The United States lost 5-4 to hosts South Korea in the final of the event held at the Gangneung Indoor Ice Rink in February.

Their team was led by Andrew Stopera and also featured Luc Violette, Ben Richardson, Graem Fenson and Nick Connolly.

Guiding them to success was coach Mark Lazar.

"We are absolutely honoured that we were chosen to be team of the year," 19-year-old Stopera, the top-ranked skip at the competition, said.

"It’s really an incredible feeling to be recognised for some of our accomplishments from the past season, our first together as a team.

"We’ve worked so hard to reach our goals over the last year so to be recognised for all we’ve put in is great.

"I feel grateful to be a part of this group of guys - Luc, Ben, Graem, Nick and Mark - and I really could not ask more from them as team-mates, competitors, and friends.

"We’ll definitely enjoy this distinction and we are excited to get back on the ice this upcoming season to see what the future holds."

Stopera, Violette, Richardson and Fenson competed together all season, with Connolly, the 2017 junior nationals runner-up, joining the team for the World Junior Championships.

In addition to winning the 2017 junior nationals, the Stopera rink had a successful Junior Curling Tour season, securing the overall title at the Abbotsford Junior Cashspiel in December and making several other play-off appearances at events throughout the season.

The team had win-loss records of 7-4 at the World Junior Championships and 7-2 at the junior nationals.

Also being recognised by USA Curling were siblings Matt Hamilton and Becca Hamilton, named male and female athlete of the year respectively.

Becca Hamilton, 27, was a member of two teams that helped secure Winter Olympic berths at Pyeongchang 2018. 

At the 2017 World Women’s Championship in Beijing, Hamilton was a member of the US team skipped by Nina Roth that finished fifth to qualify for the Games.

In March, Hamilton and brother Matt won the 2017 USA Curling Mixed Doubles National Championship in Blaine in Minnesota and went on to secure the US a mixed doubles berth with their 10th-place finish at the World Mixed Doubles Championship in Canadian city Lethbridge.

"After a whirlwind of a season, this is just the icing on the cake," the two-time US junior champion and 2014 women’s national champion said.

"Representing the US is a surreal experience and getting to do it twice this year was awesome.

"However, none of this would have been possible without my awesome team-mates."

Matt Hamilton won two national titles this season in being named male athlete of the year.

The 28-year-old, who plays in the second position for the John Shuster rink, won the 2017 USA Curling Men’s National Championship title in February by going undefeated and the 2017 USA Curling Mixed Doubles National Championship in March.

The US finished fourth at the 2017 World Men’s Championship in Edmonton to qualify for Pyeongchang 2018.

"It is an absolute honour to be named athlete of the year," Hamilton, a two-time US men’s and junior men’s champion, said. 

"It’s really reaffirming that all the time and effort put in is being recognised.

"It was a surreal experience winning two national championships in the same season, and getting to attend both worlds and rep the USA is always a treat and a pleasure."

Becca and Matt Hamilton have both qualified to compete in the 2018 US Olympic Team Trials in November and the 2018 US Olympic Mixed Doubles Team Trials in December.

This is the first time Becca has earned an athlete of the year award.

Matt was previously honoured as a member of USA Curling’s team of the year in 2016 and 2008 after winning the bronze medal at the World Men’s Championship and gold at the World Junior Championships.

The awards were determined by USA Curling’s Athlete/Curler Recognition Committee.

The 2017 winners also will be nominated to the United States Olympic Committee for its annual athlete and team awards.