Maple Leaf ambitions!

Team Weagle/Epping remains unbeaten at Canadian Mixed Doubles Trials

LIVERPOOL, N.S. — For the better part of eight years, Ottawa’s Lisa Weagle and Toronto’s John Epping have put in countless hours chasing their dreams of representing Canada on the world stage in mixed doubles curling.

Three games into the 2025 Canadian Mixed Doubles Curling Trials at Queens Place Emera Centre in Liverpool, N.S., those dreams are getting more realistic as the Ontario duo remains unbeaten — their latest victory a topsy-turvy 10-8 win over previously undefeated Team Jaelyn Cotter/Jim Cotter (2-1; Vernon, B.C.).

The win left Team Weagle/Epping tied for first place in Pool B with Team Jocelyn Peterman/Brett Gallant (Chestermere, Alta.). The top three teams in each of the two eight-team pools will advance to the playoffs.

“It was a roller coaster today,” said Weagle. “There was a lot of points scored in that game, a lot of big ends. We just kind of had to hang in there.”

The teams threw a variety of haymakers at each other in the early ends; Team Cotter/Cotter scored two in the first and three more in the third, sandwiched around a count of four in the second for Team Weagle/Epping.

That set the tone for the rest of the game, and after scoring a seventh-end deuce, Team Weagle-Epping was clinging to a 9-8 lead coming home without last rock. But Jaelyn Carter’s last-rock angle-raise attempt to remove shot stone covering the button was just wide and that  nailed down the game-ending steal for Team Weagle/Epping.

It was a big win that could have tiebreaker implications later this week.

“Oh, no doubt,” said Epping. “And we know we have probably two of I would call them more the favourites at the the event left to play in our pool (Team Peterman/Gallant, Team Kadriana Lott/Colton Lott), so every win matters when you’re playing against these teams.”

Weagle has had the privilege of being Team Canada already — twice an Olympian (2018, 2022) and a world champion (2017) in four-player curling, so while she’d dearly love another trip for herself, she’s just as, if not more, motivated to give her partner that experience.

“That honestly gives me chills when you ask that question,” she said. “I really want to win it for John and I want to see John wearing the Maple Leaf. I think he’s an amazing curler and he deserves it, and I think he’d look great in Canada gear.”

“Oh, it would mean everything,” added Epping. “I mean, I’ve never been able to wear the Maple Leaf on any stage, so it would be pretty special, and to do it with Lisa, somebody I’ve known since we were 13 or 15 years old. And it would be fun to call her a three time Olympian.”

In a high-stakes competition such as the Trials, it’s the teams that can withstand the pressure that will perform the best, and Epping believes he and Weagle have that figured out thanks to their years together.

“You can be more open, I think, and honest with each other and hold yourselves accountable,” he said. “We know that we’re trying hard for each other and we’re lucky, too, that we brought a good support group this week that has really helped us off the ice. It’s tough when it’s just the two of us for a whole week and I’m sure she’s sick of me by now.’

“Never, never,” replied Weagle with a laugh. “I get to curl one of my best friends. It’s awesome.”

In other games Tuesday afternoon, Team Lott/Lott (2-1; Gimli, Man.) knocked off Team Taylor Reese-Hansen/Corey Chester (0-3; Kitimat, B.C./Victoria) 8-5; Team Riley Sandham/Brendan Craig (1-2; Guelph, Ont.) held off Team Jennifer Armstrong/Tyrel Griffith (1-2; Rothesay, N.B./Kelowna, B.C.) 7-5; and Team Peterman/Gallant stole the winning point in an extra end to beat Team Melissa Adams/Alex Robichaud (0-3; Fredericton, N.B.) 7-6.

In morning games, Team Laura Walker/Kirk Muyres (3-0; Edmonton/Humboldt, Sask.) beat Team Brittany Tran/Rylan Kleiter (2-1; Calgary/Saskatoon) 9-3; Team Jennifer Jones/Brent Laing (2-1; Barrie, Ont.) knocked off Team Anne-Sophie Gionest/Robert Desjardins (0-3; Alma, Que./Saguenay, Que.) 8-2; Team Paige Papley/Evan Van Amsterdam (1-2; Edmonton) was a 7-4 winner over Team Nancy Martin/Steve Laycock (0-3; Wakaw, Sask./Saskatoon); and Team Rachel Homan/Brendan Bottcher (3-0; Beaumont, Alta./Spruce Grove, Alta.) got by Team Jessica Zheng/Victor Pietrangelo (1-2; Niagara Falls, Ont.) 7-3.

The winning team on Saturday will represent Canada at the 2025 World Mixed Doubles Championship April 26-May 3 in Fredericton, N.B.

That event also will decide most of the countries that will compete at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy, and if Canada qualifies for the Games, it will be the Trials winner in Liverpool who will wear the Maple Leaf in Italy.

The 2025 Canadian Mixed Doubles Trials will continue with draws Tuesday at 4 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.

Live scoring, standings and statistics for the 2025 Canadian Mixed Doubles Trials are available by CLICKING HERE.

Streaming for the Trials will be available on Curling Canada’s YouTube channel.

Ticket information for the 2025 Canadian Mixed Doubles Trials is available by CLICKING HERE.

This story will be posted in French as soon as possible at www.curling.ca/2025mixeddoublestrials/nouvelles/?lang=fr