The University of Regina Cougars will head into the final day of round robin play at the Canada West curling championships exactly where they want to be — right in the hunt.
Both the Cougars men’s and women’s teams put together impressive days on Friday, stacking wins and showing they can respond when challenged as the playoff picture begins to take shape.
On the women’s side, it was a tale of quick recovery for skip Chloe Johnston and her rink. The Cougars opened Day 2 with their lone blemish of the tournament, falling 8–5 to the University of Alberta in the morning draw. Rather than letting that result linger, Johnston’s group flipped the switch in the afternoon, rolling past UBC 9–1.
The momentum carried straight into the evening draw, where Regina delivered another lopsided result, dispatching Lethbridge 9–1. After two days of play, Johnston sits at 4–1 in the round robin, good for second place, trailing only an unbeaten Alberta squad at 5–0.
The Cougars men were equally dialled in.
Skip Carter Williamson and his foursome were sharp from start to finish on Friday, beginning with a statement 6–4 win over Alberta. Regina followed that up with an 8–4 victory over UBC in the afternoon before putting an exclamation point on the day with a dominant 7–1 win against Lethbridge in the evening draw.
Williamson’s rink now sits at 5–1, tied for second place in the men’s standings. Calgary has been perfect through six games and leads the field at 6–0.
Saturday will be a busy and pivotal day for both Cougars teams as the round robin wraps up.
Saturday Schedule
Men’s Draw
- Williamson vs. Victoria – 9 a.m.
- Williamson vs. UBC – 2 p.m.
- Williamson vs. UBC Okanagan – 7 p.m.
Women’s Draw
- Johnston vs. Victoria – 9 a.m.
- Johnston vs. UBC Okanagan – 7 p.m.
With positioning still up for grabs, Regina controls much of its own destiny heading into the final day. The Canada West curling championships wrap up on Sunday, when medals — and bragging rights — will be on the line.
