The SaskTel Tankard is the annual provincial championship for men's curling in Saskatchewan, with the winner representing the province at the Montana's Brier, the national men's championship. The bonspiel, which is organized by CURLSASK, the provincial curling association, is also known as the SaskTel Provincial Men's Curling Championship. SaskTel became the title sponsor in 2004; the Tankard was previously known as the Macdonald Tankard (1927–1979), the Labatt Tankard (1980–1994), the Saskatchewan Wheat Pool Tankard (1995–2003), and the SaskTel Mobility Tankard (2004–2006).
Qualification and format The number of teams participating and the format of the bonspiel has varied over the years. Until 2022, the SaskTel Tankard was a sixteen team-seeded triple knockout bonspiel with a page playoff system; the sixteen teams qualified as follows: Six berths were awarded based on Southern and Northern Playdown qualifying events. Four berths were awarded to the highest ranked Saskatchewan teams from the national CTRS ranking. One berth was awarded to the highest ranked registered Saskatchewan team from the Saskatchewan Curling Tour (SCT). Four berths were awarded from SCT provincial berth bonspiels. One berth was awarded at the SaskTour Players' Championship.
At the provincial final, the A Event winner, B Event winner, and the two finalists of the C Event advanced to the page playoff.
In 2022, the number of teams was reduced to twelve but the event remained a triple knockout with a page playoff. Qualification was also simplified to include the top four teams on the CTRS, the top four ranked teams on the SCT, and four teams qualifying through direct events, called the Men's Last Chance.
To align more closely with the Brier, the format of the tournament was changed in 2024 with teams divided into two pools of six teams leading to a page playoff.
Champions The Saskatchewan Tankard has been contested annually since 1927, with the event cancelled only once, in 2021, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Into the 1970s, two families were able to establish impressive records. A team of Campbells from Avonlea, skipped by Garnet Campbell, won their first Tankard in 1947, and won three more in the 1950s, along with the province's first national title at the 1955 Macdonald Brier in Regina. Garnet would go on to form a productive partnership with Bob Pickering, winning another six Tankards for a record ten overall. Altogether, the six Campbells won twenty four Tankards between 1947 and 1971. The Richardson family, led by skip Ernie Richardson out of Regina, won five Tankards in a six year span from 1959 to 1964, and went on to win four Brier titles and four world championships, including the first ever at the 1959 Scotch Cup. Altogether, the Richardson clan won fourteen Tankards. The other two rinks who went on to Brier success were Harvey Mazinke's, who won the 1973 Macdonald Brier, and Rick Folk's, who won three consecutive Tankards and the 1980 Labatt Brier.
In the twenty first century, Pat Simmons won four consecutive Tankards as a skip from 2005 to 2008, and a fifth in 2011 with Steve Laycock skipping but throwing third stones. Laycock has won seven Tankards overall, including five as skip. The most recent Tankard champion is Mike McEwen, who teamed up with former Tankard champions Colton Flasch, Kevin Marsh, and Dan Marsh. The 2024 Montana's Brier was McEwen's ninth, but his first representing Saskatchewan after previous entries with Manitoba and Ontario.
List of champions Teams in bold denote national championships Year Skip Third Second Lead Winning club 2026 Kelly Knapp Brennen Jones Dustin Kidby Mat Ring Highland Curling Club 2025 Rylan Kleiter Joshua Mattern Matthew Hall Trevor Johnson Nutana Curling Club 2024 Mike McEwen Colton Flasch Kevin Marsh Dan Marsh Nutana Curling Club 2023 Kelly Knapp Brennen Jones Mike Armstrong Trent Knapp Highland Curling Club 2022 Colton Flasch Catlin Schneider Kevin Marsh Dan Marsh Nutana Curling Club 2021 Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Saskatchewan. Team Dunstone (Matt Dunstone, Braeden Moskowy, Kirk Muyres, Dustin Kidby) invited to represent Saskatchewan at Brier 2020 Matt Dunstone Braeden Moskowy Catlin Schneider Dustin Kidby Highland Curling Club 2019 Kirk Muyres Kevin Marsh Dan Marsh Dallan Muyres Nutana Curling Club 2018 Steve Laycock Matt Dunstone Kirk Muyres Dallan Muyres Nutana Curling Club 2017 Adam Casey Catlin Schneider Shaun Meachem Dustin Kidby Highland Curling Club 2016 Steve Laycock Kirk Muyres Colton Flasch Dallan Muyres Nutana Curling Club 2015 Steve Laycock Kirk Muyres Colton Flasch Dallan Muyres Nutana Curling Club 2014 Steve Laycock Kirk Muyres Colton Flasch Dallan Muyres Nutana Curling Club 2013 Brock Virtue Braeden Moskowy Chris Schille D. J. Kidby Caledonian Curling Club 2012 Scott Manners Tyler Lang Ryan Deis Mike Armstrong Battleford Curling Club 2011 Steve Laycock Pat Simmons Brennen Jones Dallan Muyres Tartan Curling Club 2010 Darrell McKee Bruce Korte Roger Korte Rob Markowsky Nutana Curling Club 2009 Joel Jordison Scott Bitz Aryn Schmidt Dean Hicke Bushell Park Curling Club 2008 Pat Simmons Jeff Sharp Gerry Adam Steve Laycock Davidson Curling Club 2007 Pat Simmons Jeff Sharp Gerry Adam Steve Laycock Davidson Curling Club 2006 Pat Simmons Jeff Sharp Chris Haichert Ben Hebert Davidson Curling Club 2005 Pat Simmons Jeff Sharp Chris Haichert Ben Hebert Davidson Curling Club 2004 Bruce Korte Clint Dieno Roger Korte Rory Golanowski Muenster Curling Club 2003 Doug Harcourt Kevin Kalthoff Greg Harcourt Brian Wempe Quill Lake Curling Club 2002 Scott Bitz Mark Lang Brian McCusker Kelly Moskowy Caledonian Curling Club 2001 Doug Harcourt Kevin Kalthoff Greg Harcourt Brian Wempe Humboldt Curling Club 2000 Bruce Korte Darrell McKee Roger Korte Rory Golanowski Granite Curling Club 1999 Gerald Shymko Gerry Adam Arnie Geisler Neil Cursons Yorkton Curling Club 1998 Rod Montgomery Glen Despins Dwayne Mihalicz Jeff Tait Hillcrest Curling Club 1997 Jim Packet Jeff Mosley Dallas Duce Ken Loeffler Estevan Curling Club 1996 Rod Montgomery Glen Despins Dwayne Mihalicz Sandy Forsyth Hillcrest Curling Club 1995 Brad Heidt Mark Dacey Wayne Charteris Dan Ormsby Kerrobert Curling Club 1994 Doug Harcourt Kevin Kalthoff Greg Harcourt Brian Wempe Quill Lake Curling Club 1993 Randy Woytowich Brian McCusker Wyatt Buck John Grundy Tartan Curling Club 1992 Brad Hebert Warren Sharp Bob Novakowski Kerry Gudereit Caledonian Curling Club 1991 Randy Woytowich Brian McCusker Wyatt Buck John Grundy Tartan Curling Club 1990 Jamie Schneider Rick Schneider Mike Schneider Larry Schneider Kronau Curling Club 1989 Jim Packet Bob Doerr Lloyd Schmidt Dallas Duce Estevan Curling Club 1988 Eugene Hritzuk Del Shaughnessy Murray Soparlo Don Dabrowski Nutana Curling Club 1987 Don Gardiner Garry Krupski Ray Krupski Mark Krupski Lemberg Curling Club 1986 Lyle Muyres Warren Muyres Craig Muyres Garth Muyres Humboldt Curling Club 1985 Eugene Hritzuk Bob Miller Nick Paulsen Art Paulsen Nutana Curling Club 1984 Gary Bryden Dale Graham Wilf Foss Jerry Zimmer Caledonian Curling Club 1983 Kirk Ziola Jim Packet Monte Ziola John Grundy Estevan Curling Club 1982 Brad Heidt Wayne Charteris Jack Whetter Warren Rechenmacher Kerrobert Curling Club 1981 Bob Ellert Don Bushell Ken Berner Bill Wilson Assiniboia Curling Club 1980 Rick Folk Ron Mills Tom Wilson Jim Wilson Nutana Curling Club 1979 Rick Folk Rod Thompson Tom Wilson Jim Wilson Nutana Curling Club 1978 Rick Folk Rod Thompson Tom Wilson Rodger Schmidt Nutana Curling Club 1977 Les Rogers Greg Manwaring Morris Tait Vic Rogers Caledonian Curling Club 1976 Roger Anholt Gordon Stewart Bob Hicks Bill Wilson Moose Jaw Country Club 1975 Harvey Mazinke Bill Martin George Achtymichuk Dan Klippenstein Regina Curling Club 1974 Larry McGrath Ron St. John Wayne St. John Rod St. John Kindersley Curling Club 1973 Harvey Mazinke Bill Martin George Achtymichuk Dan Klippenstein Regina Curling Club 1972 Doug Wyatt Glen Farrell Murray Trapp Dale Zoerb Hub City Curling Club 1971 Bob Pickering Garnet Campbell Jack Keys Gary Ford Avonlea Curling Club 1970 Bob Pickering Garnet Campbell Jack Keys Gary Ford Avonlea Curling Club 1969 Bob Pickering Garnet Campbell Jim Thomas Gary Ford Avonlea Curling Club 1968 Bob Pickering Jack Keys Garnet Campbell Gary Ford Avonlea Curling Club 1967 Doug Wankel Art Knutson Gay Knutson Elmer Knutson Elbow Curling Club 1966 Bob Pickering Jack Keys Garnet Campbell Glen Campbell Avonlea Curling Club 1965 Harold Worth Elmer MacNevin Murray Armstrong Gary Stevenson Hub City Curling Club 1964 Ernie Richardson Arnold Richardson Garnet Richardson Wes Richardson Regina Curling Club 1963 Ernie Richardson Arnold Richardson Garnet Richardson Mel Perry Regina Curling Club 1962 Ernie Richardson Arnold Richardson Garnet Richardson Wes Richardson Regina Curling Club 1961 Jack Keys Garnet Campbell Bob Pickering Glen Campbell Avonlea Curling Club 1960 Ernie Richardson Arnold Richardson Garnet Richardson Wes Richardson Regina Civil Service Club 1959 Ernie Richardson Arnold Richardson Garnet Richardson Wes Richardson Regina Civil Service Club 1958 Gordon Grimes R. John Sutherland Syd Gardiner Stu St. John Eston Curling Club 1957 Garnet Campbell Glen Campbell Don Campbell Lloyd Campbell Avonlea Curling Club 1956 Jim Hill Harold Worth Elmer MacNevin Don Morris Delisle Curling Club 1955 Garnet Campbell Don Campbell Glen Campbell Lloyd Campbell Avonlea Curling Club 1954 Garnet Campbell Don Campbell Glen Campbell Gordon Campbell Avonlea Curling Club 1953 Jim Hill Jack Bentley Harold Worth Elmer MacNevin Delisle Curling Club 1952 Frank Hastings Nels Witherow Alvin Turner Fritz Ostberg Nipawan Curling Club 1951 Johnny Franklin Cliff Annable George Heartwell Harold Lloyd Rosetown Curling Club 1950 Ernie Whitter Buster Ortloff Bill Whitter Jim Whitter Prince Albert Curling Club 1949 Harold Horeak Edward Richter John Heaney Ernest Kittleson Caledonian Curling Club 1948 Cliff Annable Johnny Franklin Bill Heartwell John Sansom Rosetown Curling Club 1947 Garnet Campbell Glen Campbell Lloyd Campbell Sandy Campbell Avonlea Curling Club 1946 Dalt Henderson Jack Brower Cliff Annable Monty Burns Nutana Curling Club 1945 W. H. Hain D. S. Craighton Hi Green Fred Martin Saskatoon 1944 Jack Forsythe Herb Clement Percy Clement Rollie Postlewaite Saskatoon 1943 S. Glover Doug Cook Bergie Bergstrom Cec George Saskatoon 1942 Johnny Franklin Fraser Heartwell John D. Lang John Sansom Rosetown Curling Club 1941 Bill Dunbar Bert McMahon Jimmy Beckett A. E. McMahon Kinley Curling Club 1940 Bill Dunbar Bert McMahon Jimmy Beckett E. Ronald Eaton Kinley Curling Club 1939 George Dunbar Jack Brower F. Robert Glass James A. L. McNeill Prince Albert Curling Club 1938 Manfield Humphries Jack Brower George Dunbar Sudbury Reed Prince Albert Curling Club 1937 Frank Smith William J. Turner Earl Gordon West Archibald H. Graham Moose Jaw Curling Club 1936 Les Youngstown Dave Clayton Charles Gardner Jr. C. A. McNevin Regina Curling Club 1935 J. S. "Jimmy" Black Frank Germaine Sid Peat Reg Fraser Nutana Curling Club 1934 Charles Anderson R. B. McLeod Edward Robertson Pat McNeill Nutana Curling Club 1933 Cliff McLachlan Fred Hayes William Stuart Bill Baum Rosthern Curling Club 1932 Carl Battell Frank R. Smith Pallie Pascoe Jim MacDonald Moose Jaw Curling Club 1931 Jack Miller Bill McArter Bert Barbour Percy Young Saskatoon Curling Club 1930 Bob McLeod Bill McArter Rube Watts Alex Scollon Granite Curling Club 1929 Dick Ross Ash Parkinson A. Smith W. Nesbitt Regina Curling Club 1928 W. L. McGillivray Fred Graham Ralph Teasdale C. S. Pace Regina Curling Club 1927 Oswald Barkwell Alf Hill Hector Hay Pete Wilken Yellow Grass Curling Club
Notes
See also Bunge Prairie Pinnacle List of curling clubs in Saskatchewan
References
External links List of champions