Team Québec #1 secures first-place finish in Pool C at 2026 Canadian U-18 Championships

Team Québec’ #1s Raphaël Tremblay (5-0; Shawinigan) earned a quarterfinal berth at the 2026 Canadian Under-18 Curling Championships with an 7-6 win over Team Northern Ontario’s Riley Winters (3-2; North Bay) Wednesday afternoon at the McIntyre Curling Club in Timmins, Ont.

The win guarantees Team Québec #1, rounded out by third/vice-skip Louis-François Brassard, second Nathan Beaudoin-Gendron, lead Olivier St-Pierre, and coach Yves Tremblay, the number one seed in male Pool C, and with it, earning a berth in a quarterfinal at the U-18 national championship.

“(I feel) really good,” said Raphaël Tremblay after the win. “It was a game that was going OK; some shots were made and some shots were missed. We were able to pull it off in the two last shots. I think the last end was pretty good. Good team effort.”

It wasn’t always a sure thing for the Shawinigan outfit, however. Team Québec #1 had been leaking a little oil in the sixth and seventh ends, surrendering steals of one in each end to put La Belle Province down by one headed into the eighth.

Tremblay, with hammer in the final end, had to make a tricky in-off on a rock in the eight-foot with his final stone to move some Team Northern Ontario #1 granite off the four foot to sit two and secure the victory.  

High-pressure stuff for any curler, let alone a U-18 athlete, but Tremblay handled the moment with grace despite some nerves and credits his teammates for the successful outcome.

“I was pretty nervous,” said Tremblay about the final shot to win. “When it’s a close game against a good team, and it’s an important match to win, so, yeah, I was pretty nervous. I was able to throw the shot close to the broom and my teammates were great on the line calling and the sweeping.”

With a spot in the quarterfinal secured, Tremblay is ready to bask in the advantages that come along with that all-important berth.

“It’s really important. We don’t have to play the (5-12 playoff games),” said Tremblay. “Going straight into the quarterfinals leaves the stress behind. We’re going to be able to prepare for the quarterfinal and have a good next game.”

That next game will see Team Québec #1 take on Team Saskatchewan’s Brandon Weiss (3-2; Esterhazy) Thursday at 8:30 a.m., (all times Eastern).

The top four teams from each of the three pools of seven will qualify for the playoffs. All pool winners plus one team with the next best record are guaranteed a bye to a quarterfinal, whereas the remaining 5-12 seeded qualifiers must play a match that feeds into the quarterfinals.

Television coverage of the 2026 Canadian Under-18 Curling Championships is being provided by Eastlink. The broadcast schedule is available by clicking here.

Action from the 2026 Canadian Under-18 Curling Championships continue this evening at 6:30 p.m.

Wednesday morning results and stats from the 2026 Canadian Under-18 Curling Championships are available by clicking here.

Tickets for the 2026 Canadian Under-18 Curling Championship are still available for purchase by clicking here. 

Live scoring, rosters, and draw schedule details can be found at the event website by clicking here. 

This story will be available in French as soon as possible by clicking here.