The United States will have a men’s curling team in the Olympics again.
And that team will still be from Minnesota.
Danny Casper’s rink used a tremendous four-point ninth end to beat China 9-4 on Wednesday in the first round of the qualification finals in Kelowna, British Columbia, booking its trip to the 2026 Olympics in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy.
Team Casper, out of Chaska, was down 2-0 after the first end. The group stole a point in the next three ends and added another in the fifth to lead 4-2. In the pivotal sixth, China’s skip Xu Xiaoming had a shot to steal two, but missed by inches to only get one. Casper drew in for a point in the seventh, and Team USA led 5-3.
Team USA led 5-4 going into the ninth end. Casper had the hammer and had three stones closest to the button. Xu’s final shot lacked touch and slid through the house, the latest of several shots that China misfired on. Casper then drew in for a massive four to end the match.
Nine countries in the each of the men’s and women’s divisions are competing in Kelowna for two final spots in the Olympics. Casper’s rink finished second in round robin play at 6-1, with its only loss coming against China. But the group downed China in the qualification match to book its ticket to Italy.
“I felt pressure, but I mean, it’s an honor to play in games that give you that feeling,” Casper told reporters following the match. “I had a good friend of mine remind me [of] that today, and I think that was really helpful.”
Casper’s lead is Aidan Oldenburg, who attended Minnesota State Mankato. Ben Richardson, who was born in Florida and lives in Washington state, is the second. Luc Violette, the third, is also from Washington state. The rink’s alternate is 54-year-old Rich Ruohonen from Brooklyn Park. Casper is only 24 and has a long career ahead of him.
