Many of the teams heading to Beijing for the 2022 Winter Olympics will be in Fredericton New Brunswick for the 2022 Continental Cup, it was announced today by Curling Canada.
Willie O’Ree Place in Fredericton will play host to the 2022 Continental Cup of Curling.
Curling’s version of the Ryder Cup will be played Jan. 20-23 at Willie O’Ree Place in Fredericton and will fulfill Curling Canada’s vow to bring a major event to Fredericton as soon as possible after the 2020 Home Hardware Canada Cup, which was to be played in Fredericton, was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Fredericton is a world-class city with world-class fans and volunteers, so we have every expectation that the 2022 Continental Cup will be a memorable event,” said Amy Nixon, Chair of Curling Canada’s Board of Governors. “We shared Fredericton’s disappointment at not being able to have the Home Hardware Canada Cup there last season, so being able to make this happen so soon is a real thrill for all of us, and I can’t wait to see how Fredericton responds.”
Formats and team lineups for the 2022 Continental Cup will be announced at a later date, but Team Canada will be led by the 2021 national championship teams — Team Kerri Einarson of Gimli, Man., who won the 2021 Scotties Tournament of Hearts, and Team Brendan Bottcher of Edmonton, who won the 2021 Tim Hortons Brier, presented by AGI.
Additionally, the men’s and women’s winners at the 2021 Tim Hortons Curling Trials, presented by AGI, in Saskatoon are expected to be part of Team Canada before they travel to Beijing for the Winter Olympics.
“It’s exciting to again partner with the Capital Winter Club and Curling Canada to bring an elite international curling championship to Fredericton. It’s going to be wonderful for New Brunswick curling fans,” said Fredericton Mayor Kate Rogers. “Thanks to the Tourism Accommodation Levy Management Committee for supporting this great initiative with a hosting fee. Sport Tourism events of this magnitude are important to our local economy.”
It will be the 17th edition of the Continental Cup, and the first since the 2020 edition in London, Ont. The 2021 Continental Cup was to be played in Oakville, Ont., but like many other events was cancelled due to the pandemic.
Team Europe will be looking to extend its win streak to three. The Europeans triumphed in 2020 in London and also won in 2019 at Las Vegas after having losing the previous six editions.
Named after the first Black person to play in the National Hockey League, Willie O’Ree Place features two NHL-size ice pads, including the 1,500-seat arena that will host the 2022 Continental Cup.
Fredericton has proven itself a wonderful host of championship curling events in the past, both in arena settings and at the historic Capital Winter Club. Most recently, Fredericton hosted the 2019 Canadian Mixed Doubles, U SPORTS Canadian University and Canadian Colleges Athletic Association championships, all at Willie O’Ree Place.
“The Continental Cup of Curling will provide a strong start to the 2022 Sport Tourism event calendar. Our tourism and hospitality industry has been under a lot of stress over the past couple of years with COVID and this event is a sign that we are returning to something closer to normal. This event generates strong economic activity during the tourism shoulder season, so it’s particularly helpful,” said Fredericton Tourism’s Sport Tourism Coordinator Bobby Despres. “The Continental Cup of Curling is an event that will showcase Fredericton as a premiere curling destination in Atlantic Canada.”
Other past major events in the city include the 2017 Everest Canadian Senior Championships, the 2013 World Seniors and World Mixed Doubles Championships, the 2005 Canadian Junior Men’s and Women’s Championships, the 1988 Scotties Tournament of Hearts, the 1985 Canadian Junior Women’s Championship, the 1982 World Junior Men’s Championship, the 1980 Canadian Senior Women’s Championship, the 1975 Brier and the 1965 Canadian Junior Men’s Championship.
“We have a rich history in New Brunswick of hosting successful events, and having the opportunity to bring the Continental Cup to Atlantic Canada for the first time is a privilege,” said Bernard Savoie, President of the New Brunswick Curling Association. “This is an opportunity for fans and our young future stars to see the world’s best players gather in Fredericton, and know this will benefit our curling community for years to come.”
Tickets will go on sale soon, with details announced close to the on-sale date. Look for announcements on volunteer recruitment soon as well.
“After the frustrations and anxiety of the past 16 months, we are ready to welcome the world to Fredericton and put on a show the curlers and fans won’t forget,” said Wayne Tallon, Chair of the 2022 Continental Cup host committee. “We have a great facility, a passionate curling community and dedicated volunteers, and it will add up to the best Continental Cup ever.”
TSN/RDS2, the official broadcast partner of Curling Canada’s Season of Champions, will televise all of the action from Fredericton.