The Varsity Blues men’s curling team captured its first Ontario University Athletics (OUA) title since 2001 on February 17 at the Guelph Curling Club, defeating the Laurier Golden Hawks 8–1. With the win, the men earned a spot in the Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) Championships, which will be held in Regina, Saskatchewan in late March. U of T also competed in the women’s curling competition, with the resilient Blues capturing bronze, along with a spot in the CIS Championships as well.
After opening the six game round-robin with a 7–5 loss to Laurier, the men’s team, led by skip Evan Lily, won five straight games to secure a spot in the quarter-finals. Forced to play the defending champion Waterloo Warriors in the first round of the playoffs, the Blues came up clutch. Down by two points in the eighth end, the Blues evened the score to force a ninth, and then Lily froze his final rock near the button to complete the comeback and take the match 6–5.
After yet another ninth end win in the semi-finals, this time against the Brock Badgers, the Blues routed the Golden Hawks – the only team that had managed to best them — to cap off a stellar weekend of play.
The women’s team, led by skip Danielle Bourque, suffered a 12–6 opening loss to the Guelph Gryphons, but overcame this tough start by winning six straight games to earn a spot in the semi-finals.
In the semis, Toronto lost 9–6 to the Carleton Ravens on a heart-breaking three point ninth end by the Ravens, but the Blues bounced back, defeating the Gryphons 7–5 in epic fashion. With the game tied after eight ends, and a trip to Regina on the line, the Blues scored two points in the ninth end to earn a spot in the national championships.
