Curling Canada tested two possible future events, Under 25 and Under 18 Mixed Doubles, at the Willie O’Ree Centre in Fredericton NB these past two weekends. Each test event had eight teams. The U18, which includes PEI’s Mitchell Schut and Lauren Ferguson duo, with coach Dave Murphy, started on Friday, with the Cornwall Curling Club duo finishing in fourth place after losing the Bronze Medal game 7-1. to the Forsythe/Pugsley team. Both teams finished round robin play with 5-2 win-loss records, with Forsythe/Pugsley picking up 12-3 win in their round-robin match against Ferguson/Schut, aided by a six-ender. The PEI team lost 7-4 to the Patterson/Palmer pair, who went on to win the gold medal, in the semi-finals to go to the bronze medal game. Schut and Ferguson are back skipping their regular four person teams in eight days, as they head to the Canadian Under 18 Boys and Girls Curling Championships, April 2-7 in Sherwood Park Alberta.

Lauren Ferguson (left) and Mitchell Schut

The U25 event wrapped up last Sunday, with the team of PEI’s Aleya Quilty, paired with New Brunswick’s Alex Robichaud and coach Pat Quilty, winning the Gold Medal game with a triple in the extra end over New Brunswick’s Erika Cluff and Alex Peasley. In the Bronze Medal game, PEI’s Veronica Smith, teamed up with Rene Comeau of Moncton and coach Paul Smith, beat Cornwall’s Nick Johnston and Sydney Howatt with coach Lori Robinson by an 11-5 score.

Curling Canada photo