U-21 MIXED DOUBLES QUALIFER TO CROWN NATIONAL TEAM IN SUDBURY

Although it’s technically not a national championship, this week’s event in Sudbury, Ont. will still end with a team earning the right to wear the Maple Leaf. 

The Canadian U-21 Mixed Doubles World Qualifier will showcase eight teams competing for the right to represent Canada at the upcoming World Junior Mixed Doubles Championship, starting May 5, in Edmonton. 

“Mixed doubles is energizing the next generation of our sport,” said Helen Radford, Curling Canada’s Manager of NextGen and Podium Pathway. “Thanks to the Olympics and events like the Canadian U-21 Mixed Doubles World Qualifier, young curlers across Canada are embracing the speed, creativity, and athleticism of the game.” 

The eight teams qualified through two regional tournaments; one in Edmonton and one in Guelph, Ont. Nearly 70 teams participated in the two events, which eventually produced four qualifiers each. 

All four teams from the Edmonton qualifier are part of the University of Alberta curling program. Bethany Evans and Sahil Dalrymple, Gracelyn Richards and Zachary Davies, Sarah Yarmuch and Peter Hlushak, and Emma Yarmuch and Lucas Sawiak all play out of the Saville Community Sports Centre – the same facility that will host the World Championship in May. 

The eastern region qualifier in Guelph resulted in a bit more variety, producing winners from Ontario, Quebec, and Nova Scotia. Brooklyn Ideson (daughter of Paralympic Gold Meda skip Mark Ideson) and Owen Henry (fresh off a Montana’s Brier appearance) will play out of Ilderton, Ont. while Kelsea Marcolini and Nathan Jewell will represent Acton, Ont. 

The Quebec duo of Megan Lafrance and Raphel Tremblay will play out of Kenogami Grand-Mère. Olivia McDonah and Chris McCurdy (recently part of Team Canada at the Junior Worlds, with Team Calan MacIsaac) from Truro, Nova Scotia will round out the field. 

The eight teams will play a full round robin tournament at the Gerry McCrory Countryside Sports Complex, after which the top seed will advance to the final. The second-place team will play the third-place team in a semifinal. 

This event will use the same coaching rules as the Scotties Tournament of Hearts and Montana’s Brier. These rules are closely aligned with World Curling’s new coaching rules where players can talk to their coach when they are the non-delivering team. 

Games will begin at 2:00 pm on Tuesday, March 24 with the semi and final on March 27. 

Scores and schedules are available at http://www.curling.ca/scoreboard