After a three-year break due to COVID-19, the International Tankard is ready to come roaring back.

This year’s Tankard will take place at the Chilliwack Curling club from March 24^th-26^th, and feature 32 American players and 32 Canadian players from all over the Pacific Northwest and as far away as Arizona.

Begun in 1962, the Tankard has served to foster friendly competition between the U.S. and Canada. Originally, it was operated by the Pacific Coast and Washington State Curling Associations, with the first competition taking place in Victoria, BC. This year, eight teams from each organization meet to play three games apiece. The Tankard’s location rotates, with two consecutive years in BC (with sites chosen by the International Tankard Committee) followed by one year at the Seattle Granite Club.

To take part in the Tankard, players must be nominated by their Curling Club (a Curl BC member facility, located in the lower mainland or Vancouver Island), with the method of choosing participants left up to the individual clubs. The deadline for clubs to nominate volunteers to the Tankard team is February 28^th, for more information or to nominate worthy volunteers clubs can contact Katherine Johnson at traveller39@telus.net or Ross Johnson at PiffleWest@Paralynx.com.

This year’s Tankard has been organized by the dedicated mamers of the International Tankard Committee: Gina Triolo, Wayne Braun, Ross Johnson, Jim Schuman, Katherine Johnson, and Mike De Sante.

Along with some great curling, this year’s Tankard also promises great camaraderie and some fun social events. On Friday, March 24^th, there’s an opening meet & greet; on the Saturday there’s the opening ceremonies, followed by the curling and evening banquet, and on Sunday there’s the final games and the event’s closing ceremonies.

The camaraderie even extends to the cool side of the glass: One fun part of the curling games comes at the fourth end break, when players stack their brooms and head to the lounge for a quick drink.

For the record, the Americans won the last Tankard held (Abbotsford, 2019). Will Canada settle the score this year? Come to Chilliwack and find out!

For more information, please visit https://www.internationaltankard.com/

Photo: A creative broom stack at the International Tankard