Team Northern Ontario steals in extra end to secure first win at 2025 Seniors

Curling isn’t always about winning.  

It’s an easy lesson to forget while 28 of the best men’s and women’s senior teams vie for their respective national championships this week at the 2025 Canadian Senior Curling Championships from the Ottawa Hunt & Golf Club, but one that that often becomes top of mind, even at the highest levels of competition. 

Take Tuesday afternoon’s afternoons matchup in ladies’ action between Team Northern Ontario’s Valerie MacInnes (1-4; Schumacher) and Team Nunavut’s Geneva Chislett (0-5; Iqaluit) for example. Team Northern Ontario marked a 9-7 victory in an extra end to record its first win of the 2025 seniors campaign, but the scoreboard isn’t the only victory available on the ice, as MacInnes has been battling an injury, but was in the lineup for today’s match. 

“It feels awesome,” said MacInnes about the win and overcoming the injury set-back. “We were left to struggle three-legged for a couple of those games with my injury. Being out there to enjoy a first win, it means a lot when you’re at a national.”

There’s also a victory in the sense of pride that comes with putting on a provincial or territorial jacket, and that was not lost on MacInnes despite her team now being out of podium contention. It’s made even sweeter by the fact that it’s the first time for her McIntyre Curling Club teammates: vice-skip Carole Horton, second Rosanna Furletti and lead Kim Armstrong. 

“Oh, it’s a great feeling,” said MacInnes. “Being able to wear their (colours) is something every curler strives for. I’ve had the benefit of wearing it before at other events, but everybody else, this is their first one and they were so looking forward to it.” 

Before game time, it was already established Both teams will miss the Championship Pool, but that fact didn’t stop fans in attendance from being treated to a veritable shootout.  

Team Northern Ontario stormed out of the gate with a score of five in the first end, but Team Nunavut would not be denied, scoring a single in the second and then stealing four in the third end to tie the match after just three ends of play. 

The teams then traded respective singles to tie the game at seven each after eight ends, before Northern Ontario surged through in the extra, stealing two and marking the 9-7 final. 

And while Team Northern Ontario can now take solace in having a notch on the win column, it’s not the performance the team had expected of itself. Granted, the team was truncated by injury, leaving the three national-level rookies to fend for themselves.  

Regardless, the team is enjoying the national championship experience. 

“We were hoping to have a better showing,” said MacInnes. “We struggled in the first game when I had my injury, and having the three of them have to play without ever playing in a national before was a big ask for them. So, I had higher expectations, but I’m happy and content that everyone is still enjoying themselves.” 

In other Tuesday afternoon action, Team Manitoba’s Marlene Lang (3-2; Winnipeg) defeated Team Québec’s Nathalie Gagnon (1-4; Chicoutimi) 7-4 and Team British Columbia’s Shiella Cowan (4-0; New Westminster) stayed perfect to the tune of a 7-4 win over Team Saskatchewan’s Amber Holland (3-1; Saskatoon). Team Nova Scotia’s Andrea Saulnier (3-1; Kentville) sailed by Team New Brunswick’s Shelly Graham (1-3; Fredericton) 7-6 while Team Alberta’s Delia DeJong (4-1; Okotoks) vanquished Team Yukon’s Rhonda Horte (1-3; Whitehorse) 8-6 and Team Northwest Territories’ Sharon Cormier (2-2; Yellowknife) dispatched Team Newfoundland and Labrador’s Jody Saunders (1-3; St. John’s) 7-3. 

In men’s action this morning, Team Northwest Territories’ Greg Skauge (2-3; Yellowknife) doubled up Team Ontario’s Mike Harris (3-2; Brantford) 8-4 while Team Québec’s Robert Desjardins (3-1; Chicoutimi) edged Team Prince Edward Island’s Eddie MacKenzie (1-3; Cornwall) 7-6 and Team Saskatchewan’s Bruce Korte (4-0; Saskatoon) thumped Team Yukon’s Robert Smallwood (0-4; Whitehorse) 8-1. Team Nova Scotia’s Alan O’Leary (2-2; Bridgewater) downed Team Northern Ontario’s Al Belec (2-3; Sault Ste. Marie) 6-5 while Team Newfoundland and Labrador’s Keith Ryan (2-2; Labrador City) collected a 7-4 win over Team Alberta’s James Pahl (1-3; Sherwood Park) and Team Manitoba’s Dave Boehmer (3-1; Petersfield) beat Team Nunavut’s Peter Mackey (1-4; Iqaluit) 7-4. 

The top four in each pool then advance to the Championship Pool for crossover games beginning Thursday, Dec. 4, against teams from the other pool, while the remaining teams go to the Seeding Pool. 

After the Championship Pool round robin wraps up on Friday, Dec. 5, the playoffs will start Saturday, Dec. 6, at 10 a.m. with the semifinals, pairing the first-seeded team against the fourth-seeded team and the second- and third-ranked teams in the second semifinal. 

The winners advance to their respective gold-medal final, while the losers will play for bronze. The medal games for both genders will be at 3 p.m.

Action from the 2025 Canadian Senior Curling Championships resumes this evening at 6 p.m.

For live scores, live streaming, team rosters, and the draw schedule, CLICK HERE.