Lloydminster's Cenovus Energy Hub is about to host its biggest event yet.
The City of Lloydminster announced this week that the 2027 SaskTel Tankard and Bunge Prairie Pinnacle provincial curling championships will be held at the Cenovus Energy Hub from January 10 to 17, 2027. Presented by CURLSASK, the week-long event brings together Saskatchewan's top men's and women's curling teams competing for provincial titles and a shot at representing the province on the national stage.
It's a significant booking for a facility that only opened its doors seven months ago.
What the Cenovus Energy Hub Is
For those unfamiliar with the facility, a bit of context. The Cenovus Energy Hub is a $101.3 million arena that officially opened on October 1, 2025, replacing the 58-year-old Centennial Civic Centre that had an estimated four years of structural life left. The project took 25 months to build and is the largest entertainment facility of its kind in the region.
The Hub includes a primary event arena with 2,500 fixed seats that expands to 4,500 with floor seating for concerts and major events, a second NHL-sized community arena seating 500, and an outdoor ice surface that converts to a basketball court in summer. It's home to the Junior A Bobcats, Junior B Bandits, and Lakeland College Rustlers, among other community groups.
Cenovus Energy secured the 15-year naming rights for $5 million. The federal government and the Government of Saskatchewan each contributed $16.3 million through the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program, with the City covering the remainder.
The Hub is also the centrepiece of a planned entertainment district that will eventually include a hotel, retail units, slo-pitch diamonds, a powered campground, a pavilion, and walking trails.
What the SaskTel Tankard and Prairie Pinnacle Actually Are
For readers outside the curling world, these aren't just regional club tournaments. The SaskTel Tankard is Saskatchewan's men's provincial curling championship — the event that determines which team represents the province at the Tim Hortons Brier, Canada's top men's curling championship. The Bunge Prairie Pinnacle is the women's equivalent, sending its winner to the Scotties Tournament of Hearts, the national women's championship.
Winning either event in Saskatchewan is a big deal. The province has one of the deepest curling cultures in the country and has produced some of the sport's most decorated teams. The teams that come to Lloydminster in January 2027 will be among the best in the province, and what's at stake — a national stage — makes for compelling competition.
Hosting both championships in the same week under one roof is relatively rare and gives Lloydminster a full week of high-level sport to build around.
What the Championships Mean for Lloydminster
Hosting both the men's and women's provincial championships in the same week is a notable pull for a city of Lloydminster's size. The event is expected to bring athletes, coaches, officials, volunteers, and fans from across Saskatchewan, generating economic activity for local businesses and hotels throughout the week.
Mayor Gerald Aalbers said the announcement is proof the facility is already delivering on its promise.
"Lloydminster is excited to welcome athletes, fans, and visitors from across Saskatchewan for the 2027 provincial curling championships," Aalbers said. "Cenovus Energy Hub was designed to host these sort of events, and this is an opportunity to showcase our community and our hospitality."
The Lloydminster Curling Club will work alongside CURLSASK and local organizers to deliver the event. Volunteer recruitment and sponsorship opportunities are expected to open later this year, with ticket sales and programming details to follow.
What Else Is Coming to the Hub
The curling championships are the latest in a growing events calendar for the facility. Since opening last October the Hub has already hosted junior hockey, a Josh Ross concert scheduled for June 2026, and its first live music event featuring local artists shortly after opening. A partnership with the Vic Juba Community Theatre is also in the works, aimed at bringing larger entertainment acts to the region on a more regular basis.
The Hub was built with exactly this kind of momentum in mind. For a city the size of Lloydminster, landing back-to-back major events less than a year into operation signals that the $101.3 million investment is starting to pay off in ways beyond just having a new place to watch hockey.
Sources:
City of Lloydminster, news release, May 21, 2026
City of Lloydminster, Cenovus Energy Hub grand opening release, October 1, 2025
