Inside the Heather Curling Club (HCC) in Saint Andrews, the signs of an approaching championship are everywhere.
Chairs are lined up with care. The dining room is set to play host. The ice has that unmistakable look—tuned, tested, ready. Moving through it all is Roger McNabb, president of the Heather Curling Club, taking a final walk through the building, pausing here and there, making sure the details are right.
It’s a familiar ritual for a club that has made a name for itself as one of New Brunswick’s most respected hosts.
From February 25 to March 1, the HCC will host the New Brunswick Under-20 (Junior) Curling Championships, welcoming some of the province’s most talented young curlers to Saint Andrews. For a historic club known for exceptional ice and a strong volunteer culture, the event is both a point of pride and a natural fit.
“We’re going to have three boys’ teams and seven girls’ teams competing,” McNabb said. “The winners will represent New Brunswick at the national level, so this is a true championship.”
The tournament will determine the provincial Under-20 champions—both girls and boys—who will go on to compete on the national stage. Many of the athletes now arriving with carefully packed equipment bags began their curling journeys years ago in Little Rocks programs, gradually honing their skills.
“They can really throw some beautiful rocks,” McNabb said. “The quality of curling at this level often surprises people.”
Much of the club’s reputation rests on its ice, prepared by longtime ice technician Vern Lister, and on an all-volunteer membership that understands what it takes to host events of this scale.
“We’re very fortunate,” McNabb said. “Great ice matters, but so does hospitality. Our members work hard, and that makes a difference.”
The HCC has hosted high-profile events before, including the national Under-18 championships in 2018, which brought teams from across Canada to Saint Andrews. Those experiences have helped establish the club as a trusted venue within the provincial and national curling communities.
That standing may carry even greater weight in the year ahead. With the men’s world curling championship set to take place in Saint John next year, clubs across New Brunswick are positioning themselves as potential practice venues for international teams.
“We have competition-quality ice,” McNabb said. “So we’ll certainly put our name forward.”
For now, the focus remains on the championship at hand. The event is expected to draw families and supporters from across the province, filling local accommodations and bringing a steady hum of activity to the community.
And for anyone inspired by watching curling on the world stage during the winter Olympics, this week offers a chance to see the next generation of the sport—up close, and closer to home.
The New Brunswick Under-20 Curling Championships run February 25 to March 1 at the HCC in Saint Andrews. The public is welcome to attend.
