TEAM USA SCHEDULE AT WORLD SENIOR CURLING CHAMPIONSHIPS 2022
© WCF / Ansis Ventins
On Saturday, April 23, 2022, the World Senior Curling Championships 2022 will begin at Curling Club Trois-Chêne / Genève, a pristine six-sheet facility in Geneva, Switzerland.
The Championships, welcoming participating countries comprised of athletes that are 50 years of age and older, is an open entry event that will determine the world champion in both a men’s and a women’s field.
SENIOR MEN’S
The USA senior men’s rink of Bob Leclair, Greg Gallagher, Jeff Baird, Tom Danielson, and Fred Maxie will compete in a field of 21 teams by being divided into three groups of seven.
In Team USA’s group are the following countries:
Australia, Canada, Finland, Italy, Slovakia, and Turkey.
The second senior men’s group is comprised of:
Czech Republic, England, Hungary, Ireland, Norway, Switzerland, and Sweden.
And in the third group are:
Belgium, Denmark, Germany, Latvia, Nigeria, New Zealand, and Scotland.
The Championship will begin with every team completing a round robin within their designated group to determine the top three teams from each group.
The top two teams from each group, along with the top two third-ranked teams with the best “Draw Shot Challenge” will advance to the quarterfinals of the competition.
In the quarterfinals, the one-seed will play the eight-seed, the two-seed will play the seven-seed, and so on.
The quarterfinal victors will advance to the semi-finals where the winners will compete for the gold medal, and the losers will battle for bronze.
The U.S. senior men’s curling team, skipped by Bob Leclair, will make their World Senior Men’s Curling Championship debut in their opener against Turkey on Saturday at 1:00am (CDT).
SENIOR WOMEN’S
Team USA, Margie Smith, Ann Swisshelm, Shelly Kosal, and Shelley Dropkin will compete for the World Senior Women’s Curling Championship 2022 title beginning in their opening draw against England on Saturday at 9:00am (CDT).
In the women’s field, 13 teams will be divided into two groups (one group of seven, one group of six).
In Team USA’s group are the following countries:
England, Finland, Latvia, Lithuania, and Switzerland.
In the second women’s group are:
Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Ireland, Italy, Scotland, and Sweden.
At the conclusion of each group’s round robin, the top three teams of each group will advance to the playoffs, with the top seed of each group qualifying directly for the semi-finals, and the two and three-seeds playing the alternate group in qualification games.
The winners of the qualification games will play the top-seeded teams in the semi-finals, where the winners will play in the gold medal game and the losers will play for bronze.
The Smith-skipped rink from the United States also earned the opportunity to represent the United States in 2020 by winning the 2020 Senior Women’s National Championship, however, the World Championship was canceled due to COVID-19.
The same roster went on to clinch back-to-back National titles and will now look to make noise on the world stage as Team USA.
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USA Curling fans can follow the standings and live scoring through World Curling Federation’s website.
USA Curling is sponsored by Columbia Sportswear, Toyota, Twin Cities Orthopedics, Training HAUS, Brakebush, ISS (Ice, Sports & Solar), and Sitrin, and is partnered with IHG, Rock Solid Productions Inc., Laurie Artiss Ltd. – The Pin People.
