First 7 teams clinch spots in 2012 Nationals

The first seven qualified teams for the 2012 USA Curling National Championships have been confirmed. This year's national championship will take place Feb. 11-18 at IceWorks Skating Complex in Aston, Pa. The 2012 Nationals will be the first qualifying event to earn a spot in the 2014 U.S. Olympic Team Trials for Curling.

Teams skipped by Craig Brown (Madison, Wis.), Tyler George (Duluth, Minn.), Erika Brown (Oakville, Ontario), Becca Hamilton (McFarland, Wis.), Alexandra Carlson (Wayzata, Minn.) and 2011 national champion Patti Lank (Lewiston, N.Y.) earned berths based on performances on the World Curling Tour. In addition, the Pete Fenson rink out of Bemidji, Minn., qualifies based on the team's participation in the America's Challenge in late January in which USA will play a best-of-five competition against Brazil to earn the final Americas berth at the 2012 World Men's Championship.

To read the full press release, click on the PDF below.