PREVIEW: 2025 AUS Curling Championships

(HALIFAX, N.S.) Atlantic University Sport (AUS) fans will not have to wait long to see who will become the conference’s first champions of 2025.

Saint Mary’s University will host the 2025 AUS Curling Championships, presented by Bell, Jan. 2-5 at the Mayflower Curling Club in Halifax. Six AUS men’s and women’s teams – Saint Mary’s, Dalhousie, Mount Allison, UPEI, UNB and STFX - will compete in a full round robin schedule with the top four squads in each division advancing to the playoffs.

Last year saw more of the same in the men’s division, as the Dalhousie Tigers captured their sixth consecutive AUS title, beating the Huskies 8-5 in the championship final held in Montague, PEI. - making it the second straight year the Tigers defeated the Huskies for the AUS men’s curling banner.

“Saint Mary’s University is excited to host the best university curlers in Atlantic Canada early in the new year at the historic Mayflower Curling Club. The Mayflower, which will move to a new location in 2025, has been the home rink to many Canadian curling championship teams over the years,” said Scott Gray, Director of Athletics and Recreation at Saint Mary’s University. “The Huskies will ice a new men’s team this year, hoping to continue the competitive play of the past few years.”

The Tigers will have a bit of a new look this year, as skip Owen Purcell has graduated and moved on. In his place will be first-year skip Nathan Gray, who competed for Canada’s mixed curling team at the Youth Olympics last January in South Korea. Another member of that team was Owain Fisher, who will act as Dal’s alternate this season.

The women’s championship final last year provided a touch more drama, as the UNB REDS earned their first conference crown with a 6-4 win over the Dalhousie Tigers in extra ends, bringing a halt to Dal’s four-year reign on top.

REDS skip Jenna Campbell will be back to try and defend her team’s title, as will be fellow returnees Rebecca Watson (lead) and Carly A. Smith (third). The one new face amongst the UNB rink this year is Carly L. Smith, who will throw second stones.

The complete event schedule and draws can be found here. Games played on sheets 3 and 4 will be webcast live during each draw at AUStv.ca.

The champion and runner-up from each of the men’s and women’s divisions will earn berths at the U SPORTS national championships, set for Feb. 24-28 in Lethbridge, Alta.