Following several discussions and changes announced by Curling Canada, Curling Québec wishes to summarize the upcoming changes in junior curling for the next season.
Age Changes for the 2026–2027 Junior Season
As announced last season, beginning in the 2026–2027 season, several important changes will come into effect regarding athlete eligibility in junior categories. These adjustments announced by Curling Canada primarily aim to align age categories with the school calendar, now using December 31 as the reference date. Curling Québec is aligning with Curling Canada for all its competitions. It should be noted that the U20 and U21 mixed doubles categories remain unchanged.
Tic Tap Toc (U-12) and U-12 Jamboree
The three age categories are based on the child’s age as of December 31, 2026.
- 6 and 7 years old (Born in 2020 or 2019)
- 8 and 9 years old (Born in 2018 or 2017)
- 10 to 12 years old (Born in 2016, 2015, or 2014)
- U12 Jamboree: Born in 2014 or later
U15 Rockfest and Regional Tournaments & U15 Regions Final
– Curlers under 15 years old as of December 31, 2026 are eligible
– Date of birth: January 1, 2012 or later
– Minimum age for FestiPierre only: Curlers must be at least 11 years old as of December 31, 2026 (Born in 2015, 2014, 2013, or 2012)
U18 Boys/Girls Championships
– Curlers under 18 years old as of December 31, 2026 are eligible
– Date of birth: January 1, 2009 or later
– This also applies to the 2027 Canada Winter Games
Men/Women Under 20
– Curlers under 20 years old as of June 30, 2026 are eligible
– Date of birth: July 1, 2006 or later
Mixed Doubles Under 21
– Curlers under 21 years old as of June 30, 2026 are eligible
– Date of birth: July 1, 2005 or later
– This also applies to the 2027 Canada Winter Games
U15 Regional Tournaments and Final
In order to maintain U15 competitions in an introductory, recreational, and developmental environment, Curling Québec is adjusting eligibility criteria. Starting in 2026–2027, teams may include a maximum of two (2) athletes who have participated in a playoff round — including a maximum of the top 4 when the playoff format includes more than four teams — in the following competitions, and only in previous seasons (excluding the current season):
- U18 Provincial Championship
- U20 Provincial Championship
- U21 Mixed Doubles Provincial Championship
- Quebec Games (5th player excluded)
In addition, any athlete (5th player excluded) who has already participated in a Canadian championship, including the Canada Games, is not eligible for U15 regional tournaments or the U15 regional final, including for the current season.
Registration for U15 Regional Tournaments will begin on October 1, 2026.
Rockfest – New Qualification Format
In order to promote athlete development and individual competition through Curling Canada’s initiative, Curling Québec is also developing a new qualification format for Rockfest starting in the 2026–2027 season. Two one-day qualification camps will be held to allow young curlers to meet, develop, and qualify for Eastern Canada Rockfest. The program includes on- and off-ice training, lunch, activities, and qualification. These two full-day camps (9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.) will take place at two different locations and dates:
- November 21, 2026 — Lachine Curling Club (24 participants)
- December 20, 2026 — Jacques-Cartier Curling Club (32 participants)
Athletes may participate in only one of the two camp days, as the camps are duplicated.
Since Curling Québec has 9 spots for girls and 9 spots for boys at Eastern Canada Rockfest, held from February 5 to 7, 2027 at the Peterborough Golf and Lakefield Curling Clubs (Ontario), 8 of the 9 spots will be awarded through these camp days. Indeed, 4 girls and 4 boys will qualify for Eastern Canada Rockfest at each camp, and the 9th spot for both girls and boys will be awarded through the Curling Skills application.
Registration for U15 Rockfest camps will begin on October 1, 2026.
Junior Tremplin and Excellence Circuits
Following adjustments made in 2025–2026 to evolve junior circuits toward a level-based model, further improvements are being introduced for the 2026–2027 season.
Junior Excellence Circuit
Registration fees increase from $350 to $375 per team. This increase enhances the quality of the competitive experience, particularly through the addition of funds dedicated to ice improvements.
Fee breakdown:
- $225 per team for prize money
- $100 per team for the host club
- $50 per team for ice improvement if the club commits to improving ice conditions (rock sanding, increased maintenance during the weekend, additional floods, or any other improvement specifically aimed at providing high-quality ice conditions).
Junior Tremplin Circuit
The following changes will take effect next season:
- Registration fees: Increase from $100 to $125 per team. This increase will allow clubs to offer post-game snacks to create opportunities for social interaction between games, supporting athlete development in the tradition of our sport.
- Competition structure: The structure will be adapted based on the number of teams:
- 3 teams or fewer per gender: open format (girls and boys together)
- 4 teams per gender: preliminary round with a single playoff round
- 5 or more teams per gender: full separation of girls / boys
- 3+1 Model: Curling Québec is introducing the 3+1 model in the Tremplin circuit. This model allows incomplete, mixed, or developing teams to participate. The 3+1 model is structured as follows:
- 3 players of the same gender
- 1 flexible player (same gender or different gender)
- The team’s gender is determined by the majority of players. If a team has 5 athletes, there must always be a majority of athletes of the same gender on the ice.
- Eligibility: To maintain the Tremplin circuit as a development pathway toward excellence, eligibility criteria have been established.
- Teams are not eligible if they include at least three players who have previously remained together and achieved a podium finish at the U18 or U20 Provincial Championships.
- Canada Games teams are also not eligible.
U18 and U20 Provincial Championships – Eligibility and Points
With a focus on fairness and performance recognition, several adjustments are being made to eligibility and the points system.
- To allow more flexibility for teams using the 3+1 model, teams may accumulate points if the 3 same-gender athletes participate in tournaments.
- Updated points system:
- Junior Excellence Circuit:
- Gold: 11 to 12 points
- Silver and bronze: 10 to 11 points
- Participation: 6 to 7 points
- Specific tournaments:
- Gold: 9 to 10 points
- Silver and bronze: 7 to 9 points
- Participation: 5 to 6 points
- Other tournaments:
- Gold: 7 points
- Participation: 4 to 5 points
- Junior Excellence Circuit:
Conclusion
These adjustments aim to strengthen the junior development structure in Quebec, better reflect competitive levels, and provide a more coherent pathway for athletes from introductory levels to high-performance categories.
