USA CURLING TO HOST CAN-AM WHEELCHAIR CURLING CUP
Photo by: Bob Weder
[EAGAN, MN, November 27th, 2023] — USA Curling will host an international wheelchair curling competition on January 27, 2024, at The Rink at American Dream in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
The first-ever Can-Am Wheelchair Curling Cup will not only introduce fans in the Tri-State area to the sport, it offers North America's leading wheelchair curlers a competitive platform ahead of the World Wheelchair Curling Championship in Gangneung, Korea, scheduled for March.
"We are very excited for this event with Team Canada in January," said Pete Annis, Director of Wheelchair Curling at USA Curling. "Replicating a high-level international competition on home ice will undoubtedly contribute to our athletes' success throughout the rest of the season, and it gives fans of the sport in the Tri-State area an opportunity to see it live."
The top athletes from Team USA and Team Canada will compete in both Four-Person and Mixed Doubles play, and there will be no shortage of Paralympians. On the American side, all members of the team—Matt Thums, Steve Emt, Pam Wilson, David Samsa, Oyuna Uranchimeg—that represented the United States at the 2022 Winter Paralympic Games will be on the ice. The Team USA contingent at the Can-Am Wheelchair Curling Cup will also include Shawn Sadowski, Dan Rose, and Laura Dwyer.
Samsa and Wilson secured silver at the 2023 World Wheelchair Mixed Doubles Curling Championship after narrowly defeating the eventual bronze medalists from Canada in the semifinal round. Canada boasts a strong track record in the four-person discipline—the country won silver at the most recent World Championship and were bronze medalists at the 2022 Winter Paralympic Games.
If you are interested in supporting this event through sponsorships or donations, please contact Dean Gemmell at dean.gemmell@usacurling.org.
The USA Curling 2024 Men's & Women's National Championships kick off at at the same venue two days later. Opening ceremonies and the first full session are on January 29th. Qualifying play continues throughout the week, building towards the Men’s and Women’s finals on February 4th. The Rink at American Dream will be a one-of-a-kind backdrop for curling with unparalleled opportunities to see the sport up close. The American Dream complex includes more than three million square feet of attractions, including an indoor theme park, a water park, an indoor ski slope, and, of course, endless shopping.
About USA Curling
Founded in 1958 and headquartered in Eagan, Minnesota, USA Curling is the National Governing body for the Olympic sport of curling and the Paralympic sport of wheelchair curling in the United States. The mission of USA Curling is to grow, strengthen, and advocate for the Olympic and Paralympic sport of curling in the United States by prioritizing accessibility and programmatic development from grassroots to podium. USA Curling is sponsored by Columbia Sportswear, Twin Cities Orthopedics, Training HAUS, Toyota, ISS (Ice, Sports & Solar), Rock Solid Productions, Jet Ice, and Laurie Artiss. USA Curling is a proud member of the World Curling Federation and the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee. To learn more, visit usacurling.org.
