Since 2020, curling has become a surprising passion for many in our community. Wesley Mason shared that he’s been involved with the sport since a kid and had provided instruction to many new players in the sport and managed the league. He fell into the position because retired airman Kyle Hostetler, who curled, wanted to start a military league. What started as a casual introduction quickly grew into a deep appreciation for the strategy and precision that curling offers.
This summer, his team received a message from Sunnie, a well-known USNA cadet curler, and came to the local Bonspiel Guardians of the Ice, “He crossed paths with the GSOC folks and set up this invitational and invited us,” he explained. The event provided a memorable experience for young players to connect with professional curlers and learn firsthand from high-level play.
Excitement continues as his team prepares to compete in Lake Tahoe at a special invitational event. This year’s competition, officially titled the GSOC Military Invitational, will be held November 6–9, 2025, in Lake Tahoe, Nevada. The four-day event is the first-ever military invitational hosted by the Grand Slam of Curling, bringing together active-duty personnel and veteran curlers from both the United States and Canada. It is scheduled to take place just ahead of Veterans Day and Remembrance Day, honoring the service and dedication of those who serve.
The invitational will begin with round-robin play at the Lake Tahoe Epic Curling Club, with the championship final held on Grand Slam ice at the Tahoe Blue Event Center which is a professional-level arena where the matches will be streamed on cable. “My team of Airmen and myself are heading to Lake Tahoe to compete,” he said. “If we make the finals, we’ll get to play in the professional arena in a televised match.”
Minot Air Force Base extramural curling league had 17 teams last year. 5 teams are competing in the invitational, they are 2x United States Naval Academy cadet teams, Canadian Armed Forces out of Ontario, Minot AF team, and a mixed branch USA team. The roster for the local Air Force team is as follows:
- Capt Alexander “Korg” Mathews, USAF, 91st Operations Support Squadron
- Capt Graysen “Heifer” Trandem, USAF, 741st Missile Squadron
- Capt Jason “Naughty” Myers, USAF, 23rd Bomb Squadron
- Lt Col Zachary “ZJ” Jones, USAF, 515th Air Mobility Operations Wing
- Wesley Mason, Civilian Coach
The military curling program continues to grow locally as well. Coaches and officers participate in regular training and mentoring, with this year’s coaches’ meeting scheduled for November 18 at 1700 on base at the McAdoo where the team captains meet with the team manager Wesley Mason and push to finish putting teams together, provide information for players, and discuss the upcoming season. Registration for the upcoming season is open now, and the first matches will begin on December 2. Their first night the second Tuesday of December, they will have a Learn To Curl Clinic and exhibition match to get new players up to speed.
Due to the government shut down, they are allowing deferred payment until the airmen start getting paid again and we highly encourage folks to sign up for some fun! The program provides a structured environment for service members to develop their skills, build teamwork, and enjoy friendly competition in a supportive setting.
Beyond regular season play, the program emphasizes community and international connection. By sponsoring teams and hosting competitions, service members have opportunities to compete at high levels while fostering camaraderie and sportsmanship. Looking ahead, organizers plan to expand future events, including extending international interbranch competitions by a full day to accommodate growing interest.
The Military Curling Club continues to offer service members an exciting, strategic, and social outlet. – Mason adds, “My team and I are excited to participate in a skills clinic being hosted by Reid Carruthers and Kerri Einarson, 2 of the professional curlers competing in the main GSOC event.”– with the season kicking off in December and the historic GSOC Military Invitational on the horizon, there has never been a better time to slide into action.
For more information or to register, contact the Military Curling Club and be part of a community that’s making waves both on the ice and across the curling world.
