Young Curlers Battle for Glory in U-21 Mixed Doubles Championship Qualifiers
Sixteen young curlers are on the path to becoming national champions as they battle for spots in Curling Canada’s inaugural U-21 Mixed Doubles Championship, set to take place in March 2024 in Summerside, Prince Edward Island. This exciting new event, scheduled to coincide with the growing popularity of mixed doubles curling, will see the best junior teams from across Canada competing for the chance to represent the country at the 2025 World Championship in Edmonton.
In order to secure one of the eight coveted spots in the national championship, 73 teams from across the country are currently competing in regional qualifiers held this week in two locations: Brandon, Manitoba, and Moncton, New Brunswick. The competitions are being held in a triple knockout format, with the top two teams from each location advancing to the national stage.
The regional qualifiers have attracted a diverse mix of players from various provinces and territories, with no residency restrictions. This unique feature has led to cross-provincial team pairings, as young curlers from different areas team up to compete for a chance at national glory. As Helen Radford, Manager of NextGen and Pathway Programming for Curling Canada, explains: “It’s an interesting field. Teams have paired up from all over, with different provinces coming together to compete.”
A total of 73 teams entered the qualifiers—40 in Brandon and 33 in Moncton—bringing together some of the brightest young curling talents in the country. The central provinces, such as Ontario, have split between the two events, with western teams primarily heading to Brandon and eastern teams gravitating toward Moncton.
Among the notable participants are Myla Plett from Edmonton, who is playing alongside Evan Hennigar, originally from Nova Scotia but now based in Edmonton. Plett, who won the U-20 championship last year, is considered one of the top contenders in the mixed doubles field. In Moncton, she’ll also face competition from Cailey Locke and Simon Perry, both of whom recently represented Canada at the 2024 Youth Olympic Games.
In Brandon, the competition is equally fierce, with experienced junior curlers like Alyssa Nedohin and Jaxon Hiebert (Sherwood Park, Alberta), Allie Iskiw and Peter Hlushak, and Jace Freeman and Shaela Hayward. Freeman, who recently won a bronze medal at the 2024 New Holland U-20 Championship, is teaming up with Hayward, fresh off her appearance at the Canadian Mixed Championship, making them one of the standout teams in the qualifier.
The U-21 Mixed Doubles Championship will not only crown a national champion but will also serve as a qualifier for the 2025 World Mixed Doubles Curling Championship, where the winning team will represent Canada on the world stage.
As the regional events continue this week, the focus remains on teamwork, skill, and strategy, with players hoping to book their spot in the national championship and take one step closer to achieving their dream of competing internationally. With a mix of seasoned veterans and rising stars, this year's U-21 Mixed Doubles Championship promises to be an exciting showcase of young curling talent.
