Qualification for the 2014 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 can qualify 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.
Two spots in the nationals were awarded to two teams on the United States Curling Association's High Performance National Program. The teams qualified through the High Performance Program were those skipped by John Shuster and Pete Fenson. Two more spots were awarded to the top two men's teams on the World Curling Tour Order of Merit standings table at the year's end. The teams qualified through the Order of Merit were those skipped by Heath McCormick and Brady Clark.
The remaining six spots in the nationals will be awarded to the teams that earn qualification spots through the challenge round. The challenge round will be held in a triple knockout format.
Challenge round The challenge round for the men's nationals will be held from January 9 to 12 at the Four Seasons Curling Club in Blaine, Minnesota.
Teams Skip Third Second Lead Locale Kent Beadle Dave Jensen Richard Maskel Roger Smith St. Paul, Minnesota Ryan Berg Tyler Runing Evan Workin Jordan Brown West Fargo, North Dakota Todd Birr Doug Pottinger Tom O'Connor Troy Schroeder Blaine, Minnesota Chris Bond Matt Birkild Benj Guzman Rob Corn Seattle, Washington Joseph Bonfoey Ted Trolson Paul Lyttle Harold Rutan Duluth, Minnesota Craig Brown Kroy Nernberger Matt Hamilton Jon Brunt Madison, Wisconsin Stephen Dropkin Evan Jensen Steve Scheffler Michael Graziano St. Paul, Minnesota Mike Farbelow Kevin Deeren Kraig Deeren Mark Lazar St. Paul, Minnesota Eric Fenson Josh Bahr Jon Chandler Mark Haluptzok Bemidji, Minnesota Sam Galey Andrew Ernst Mac Guy Jeremy Dinsel Seattle, Washington Tyler George Bill Stopera Martin Sather Dean Gemmell Duluth, Minnesota Dale Gibbs Eric Schultz Perry Tholl Matt Fowler St. Paul, Minnesota Kevin Kakela Kyle Kakela Ryan Lagasse Todd Ussatis Rolla, North Dakota Alex Leichter Brandon Corbett Derek Corbett Jeff Pulli Rochester, New York Ryan Lemke Nathan Gebert Ash Nelson Casey Konopacky Medford, Wisconsin John Lilla Aaron Nunberg Bryan Hanson Joel Cooper St. Paul, Minnesota Lionel Locke George Allendorph Nathan Chilson Michael Vosberg St. Paul, Minnesota Owen Sampson Tucker Smith Ned Sampson Cooper Smith Fargo, North Dakota Peter Stolt Brad Caldwell Erik Ordway Clayton Orvik Plymouth, Minnesota Mark Willmert Chris Dolan Tim Jeanetta Brian Sparstad St. Paul, Minnesota
Knockout draw brackets
A Event
B Event
C Event
Knockout results
Draw 1 Thursday, January 9, 7:00 pm
Draw 2 Friday, January 10, 9:00 am
Draw 3 Friday, January 10, 2:00 pm
Draw 4 Friday, January 10, 7:00 pm
Draw 5 Saturday, January 11, 9:00 am
Draw 6 Saturday, January 11, 2:00 pm
Draw 7 Saturday, January 11, 7:00 pm
Draw 8 Sunday, January 12, 9:00 am
Draw 9 Sunday, January 12, 2:00 pm
Draw 10 Sunday, January 12, 7:00 pm
References