Ontario and Nova Scotia Crowned Champions at 2024 Everest Canadian Curling Club Championships
Ontario and Nova Scotia Crowned Champions at 2024 Everest Canadian Curling Club Championships
Two curling teams delivered standout performances at the 2024 Everest Canadian Curling Club Championships, each earning a hard-fought victory and cementing their place in the national spotlight. Ontario's Team Jordan Keon and Nova Scotia's Team Michelle Armstrong each took home the gold, but their journeys to the top were distinctly different—one marked by dominance and the other by resilience.
Nova Scotia's Resilient Comeback: Team Armstrong Claims Gold
For Team Michelle Armstrong, the 2024 victory represented a significant redemption. After narrowly missing out on the gold in 2018, when they finished with silver, the team returned to the rink this year with a singular focus: to finish what they had started. Armstrong, along with vice-skip Julie McEvoy, second Abby Miller, lead Kathleen Conrod, and alternate Mary Mason, triumphed on Sunday, defeating Team Amanda Power of Prince Edward Island 9-8 in an extra end to claim the gold.
The win was especially dramatic, as Nova Scotia had to mount a dramatic comeback from a five-point deficit. Trailing 8-3 after the fourth end, Armstrong's team remained determined and embraced the pressure of the moment. Armstrong herself, reflecting on the challenging week, credited the team's resilience and their ability to fight through the adversity they faced.
“I’ll be honest, we haven’t played our best games all week. No game was perfect,” Armstrong admitted. “But we just kept fighting. When I was sitting in the hack, it wasn’t always pretty, but I kept reminding myself that it’s a privilege to be in this situation. It was mine to lose.”
The pivotal moment came in the fifth end when Armstrong’s team scored four, turning the tide of the match. The team then stole two in the seventh end, forcing PEI to score just a single point in the eighth. Heading into the extra end, Nova Scotia had the hammer and needed only to keep control of the game. On the final shot, PEI’s attempt at a slash double failed, and Nova Scotia sealed the victory.
Armstrong was quick to credit her team's success to collective effort, including the support of Mary Mason, who stayed home in Nova Scotia to care for her newborn baby. Despite being unable to travel, Mason's presence was felt by the team throughout the event.
“She’s a key teammate, and we did this for her,” Armstrong said. "It’s been such a special experience for all of us, and we couldn’t have done it without her.”
This marks Nova Scotia's first-ever women’s title at the event, adding to the province's historic achievement in 2021 when they won their first men’s title.
Ontario's Perfect Run: Team Keon Dominates the Men’s Event
While Nova Scotia's journey to the top was defined by resilience and a dramatic comeback, Ontario's Team Keon was in a class of its own, dominating the men's competition from start to finish. The team, led by skip Jordan Keon, finished the week with an impeccable 10-0 record, culminating in a 7-3 victory over Team Zachary Wasylik of Manitoba in the gold-medal game.
This marks the second national title for Team Keon, who won the championship in 2022 with a slightly different lineup. Keon, now skip, credited the team's flawless execution and strong starts in every match as key to their success.
“Having a great first end really set the tone for us throughout the week,” Keon said. “It was awesome to come out here with the hammer and build momentum from the start. Even when we gave up a steal in the third, we didn’t let it rattle us. We just stayed focused.”
The gold-medal match was a perfect example of Team Keon's strategy in action. After taking a 3-0 lead in the first end, they never looked back. Despite a steal by Manitoba in the third end, Ontario maintained control and extended their lead with a three-point score in the seventh. In the eighth, Ontario ran Manitoba out of stones, clinching the win.
“It feels awesome,” Keon said. “None of us are getting any younger, so we never take moments like this for granted. We’ll be back at our curling club tomorrow for league play—it’s just part of what we do.”
This victory marks Ontario’s fifth men’s title at the event, underscoring the province’s strong curling tradition.
Bronze Medals Awarded
In the women’s bronze-medal game, Manitoba’s Team Deb McCreanor (La Salle Curling Club) defeated Quebec’s Team Gabrielle Lavoie (Victoria Curling Club) 6-5. Meanwhile, in the men’s event, Northern Ontario’s Team Dylan Johnston (Fort William Curling Club) triumphed over Quebec’s Team Stéphane Brabant (Boucherville Curling Club) with a 9-5 victory to claim the bronze.
