USA Curling Mixed Doubles National Championship to be held in Middleton
MIDDLETON, Wis. — Fifty-six athletes comprising 28 mixed doubles teams are expected to participate in USA Curling’s 2022 Mixed Doubles National Championship, to be held at Bob Suter’s Capitol Ice Arena in Middleton. The competition dates are Mar. 6–13, 2022.
“The winners of the 2022 Mixed Doubles National Championship will advance to represent the United States at the 2022 World Championship taking place in Geneva, Switzerland in Late April,” says Brandon Holstein of the Madison Area Sports Commission (MASC).
The event will include local Olympic athletes, including a hometown team, brother and sister Becca and Matt Hamilton, fresh from Beijing, where they competed in their second time at the Olympics for Men’s and Women’s events.
In 2018, Becca and Matt represented the USA at the PyeongChang Olympics, where they were the first ever Mixed Doubles Curling team from our nation. They also competed in the Women’s and Men’s Round Robin teams, respectively. Matt’s team won the first-ever gold medal for the USA in curling.
Mixed doubles is popular for several reasons. “Mixed doubles is a faster game than traditional curling,” says Aaron Kaylor, manager of curling events for USA Curling. “Teams throw just five stones each, and games are eight ends (rounds) as opposed to 10.”
He says that the game can be “easier for people to understand” because “fewer stones tends to mean more throws towards the button.” The button is the center “bulls-eye” type circle in the three concentric circles that make up the curling goal area, or “house.”
“Mixed Doubles also has a power play that each team can use once per game,” says Aaron. “The power play allows the team to move the ‘positioned’ stones in a way that plays to their advantage”
Jamie Patrick, MASC vice president, says he’s “thrilled” about hosting the event here. “Our community has a rich history in the sport of curling, with one of the largest curling clubs in the country and proudly being the hometown of Olympic curlers Matt and Becca Hamilton. Coming on the heels of the 2022 Olympics, this event will give residents the chance to watch international caliber competitors right in their own backyard.”
“The event was awarded here thanks to a combined effort from Capitol Ice Arena, USA Curling, Visit Middleton and the Madison Area Sports Commission,” says Brandon. “The event expects to generate an estimated economic impact of more than $300,000 for the local community.”
Wisconsin, and in particular the Madison area, has played an important role in curling in the United States, with the Madison Curling Club celebrating its centenary this year. The club headquarters are located in McFarland. Olympians Matt and Becca Hamilton are members..
USA Curling CEO Jeff Plush says the organization is “eager to bring one of our premiere Championships to Middleton to continue to garner the passion and enthusiasm of the greater Madison area.” Located in Eagan, Minnesota, USA Curling is the national governing body of the Olympic sport of curling and the Paralympic sport of wheelchair curling in the United States. The organization looks forward to working with Visit Middleton, Madison Area Sports Commission, Capitol Ice Arena, and countless area curlers to put on a historic event.
Bob Suter’s Capitol Ice Arena has two full sheets of ice for hockey games, practice sessions, and recreational skating. The facility is home to the USHL Madison Capitols, Madison Capitols AAA hockey, Middleton Youth and High School Hockey, as well as the Madison Gay Hockey League.
Day passes start at $15 for adults and just $7.50 per day for children. Volunteers are needed! Learn more at capitolicearena.com/usacurling. For tickets, visit tickets.capitolicearena.com.
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