Nova Scotia Surging!

Team Nova Scotia downs Team Peterman/Gallant 6-5 in round of 12 playoff thriller at 2025 Canadian Mixed Doubles 

Some wins just feel bigger than others. 

And while it’s assured that every game is a must-win now with the playoffs now underway at the at the 2025 Canadian Mixed Doubles Curling Championship, the stakes in Thursday afternoon’s feature match truly set the tone. 

A round of 12 playoff contest at the Gerard “Turk” Gallant arena in Summerside, P.E.I., saw Team Nova Scotia’s Marlee Powers, Luke Saunders and coach Colleen Jones step-up and surge its way to a thrilling 6-5 win over Team Peterman/Gallant (5-3; Chestermere, Alta.). 

Though the hometown fans may have been pulling for Brett Gallant, a Charlottetown native, the Nova Scotia tandem dazzled fans in the stands with its exemplary shot-making. 

Those shots produced results on the scoreboard with Team Nova Scotia never once trailing in the contest, but a win was never assured, said Luke Saunders, who complimented the caliber of Team Peterman/Gallant’s play. 

“They’re studs,” said Saunders. “Anytime you get a chance to go out against a national champion, which is looks like we’re going to be doing for the foreseeable future here at this event, you don’t take it lightly.” 

Even when the game presented its toughest situations, there was palpable comfort in Team Nova Scotia’s demeanour.  

“We had a really tough pool and that set us up to hopefully do well in the playoffs,” said Powers. “Hopefully we can keep going against these tough teams.” 

It’s a marked improvement for Saunders and Powers, who competed at the 2024 Canadian Mixed Doubles Curling Championship at Fredericton, but missed the playoff picture going 4-3 in pool play. 

“We just try to do a little bit better each year,” said Saunders. “We were close to playoffs last year, and to get at it this year is a thrill. I know I wouldn’t want to be doing it with anybody else.  

The win sets the Halifax duo up on a quarterfinal date against an undefeated Team Walker/Muyres (7-0; Edmonton/Humboldt, Sask.) Thursday at 7 p.m. (all times Atlantic). 

In other round of 12 action at the 2025 Canadian Mixed Doubles Curling Championship, Team Québec’s Emily Riley and Jesse Mullen (6-2; Dollard-des-Ormeaux, Que.) edged Team Alberta’s Amanda Sluchinski and Aaron Sluchinski (5-2; Airdrie) 7-6. Team Québec faces an unblemished Team Brunton/Horgan (7-0; Sudbury, Ont.).  

Team New Brunswick’s Melissa Adams and Luke Robichaud (5-3; Fredericton) downed Team Ontario’s Katie Ford and Oliver Campbell (6-2; Waterloo) 11-4 and now face Team Jones/Laing (6-1; Horseshoe Valley, Ont.) and Team Lott/Lott (7-1; Gimli, Man.) confirmed a win over Team Papley/Van Amsterdam (4-4; Edmonton) 10-4. The Manitobans will face Team Laycock/Martin (5-2; Martensville), who are winners of four of its last five matches, in a quarterfinal. 

Quarterfinal action from the 2025 Canadian Mixed Doubles Curling Championship will take place Thursday evening at 7 p.m.

Select games will be streamed live on Curling Canada’s YouTube page found here.      

Live scores, standings, team rosters, schedule information and more can be found at the event website here.