REGINA — The Regina Cougars were unable to find a win on the final day of competition at the U Sports Canadian women’s curling championship on Saturday and as a result fell a single victory short of claiming a medal.
Regina’s Chloe Johnston, third Tesa Silversides, second Hannah Rugg, lead Lauren Speidel, alternate Makena Bailey and coach Danielle Sicinski dropped a 5-2 decision to eventual champion Memorial in the semifinal before falling 8-2 to Alberta in the bronze medal game Saturday afternoon.
It had been an impressive showing for Regina heading into the medal round, as they’d put together a 4-3 round robin record — including a victory in their final game to reach the playoffs — and had a bit of momentum heading into the medal round.
Memorial’s Cailey Locke would get off to a fast start, though, scoring one in the first and stealing single points the next two frames for a 3-0 lead. Johnston got one back in the fifth, but Memorial replied with another in the sixth for a 4-2 lead with two ends to play, and they’d tack on another in the eighth for a 5-2 win.
McMaster’s Evelyn Robert defeated Alberta’s Gracelyn Richards 3-2 in the other semifinal, setting up the bronze medal match between Regina and Alberta.
There, things were close early, as the Pandas scored a pair in the second end and Regina replied with one in the third, but Alberta blew things open with a four-spot and 6-1 lead in the fourth. Johnston got one back in the fifth, but Richards put up two more the next end and the teams shook hands.
Memorial’s Locke, third Hayley Gushue, second Emily Neary, lead Sitaye Penney and coach Jeff Thomas would steal one in the final end to take a 5-4 win over McMaster in the gold medal game.
Things were even closer in the men’s championship contest, as Calgary’s Kenan Wipf, third Ky Macaulay, second Ethan Drysdale, lead Spencer Else and coach Mickey Pendergrast scored one in an extra end to take a 7-6 win over Carleton’s Owen Nicholls.
Alberta’s Zachary Davies defeated Memorial’s Simon Perry 6-3 to claim the men’s bronze medal.
You can find all the scores from the U Sports curling championships at www.curling.ca.
