A New Brunswick curling rink is returning from the Canadian mixed championship with a silver medal and a possible opportunity to compete for another national title on home ice next year.
The team skipped by Moncton’s Sylvie Quillian lost 9-5 to Nova Scotia’s Brent MacDougall in Saturday’s final in Woodstock, P.E.I. New Brunswick had taken a one-point advantage into the eighth and final end, but Nova Scotia scored five to turn the game around and claim the championship.
Despite the result, Quillian said the rink was pleased with its performance throughout the week. The team advanced to the final after defeating Northern Ontario 7-4 in the semifinal, securing New Brunswick’s place in the gold-medal game.
“We’re very happy with our performances this week and we’re thrilled to have a silver medal,” Quillian said.
A final decided in the last end
The championship game remained close through most of the contest. Nova Scotia moved ahead 4-3 with a single in the sixth end, but New Brunswick answered with two in the seventh to take a 5-4 lead before the final frame.
Quillian described the game as a “seesaw” contest, with opportunities available to both teams. The late scoring swing left New Brunswick short of the gold medal, although the team’s run still produced one of the strongest results available at the national event.
“We’re obviously disappointed it wasn’t gold, but we were happy once we got off the ice,” Quillian said.
| Stage | Result for New Brunswick |
|---|---|
| Semifinal | Defeated Northern Ontario 7-4 |
| Final | Lost to Nova Scotia 9-5 |
| Overall result | National silver medal |
A group built through familiarity
Quillian’s rink includes third Marcel Robichaud, second Lynn LeBlanc and lead Jordan Pinder. The skip said the group’s comfort with one another helped the team manage the demands of the tournament, both during games and away from the ice.
Quillian and LeBlanc also curl together in a women’s division. That existing connection is part of the team’s chemistry, according to Quillian, who said enjoyment and familiarity were important elements of the rink’s national run.
- Sylvie Quillian is the New Brunswick skip and is from Moncton.
- Marcel Robichaud, Lynn LeBlanc and Jordan Pinder complete the rink.
- The team defeated Northern Ontario before meeting Nova Scotia in the final.
Moncton set to host next year
The silver-medal result also gives the New Brunswick rink a clear next step. The national mixed championship is scheduled to come to Moncton next year, putting the province’s curlers in position to pursue another provincial title and compete before a home crowd.
Quillian said the team will discuss whether to make another attempt at the national event. Before that decision is made, the rink is expected to consider repeating as New Brunswick’s provincial representative. A return would give the group a chance to build on its experience in this year’s final while competing in a championship staged in its own community.
For New Brunswick, the result extends the province’s presence at the top of the national mixed-curling field. The team reached the final, led after seven ends and finished with a medal, even as Nova Scotia produced the decisive late performance. The upcoming Moncton event now offers an added local dimension: the province will not only send a rink to the national championship, but will also host the competition that follows this year’s breakthrough.
