Regina to host 2026 university and collegiate curling nationals

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The top university and collegiate curling teams will battle for their respective national championships next year in Regina.

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On Thursday, Curling Canada announced that Regina’s Callie Curling Club will play host to the 2026 U Sports Curling Championships and 2026 Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) Curling Championships from Feb. 17-21, 2026.

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Next year’s event will mark the second time the University of Regina has played host to curling nationals as the Callie hosted the event in 2014, which saw Matt Dunstone and his Manitoba Bisons win the men’s title while Jamie Sinclair and her Carleton Ravens from Ottawa claimed the women’s title.

Like previous national champions, the winning teams next year will represent Canada at the 2027 FISU Winter World University Games.

“The U Sports Curling Championships are a vital platform for developing Canada’s next generation of elite curlers,” U Sports chief sport officer Matthew Davies said in a release. “We’re thrilled that the event is returning to Regina, where passion for curling and university sport runs deep, and student-athletes are supported at every turn on their journey to national and international success.”

As the host, the Regina Cougars have earned an entry into next year’s event. And it will come on the heels of a national championship victory in 2024, which saw Josh Bryden and his squad win gold before going on to represent Canada at worlds, where they finished fourth.

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Bryden’s victory was the second for a University of Regina men’s team, with Chris Busby and his team winning the other in 2009. On the women’s side, the school has celebrated one national championship with Brooklyn Lemon and her squad winning gold in 2010.

The Laurier Golden Hawks will enter the 2026 event as the defending champions in both the men’s and women’s events as the school claimed both national titles earlier this year in Lethbridge.

At the same time as the U Sports nationals are being played, the CCAA nationals will be contested, which marks the seventh year of the partnership.

Saskatoon previously hosted the championship once before in 1985, but the 2026 event will mark the first time Regina entertains the collegiate teams in an event that was held from 1984 to 1990 before taking a 22-year break until it’s reintroduction in 2012.

Last season, Hamilton’s Mohawk College won the men’s championship while B.C.’s PacWest won gold on the women’s side. Saskatchewan didn’t have a collegiate entry.

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“We are thrilled and honoured to be hosting the 2026 U Sports & CCAA Curling Championships,” Lisa Robertson, University of Regina director of sport, community engagement and athlete development said in a release. “It’s a great opportunity to bring together the nation’s top student-athletes and we’re excited to work with our community, volunteers, and partners to deliver an exceptional championship experience.

“Our province has a deep love for curling and we can’t wait to showcase our hospitality at the Callie next February.”

While Regina’s Brandt Centre is no stranger to hosting major curling events, including the 2024 Montana’s Brier, the Callie Curling Club has also hosted large events in the past including the 2016 Canadian Wheelchair Curling Championships and the 1995 Canadian Junior Curling Championships.

“We’re excited to see the U Sports and CCAA Championships hosted in Saskatchewan, a province that never fails to deliver when it comes to national curling events,” Curling Canada CEO Nolan Thiessen said in a release. “These U Sports and CCAA events are about more than just competition — they are about creating meaningful experiences to keep these student-athletes in our sport at a time where they are working hard to balance their athletic and academic development.”

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tshire@postmedia.com

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