Qualification for the 2013 United States Men's Curling Championship consisted of three different paths. Four teams qualified directly through the High Performance Program or the Order of Merit system. The number of the remaining entrants to the national championships was cut down to six teams through a challenge round held in early January.
Qualification system Teams qualified to participate in the men's national championship through the High Performance Program, through the World Curling Tour Order of Merit, or through a challenge round.
Automatic qualification Two spots in the nationals were awarded to two teams on the United States Curling Association's High Performance National Program, established as an invitation-based program for the development of the top curling teams in the United States. The teams qualified through the High Performance Program were those skipped by Pete Fenson and Heath McCormick. Two more spots were awarded to the top two men's teams on the World Curling Tour Order of Merit standings table following the conclusion of the Iron Trail Motors Shoot-Out. If one or both of the top teams were already qualified for the nationals through the High Performance Program, the spot or spots would have been awarded to the team with the next highest position on the Order of Merit. The teams qualified through the Order of Merit were those skipped by Tyler George and John Shuster.
Challenge round The remaining six spots in the nationals will be awarded to the teams that earn qualification spots through the challenge round. The challenge round was held in a triple knockout format, and was an open registration event. The teams that entered the challenge round were seeded through a strength of field ranking and through a peer ranking. The strength of field ranking was based on players' participation and performance in national championships and world championships. The seedings influenced the draw of the triple knockout event.
Challenge round The challenge round for the men's nationals was held from January 2 to 6 at the Hibbing Curling Club in Hibbing, Minnesota. The teams skipped by Craig Brown, Greg Persinger, Ryan Lemke, Brady Clark, Mike Farbelow, and Todd Birr advanced from the challenge round to the nationals.
Teams The teams are listed as follows: Skip Third Second Lead Locale Ryan Berg Al Gulseth Mark Gulseth Jordan Brown West Fargo, North Dakota Steve Birkild Chris Bond Matt Birklid Atticus Wallace Seattle, Washington Todd Birr Doug Pottinger Greg Romaniuk Thomas O'Connor Mankato, Minnesota Joseph Bonfoey Ted Trolson Joel Dietz Matthew Carlson Duluth, Minnesota Craig Brown Kroy Nernberger Matt Hamilton Jon Brunt Madison, Wisconsin Derrick Casper Marcus Fonger Tommy Juszczyk Robert Splinter Madison, Wisconsin Brady Clark Sean Beighton Darren Lehto Steve Lundeen Seattle, Washington Stuart Cohen Kevin Mechenbier Steve Scheffler Adam Huffman Columbus, Ohio Brandon Corbett Derek Corbett Erik Jensen Daniel Dudt Rochester, New York Brian Damon Michael Stefanik Scott Parmelee Charles Skinner Schenectady, New York Richard Dimperio Jeff Pulli Jason Scott Christopher Lopez Rochester, New York Chris Dolan Cameron McLelland Tim Jeanetta Brian Sparstad Minneapolis, Minnesota Mike Farbelow Kevin Deeren Kraig Deeren Mark Lazar St. Paul, Minnesota Eric Fenson Trevor Andrews Blake Morton Calvin Weber Bemidji, Minnesota Mark Haluptzok Jerod Roland Nic Wagner Jon Chandler Bemidji, Minnesota Matt Holtwick Nik Geller Ryan Meyer Phillip Wolf Elyria, Ohio Evan Jensen Daniel Metcalf Daniel Ruehl Steven Gebauer Medford, Wisconsin Andy Jukich Lyle Sieg Matt Zbylut Duane Rutan Duluth, Minnesota Kevin Kakela Adam Kitchens Kyle Kakela Travis Kitchens Rolla, North Dakota Ryan Lemke Nate Gebert John Lilla Casey Konopacky Medford, Wisconsin Matt Mielke Alex Leichter Nate Clark Stephen Dropkin Medford, Massachusetts Kris Perkovich Aaron Wald Kevin Johnson Taylor Skalsky Chisholm, Minnesota Greg Persinger Nicholas Myers Sean Murray Tim Gartner Fairbanks, Alaska Jeff Puleo Derek Surka Cooper Smith Joel Cooper Forest Lake, Minnesota Jeremy Roe Steve Day Patrick Roe Mark Hartman Rio, Wisconsin Tyler Runing Evan Workin Parker Shook Cole Jaeger Mankato, Minnesota Owen Sampson Ned Sampson Tucker Smith Kyle Young Edmore, North Dakota Tom Scott Ben Wilson Tony Wilson Nate Haskell Hibbing, Minnesota Matt Stevens Robert Liapis Cody Stevens Jeff Breyen Bemidji, Minnesota Peter Stolt Clayton Orvik Erik Ordway Bryan Hanson Plymouth, Minnesota
Knockout Draw Brackets The draw is listed as follows:
A Event
B Event
C Event
Knockout results All draw times listed in Central Standard Time (UTC-6).
Draw 1 Wednesday, January 2, 4:00 pm
Draw 2 Wednesday, January 2, 8:00 pm
Draw 3 Thursday, January 3, 8:00 am
Draw 4 Thursday, January 3, 12:00 pm
Draw 5 Thursday, January 3, 4:00 pm
Draw 6 Thursday, January 3, 8:00 pm
Draw 7 Friday, January 4, 9:00 am
Draw 8 Friday, January 4, 2:00 pm
Draw 9 Friday, January 4, 7:00 pm
Draw 10 Saturday, January 5, 9:00 am
Draw 11 Saturday, January 5, 2:00 pm
Draw 12 Saturday, January 5, 7:00 pm
Draw 13 Sunday, January 6, 9:00 am
Draw 14 Sunday, January 6, 2:00 pm
Notes
References