During the heat of Tim Hortons Brier action, there’s another great curling event taking place right here in Humboldt. CurlSask and SaskMilk present the U15 and U13 Triples Cup at the Humboldt Curling Club. It’s a wonderful developmental, competitive event for youth to get involved in curling, improve their skills, and test their mettle in a friendly competition. 

The triples format is scored differently than a conventional game. That allows for plenty of action and involvement for the players, and it tends to limit runaway scores. 

“We’re excited to be coming to Humboldt this weekend for the second U15 Triples Cup and inaugural U12 Triples Cup,” says Dustin Mikush, community development manager for CurlSask. “We have an exciting weekend planned for the kids.”

Part of the excitement will be curling celebrity Kirk Muyres on hand Saturday morning to put on a one hour-clinic for the participants. The Hit-Draw-Tap competition for curlers aged 6-13 follows, and then it’s full triples format action in the spiel starting at 1:00 pm. Curlers will mix it up in a round robin and settle into A and B finals on their way to the championships for the respective groups. 

“The U15 side is full with 16 teams and we have 8 U12 teams coming as well,” Mikush says. “We have teams from all over the province - Outlook, Canora, Yorkton, La Ronge, Wadena - all over the place. We’re looking forward to the rocks flying Saturday in Humboldt.”

We check in with Humboldt Curling Club Presidents Shawn Wempe for his take on the event, and he says all systems are go. 

“The ice is in really good condition right now; there’s lots of curl to it. We’re very excited for them to come out and give it a go. Our youth events are great for us - you get the parents, some grandparents, and some fresh young faces out there. Hopefully, some people will come down and check it out.”

The Triples Cup event hits a niche for youth curling that’s important and developing and sustaining the game, says Mikush.

“We’re fortunate that we have high school curling, and there’s Saskatchewan Winter Games - there are a few different avenues. We just thought a bit of a gap in the U12 and U15 age categories. With this, we think there’s opportunity for development and just get them interested in the sport and playing all the positions. That way, before they get into four-player team play, they’ve had experience curling teams from all across the province.”

Take a break from the Brier and catch the exciting future of curling on the ice in Humboldt for the U12 and U15 Triples Cup.