Women in Curling: Fish sisters’ curling journey forges an unbreakable bond on and off the ice

While plenty of sisters their age are sparring over TikToks, rides, and borrowed clothes, teenagers Claire and Evelyn Fish of the Niagara Falls Curling Club are sweeping in the same direction. They’ve grown up side by side on the ice, and their sibling shorthand has become a built-in advantage. When the pressure builds, they trust no one more than each other.

“My sister’s my best friend,” said Claire, 16. “We get along really well off the ice, and we can acknowledge each other’s strengths.”

The sisters were introduced to curling by their parents. Some of their earliest memories are of banging on the glass while their dad curled, munching on fries in the lounge. Curling has always been a sport that embraces families — rinks are often full of parents, kids, and even grandparents sharing the same sheet — and Claire and Evelyn are the next generation carrying that forward. As they got older and each developed their own passion for the sport, it only made sense that they’d end up curling together.

“Over time, it became less about the fries and more about the curling. Now it’s pretty much curling 24/7,” said Claire.

Between leagues, practices, and bonspiels, she estimates she’s on the ice once or twice a day during the season. Curling has left such a mark on her that she’s joined the Niagara Falls Curling Club board of directors, where she’s grown increasingly confident in voicing her ideas on what curling should look like for youth just getting into the game.

“Curling for me has always been a safe, comfortable place, and a lot of that comes down to how amazing the community is,” she added. “It’s almost like therapy, and I want other girls to be able to experience that.”

Evelyn, 13, shares that drive. She helps organize initiatives to get younger girls involved at the club. “When you walk in, you know everyone’s supporting you,” she said.

That support, of course, has limits — especially when the sisters play against each other. “We play doubles against each other and she knows exactly how to get into my head,” said Claire.

“I know her strengths, but I also know her weaknesses,” Evelyn teased. She’s not shy about firing off a little trash talk, but when asked to elaborate, she held back. “After all, she is my sister.”

Most of the time, that sibling instinct works in their favour. “I’m always able to connect with her on the same level because we’re experiencing the same things at the same time,” said Evelyn.

The two hope that bond will carry them far. “I really want to see how far I can get with curling,” said Evelyn. “Obviously, someday I want to make it to the Scotties. If I can do that with my sister, that’d be great.” Then, with the timing only a younger sister could get away with, she added: “But you know, she’s not the be-all and end-all. If I have to do it without her, so be it,” she said, laughing.

Claire took it in stride, summing up their dynamic simply: “She’s probably the most loyal person I’ve ever met. I’m grateful to experience being on the ice with her — but also to have her off the ice, too.”