March 2 at the newly renovated Cambridge Curling Club. It was a super event with 24 teams representing their schools and curling clubs. Congratulations to Hunter Curtis, Parker Myhr, Caleb Arndt, Jay Ziebarth of Cambridge/Isanti High School and the Cambridge Curling Club.
| WORLD DEAF CURLING IN MINNESOTA The USA Deaf Sports Federation invites all to attend the 2025 World Deaf Curling Championships to be held April 22 – May 4, at the Four Seasons Curling Club in Blaine. Three competitions will be played: Mixed Doubles, Women’s, and Men’s. To learn more about the Deaf Sports Federation, the daily competition events, and the host hotel, please click here. |
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STATE PLAYDOWNS
All MCA members are invited to participate in these competitive curling events.
For more information on event formats and procedures and how to enter, visit the MCA Championship page and for national events: USA Curling.
♦ Men’s and Women’s State Club Championships
January 23 – 26, 2025 ~ Bemidji Curling Club
Congratulations to St. Paul: Maureen Stolt, Julie Scalan, Peggy Gazzola, Shelley Dropkin and Duluth: Joe Polo, Matt Mellin, Sam Thiesse, Derek Benson
Team Photos and Championship History: Women’s / Men’s
♦ Next stop –> U.S. Club Nationals – Milwaukee Curling Club, WI, March 26-30, 2025
♦ Mixed State Championship
February 21 – 23, 2025 ~ Dakota Curling Club, Lakeville
Congratulations to the Stolt rink of the St. Paul and Four Seasons CCs: Pete Stolt, Maureen Stolt, Evan Jensen, Sarah Lehman, and Coach Jason Perreira
Team Photo and Championship History
♦ Next up –> U.S. Mixed Nationals – Denver Curling Club, CO, April 16 – 20, 2025
♦ Under-18 Boys’ and Girls’ State Championships
November 18 – 20, 2024 ~ Curl Mesabi, Eveleth
Congratulations to Minnesota’s U-18 Champions
Girls MN-1: Allory Johnson, Gianna Johnson, Bailey Vaydich, Madeline Muscatell
Girls MN-2: Kenna Ponzio, Ella Riley, Alyssa Hahn, Olivia Hines, Alicia Quello
Boys MN-1: Mason Guentzel, Will Podhradsky, Leighton Hines, Jackson Askew
Boys MN-2: Cayden Newman, Peyton Ramsay, Charlie Oster, Parker Scott
♦ U.S. U-18 Nationals – Rock Creek CC in Lafayette, CO, January 9 – 12, 2025
Double Congratulations to both Minnesota-1 teams, Team Johnson and Team Guentzel, for claiming the National Championships!
Team Photos and Championship History: Boys / Girls
♦ Gopher State Women’s Curling Association Annual Bonspiel
February 21 – 23, 2025 ~ Frogtown Curling Club, St. Paul
♦ Minnesota State Senior Men’s Annual Bonspiel
January 10 – 12, 2025 ~ Brainerd Lakes Curling Club
MCA CLUBS’ 2024 – 2025 BONSPIEL CALENDAR
All Minnesota curlers are encouraged to enjoy the unique adventure of a curling bonspiel. Bonspiels are usually weekend events; one-, two-, or three-day competitive, yet very social, tournaments, combining great curling with generous hospitality (food, beverages, swag). There are bonspiels for curlers of all experience and skill levels. “Five and Under” spiels are for those who are new to the game, having curled five or less years. There are also senior spiels or “40+” wherein participants must be of a certain age. Most spiels guarantee at least three games (before knockout).
Bonspiels may include raffles, Calcutta games, silent auctions, or on-ice specialty games. Many spiels have a Saturday night banquet or party.
Take your league game to the next level, visit and support Minnesota curling clubs, and meet folks who may become life-long curling friends: Go ‘spieling!
MINNESOTA CURLING ASSOCIATION CLUBS’ BONSPIEL CALENDAR
MCA CLUBS ADD GAME STREAMING
Watching a national championship, a favorite bonspiel’s finals, or a challenging league game is now easier as more MCA clubs have added cameras and streaming online service. Games are presented live and many are also archived on these club YouTube channels.
Arden Hills Curling Club, St. Paul
Bemidji Curling Club
Brainerd Lakes Curling Association
Cambridge Curling Club
Duluth Curling Club
Four Seasons Curling Center, Blaine
Frogtown Curling Club, St. Paul
Heather Curling Club, Mapleton
St. Paul Curling Club
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Thanks to all who attended the annual MCA Membership Meeting in early June 2024. It was a good evening of information, discussion, and sharing of club happenings. The minutes of the meeting are available HERE. |
SAFESPORT INITIATIVE
The United States Curling Association, in compliance with U.S. federal law, now participates in the SafeSport Program to raise awareness, institute prevention, and enact response measures regarding the intolerance of abuse or harassment of any kind. All Minnesota curling clubs are required to establish a protocol for SafeSport Training for their club membership and staff.
USA Curling SafeSport
FIVE-ROCK FREE GUARD ZONE
The World Curling Federation has implemented the five-rock free-guard zone (FGZ) rule this season, replacing the four-rock rule. Many Minnesota clubs will be enacting the rule to prepare curlers for state, national, and world competitions.The expanded rule means that the first five rocks thrown each end (normally the two rocks thrown by each lead and the first rock thrown by the second on the team without the hammer) are “protected” and cannot be removed from the FGZ between the hog line and the house until the sixth rock is thrown each end. If a rock is removed before that time, it is put back. It is permissible to move an opponent’s rock as long as it remains in play.