Curling in Sudbury has a rich history spanning over 130 years, beginning with the formation of the Sudbury Curling Club in 1892.
Sudbury Journal editor, James Orr, encouraged the townspeople to develop a curling team. One year later, the first curling club was created. The first president was William Chalmers and the first vice-president was Daniel Baikie. James Orr was named secretary-treasurer.
Initial games played on open-air ice at Martin’s rink and on local frozen ponds.
In 1894, Sudbury began competing in the Ontario Tankard, forming part of the original Group #4 with North Bay and Sault Ste. Marie.
Early 20th-century curling faced challenges with fires, but by 1914, a new rink with an artificial ice plant was installed. Local clubs have maintained a tradition of high-level competition and community, including the Copper Cliff Curling Club, which was formed by Inco miners, and the Coniston Curling Club, which was built in 1958 with help from local volunteers.
Sudbury Curling Club’s members were men, although it started accepting women starting in the late 1940s.
Sam Rothschild was a pivotal figure in the 1950s/60s, serving as president of the Dominion Curling Association and becoming the first Sudburian in the Canadian Curling Hall of Fame.
In 1953, Sudbury became the first Northern Ontario city to host the Brier. The Scotties Tournament of Hearts was hosted in 2001.
Curl Sudbury, which celebrated 130 years in 2022, is located at the Northern Credit Union Community Centre.
Samuel Rothschild, was the first Jewish NHL player! He was born in Sudbury on October 16, 1899, his parents Daniel and Annie were the first Jewish settlers in Sudbury. His father worked as a merchant.
Rothschild played hockey for several Montreal teams, including McGill University. He then played four seasons with the Sudbury Wolves before joining the Montreal Maroons in 1924, becoming the first Jewish NHL player. He played with the Maroons until 1927. In 1926, he won the Stanley Cup with the Maroons.
In 1927, he joined the Pittsburgh Pirates, then the New York Americans the following season. In his NHL career, he played 100 games and had 14 points. After his career ended he turned to coaching. In 1932, he took the Sudbury Wolves to the Memorial Cup Championship.
Sam was also heavily involved in curling, and was the president of the Canadian Curling Association. He was inducted into the Canadian Curling Hall of Fame.
Rothschild died in Sudbury in 1987.
