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Crowded at four wins!
Team New Brunswick and Team Alberta #1 catch victories Wednesday to maintain pace in Pool B at New Holland U-20s
Attrition goes a long way on a curling sheet, and it produced two key victories for Team New Brunswick’s Melodie Forsythe and Team Alberta #1’s Myla Plett on Wednesday afternoon.
After what could arguably labelled as the most exciting set of games yet from the 2025 New Holland Canadian U-20 Curling Championships at Summerside, P.E.I., Team New Brunswick (4-1; Fredericton/Moncton) mustered a 6-5 win over Team Ontario #1’s Dominique Vivier (2-3; Navan) while, just a sheet over, Team Alberta #1 (4-0; Edmonton/Sherwood Park) downed host Team Prince Edward Island #1’s Sophie Blades (0-4; Summerside/Cornwall) 8-7.
Both teams improved to four wins in their 2025 New Holland U-20 campaigns, keeping pace with the previously pool-leading Team Manitoba #2’s Cassidy Dundas (4-0; Winnipeg), who had Wednesday afternoon off.
It was a high-drama docket for ticket holders at the Silver Fox Entertainment Complex, with both teams needing their skips to come through on its final stones to win its games.
Team New Brunswick – composing vice-skip Rebecca Watson, second Carly L. Smith, lead Mya Pugsley and coach Wayne Tallon – trailed Team Ontario #1 by one going into the 10th end with hammer, setting up an open hit on the side of the house for two on Forsythe’s final offering.
It’s exactly the type of shot Forsythe envisions when throwing for the win, and she made no mistake, despite some trepidations about the line.
“A nine-five hit is in my back pocket,” said Forsythe. “It’s always scary still. We’d seen that spot fall a bit so, of course, it’s still scary. But it was a good shot for the win.”
Forsythe is no stranger to wearing New Brunswick colours at a national event, as she’s represented the province on nine occasions, and attributes that experience to her comfort level on the ice under Wednesday afternoon’s high-pressure situation.
“It helps, for sure,” said Forsythe. “Especially in those tough games when there’s a lot of pressure and stuff, you really have to stay focused and stay calm because it’s easy to throw that extra weight. Definitely, experience helps a lot.”
Forsythe and Team New Brunswick entered play at the 2025 New Holland U-20 with high expectations, and being near the top of the Pool B leader board is exactly where it expected to be.
“We’ve worked so hard for this,” said Forsythe. “It’s my last year too so we’re playing really hard. We’re giving it all we have.”
Team New Brunswick’s only loss comes to Team Manitoba #2 back in draw 6. Head-to-head records will be used as a tiebreaker, followed by LSD scores, if required.
Meanwhile, Team Alberta #1’s Myla Plett proved it remains a force to be reckoned with, as the 2023 New Holland Canadian U-21 champs needed a final-stone draw to the pin to take home its fourth win.
Plett – flanked by vice-skip Allysa Nedohin, second Chloe Fediuk, lead Allie Iskiw, coach David Nedohin, and coach Blair Lenton – were in tough against host Team Prince Edward Island #1, where, tied in the 10th end, the islanders laid shot stone dead-frozen against a Team Alberta #1 stone on the side of the button.
It was a shot that had, quite literally, no margin for error on either weight or line, but the ever-stoic Plett took the shot on and made no mistake, dropping her offering cleanly on the pin for the win.
“You know, it was very nerve-wracking,” said Plett. “Team P.E.I., played an amazing game. You know, I was pumped up the whole game, very stressed out.”
And while Plett was the rock-thrower on the winning shot, she credits her team for the successful draw in the 10th end.
“My sweeper can judge weight very well,” said Plett. “I had full-faith in them to bring it exactly where I needed it. It was just a great overeall team shot there.”
As a former Canadian New Holland U-21 champion, Plett says her team is in striking distance to repeat 2023’s victorious performance this year.
“You know, that’s the ultimate goal,” said Plett. “We came here for that. On the roll that we’re on, you know, just playing well and having great communication on the ice, I definitely think it’s possible.”
Team Alberta #1 will next face Team Québec #1’s Anne-Sophie Gionest (2-2; Riverbend/Etchemin) Thursday at 9 a.m. (all times Atlantic)
Action from the 2025 New Holland Canadian U-20 Curling Championships resumes Wednesday 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.