For the first time since 2011, the World Men’s Curling Championship returns to Saskatchewan in 2025.
This time, Moose Jaw will get its first crack at hosting the World Men’s, getting the opportunity to hold the event next year.
Moose Jaw’s 4,465-seat Moose Jaw Event Centre, built in 2011, was also the site of the Scotties Tournament of Hearts in both 2015 and 2020.
Moose Jaw Mayor Clive Tolley says this will be a huge economic benefit for Moose Jaw, filling restaurants and hotels for the duration of the event.
“One of the big things that we have going for us in the city of Moose Jaw is you can drive to Moose Jaw, park your car, stay in a hotel, walk to the Events Centre, walk back to the hotel, go to the restaurant, go to a bar,” Tolley said. “You don’t have to move your car after you get there.”
Curl Moose Jaw board member Moose Gibson says past experience hosting major curling events like the Scotties and the Canada Cup in 2012 gives them confidence this event will be another big success.
“Our fan base and our support and volunteerism is second to none,” Gibson said. “(We’re a) smaller city, but curling really is the heartbeat during the winter. It’s phenomenal.”
Curling Canada CEO Nolan Thiessen says Saskatchewan curling fans are exceptionally knowledgeable of the sport, making it easy to host the event in Moose Jaw.
“It’s also really cool as a part of the world curling family, all of the teams from all over love coming to Canada and love coming to a place like Moose Jaw because it’s just such a big deal and they feel like rockstars for the week,” Thiessen said. “We’re just overjoyed.”
The 2024 and 2025 Brier champions qualify for the 2026 Olympic Games via points earned based on rankings.
Canada’s representative at the 2024 men’s world championship, which will be held March 30 to April 7 in Schaffhausen, Switzerland, will be determined Sunday at Montana’s Brier in Regina.
The last Canadian team to win a men’s world title was Brad Gushue in 2017 in Edmonton.
With files from Ryan McNally
