Ontario Tankard

The Ontario Tankard, officially the Ontario Men's Provincial Championships, is the Southern Ontario provincial championship for men's curling. The winner represents Team Ontario at the Montana's Brier. The tournament is overseen by Curling Ontario (formerly the Ontario Curling Association).

Northern Ontario has its own provincial championship, known as the Northern Ontario Men's Provincial Curling Championship.

This championship is not to be confused with the Silver Tankard, historically also known as the Ontario Tankard (and until 1937 a Brier qualifier).

Qualification

Since 2017, the qualification has varied from year to year:

• 2017: 10 teams total (Top two southern Ontario teams in the CTRS standings; Six teams from two regional qualifiers; Two teams from a challenge round).
• 2018: 12 teams total (Top two CTRS ranked teams; Six teams from two regional qualifiers; Three teams from a challenge round; And the Colts champion team).
• 2019: 10 teams total (Top three CTRS ranked teams; Five teams from three cash spiels; Two teams from an open qualifier).
• 2020: 9 teams total (Top three CTRS ranked teams; Four teams from two cash spiels; Two teams from an open qualifier).
• 2022: Originally 8 teams (Top two CTRS ranked teams; Top Trillium Tour series team; Two teams from a cash spiel; three from an open qualifier.) The open qualifier was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, so the top seven CTRS teams who had signed up for the qualifier were invited, expanding the number of entries in the tankard to 12.
• 2023: 12 teams total (Top 2 "Grand Slam series" teams; Top 2 "Trillium Tour '1,000' Series" teams; Top 3 "Trillium Tour '500' Series" teams; Top "Trillium Tour '250' Series (Under-25) team; Four teams from an open qualifier).
• 2024: 12 teams total (Top four CTRS ranked teams; Top four CTRS ranked teams from Ontario-only events; Four teams from an open qualifier).
• 2025–2026: 12 teams total (Top eight CTRS ranked teams; Four teams from an open qualifier).
• 2027: 8 teams total (Top 5 CTRS)

Between 1972 and 2016, the event usually had 10 teams: Two teams from each of the four OCA regions, and one winner each from an eastern and western challenge round. When Ontario won the previous Brier, that team would be added to the field for the following season. In 1999, when Ontario had not only won the previous Brier, but an Ontario team also won the 1997 Canadian Olympic Curling Trials, the field was expanded to 12 teams, giving them an automatic berth.

Format

The event was separated from the Silver Tankard in 1938. From 1938 to 1953, the event was an eight team single elimination tournament, often held on a single day of competition. From 1954 to 1966, the event was an eight team round robin event, with the team having the best record qualifying for the Brier. In 1967, the event was expanded to a 16 team double knockout,^[1] further expanding to 18 teams in 1968.^[2]

In 1972, the event was reduced to 10 teams, and reverted to a round robin format,^[2] with the team with the best record being crowned champion (a tiebreaker would be held if necessary). This format lasted until 1981, when a three team playoff was added. In 2001, the playoff was replaced with a four team page playoff.

The format of the Tankard differed each year from 2018 to 2023:

• 2018: Triple knockout followed by a four team page playoff.
• 2019: Round robin followed by a four team page playoff.
• 2020: Round robin followed by a three-team playoff.
• 2022: Triple knockout followed by a four team page playoff.
• 2023: Round robin within two pools of six, followed by a four team championship round, followed by a three team playoff.

From 2024 to 2026, the event has been a triple knockout followed by a four team page playoff.

In 2027, the event will go to an eight-team round robin, with a three team playoff.^[3]

Former Names

• Ontario Silver Tankard: 1927^[4]-1931
• 1932: Round robin playoff between the winners of the Ontario Tankard, Canada Life Trophy and the Toronto Bonspiel.^[5]
• 1933: Winner was decided between a playoff between the winners of the Ontario Tankard and the Toronto Bonspiel.^[6]
• Ontario Silver Tankard: 1934-1937^[7]
• British Consols: 1938^[8]-1979
• Labatt Tankard: 1980-1985
• Blue Light Tankard: 1986-1994
• Labatt Tankard: 1995
• Nokia Cup: 1996-2003
• Ontario Men's Curling Championship: 2004
• Kia Cup: 2005-2006
• TSC Stores Tankard: 2007-2009
• Ontario Men's Curling Championship: 2010
• The Dominion Tankard: 2011-2013
• Travelers Tankard: 2014
• Recharge with Milk Tankard: 2015-2017
• Dairy Farmers of Ontario Tankard: 2018
• Ontario Curling Championships: 2019–2020
• Port Elgin Chrysler Ontario Tankard: 2022–23
• Milk Every Moment Ontario Men's Curling Championship: 2024
• Men's Ontario Curling Championship: 2025
• Food & Farm Care Ontario Men's Provincial Championship: 2026

Brier representatives

Listed below are the list of Ontario's representatives at the Brier that year. Brier champions indicated in bold. From 1927 to 1931, Toronto had a separate entry at the Brier.

1927–1931

From 1927 to 1931, teams representing Ontario at the Brier were selected from the winning club at the Ontario Silver Tankard, a double rink event which has taken place since 1875.

1932–1980

There was no Brier from 1943 to 1945 due to World War II. Listed here for those years are the winners of the British Consols, the usual Brier qualifying event.

1981–present

A playoff was added to the event in 1981.^[51] The 2021 Tankard was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Ontario.

References

• List of Champions - Ontario Curling Association Archived 2017-11-17 at the Wayback Machine

1. ^ "Gurowka's rink to face Parkes in first draw". Globe and Mail. February 9, 1967. p. 24. Retrieved December 14, 2025.
2. ^ "Kingston rink rates as a slight favorite (sic)". Toronto Star. February 1, 1972. p. 13. Retrieved December 14, 2025.
3. ^ "Cornwall Set to Host Curling Ontario’s 2027 Provincial Showdown". Curling Ontario. April 22, 2026. Retrieved May 2, 2026.
4. ^ Windsor Star, Feb 4 1927, pg 2 "Sarnia Welcomes Tankard Winners"
5. ^ Windsor Star, Feb 25, 1932, pg 14, "Toronto rinks dominate play"
6. ^ Windsor Star, Feb 25, 1933, pg 15 "Thistles Win Ice Aggregate"
7. ^ Ottawa Citizen, Jan 27, 1937, pg 13 "Famous Campbell rink Defeated by London C.C."
8. ^ Windsor Star, Feb 24 1938, pg 27 "Ontario Must Rely on Hall"
9. ^ Montreal Gazette, Feb 3, 1927, pg 15, "Sarnia Won Tankard"
10. ^ Saskatoon Daily Star, Feb 7, 1928, pg 10, "Artificial Ice"
11. ^ Windsor Star, Feb 5, 1929, pg 1, "Ontario curlers begin competition"
12. ^ Ottawa Citizen Feb 6, 1930, pg 11, "Stratford Wins Ontario Tankard"
13. ^ Winnipeg Tribune, Feb 4, 1931, pg 12, "Semi-Finals are reached in Ontario Tankard"
14. ^ Windsor Star, Feb 25, 1932, pg 14, "Toronto rinks dominate play"
15. ^ The Province, Mar 2, 1933, pg 4, "Youthful Rink Wins Ontario Curling Event"
16. ^ Windsor Star, Feb 5, 1934, pg 18, "Curling"
17. ^ Montreal Gazette, Feb 23, 1935, pg 15, "Ontario Tankard to Hamilton Thistle rink"
18. ^ Windsor Star, Feb 24, 1936, pg 20, "Chief Honors (sic) to Toronto"
19. ^ Windsor Star, Feb 6, 1937, pg 18, "A.E. Dunker Rink of Kitchener Wins Ontario Tankard"
20. ^ Windsor Star, Feb 24, 1938, pg 27, "Ontario must rely on Hall"
21. ^ "Hall Rink Earns Right to Represent Ontario in Dominion Championships". Waterloo Region Record. March 2, 1939. p. 8. Retrieved March 2, 2025.
22. ^ Regina Leader-Post, Feb 15, 1940, pg 16, "Hall's Rink Best in Ontario"
23. ^ Windsor Star, Feb 25, 1941, pg 19, "Kelly in Conols' Eights"
24. ^ Montreal Gazette, Feb 26, 1942, pg 18, "Hamilton Thistle is Ontario Winner"
25. ^ "Ken Wadsworth Wins British Consols Cup". Kitchener Daily Record. February 24, 1943. p. 8. Retrieved March 2, 2025.
26. ^ "Kitchener Rink Wins Curling Trophy". Ottawa Journal. February 23, 1944. p. 17. Retrieved March 2, 2025.
27. ^ Saskatoon Star-Phoenix, Feb 28, 1945, pg 13, "Kitchener rink wins Consols"
28. ^ Calgary Herald, Feb 15, 1946, pg 16, "Rinks Qualify for Curling Test"
29. ^ Ottawa Journal, Jan 23, 1947, pg 19, "British Consols Matches Carded for Ottawa"
30. ^ Edmonton Journal, Jan 31, 1948, pg 7, "It's Bonspiel Time Down Ontario Way"
31. ^ Ottawa Citizen, Jan 18, 1949, "Draw Issued for Curling Trophy Play"
32. ^ Ottawa Journal, Jan 31, 1950, "Curling Competition Draw for Wednesday"
33. ^ Ottawa Journal, Feb 22, 1951, "Name Eight Rinks for Curling Playdown"
34. ^ Windsor Star, Feb 8, 1952, pg 1, "Sarnia Curling Club Rink Captures Bonspiel at Chatham"
35. ^ "Famous "Old Pete" Repeats". Ottawa Citizen. February 21, 1953. p. 23. Retrieved March 5, 2020.
36. ^ Windsor Star, Feb 6, 1953, pg 2, "Curlers Meet in Playdowns
37. ^ Ottawa Citizen, Feb 15 1954, pg 19, "Curling Champs
38. ^ Ottawa Citizen, Feb 10 1956, pg 24 "Toronto Granite Rink Still Undefeated
39. ^ "Orillia Rink Ontario Champions". Ottawa Journal. February 22, 1957. p. 38. Retrieved March 4, 2020.
40. ^ "Ottawa Citizen - Google News Archive Search"
41. ^ "Ottawa Citizen - Google News Archive Search"
42. ^ "Pressure shot wins for Gurowka". Ottawa Citizen. February 12, 1966. p. 11. Retrieved March 3, 2020.
43. ^ "Ottawa Citizen - Google News Archive Search"
44. ^ "The Calgary Herald - Google News Archive Search"
45. ^ "The Saturday Citizen - Google News Archive Search"
46. ^ "Ottawa Citizen - Google News Archive Search"
47. ^ "Ottawa Citizen - Google News Archive Search"
48. ^ "The Windsor Star - Google News Archive Search"
49. ^ "The Windsor Star - Google News Archive Search"
50. ^ "Ottawa Citizen - Google News Archive Search"
51. ^ "Werenich nips Manning in Ontario curling playoff". Kingston Whig-Standard. February 16, 1981. p. 10. Retrieved January 9, 2022.
52. ^ Windsor Star, 15 Feb 1982, pg C3, "Munro recovers from injury to win provincial laurels"
53. ^ Windsor Star, 14 Feb 1983, pg C5, "Werenich edges Walsh"
54. ^ Ottawa Citizen, 13 Feb 1984, pg 29, "Werenich captures curling crown again"
55. ^ Ottawa Citizen, 11 Feb 1985, pg B1, "Navy's big guns capture Tankard"
56. ^ Windsor Star, 10 Feb 1986, pg C5, "Russ Howard rink wins curling playoff"
57. ^ Windsor Star, 16 Feb 1986, pg C3, "Howard outcurls the Wrench"
58. ^ Ottawa Citizen, 15 Feb 1988, pg B6, "Savage downs Howard for Ontario championship"
59. ^ Ottawa Citizen, 13 Feb 1989, pg B2, "Howard rink claims another Ontario title"
60. ^ Ottawa Citizen, 12 Feb 1990, pg C2, "Yet another Tankard for Werenich"
61. ^ Ottawa Citizen, 10 Feb 1992, pg B4, "Howard rolls to Tankard triumph"
62. ^ "Howard claims seventh Tankard". Toronto Star. February 15, 1993. p. 29. Retrieved January 26, 2025.
63. ^ Ottawa Citizen, 14 Feb 1994, pg D10, "Back to the Brier: Howard rink best out of Ontario again"
64. ^ "Ontario, Manitoba cancel playdowns for Scotties, Brier". CBC. December 21, 2020. Retrieved December 21, 2020.

External links

• [1] Archived 2005-12-02 at the Wayback Machine