Pool B Bedlam! 

Four 4-2 teams crowd top of Pool B at 2025 Canadian Mixed Doubles Curling Championship 

If the cream rises to the top, then Pool B at the 2025 Canadian Mixed Doubles Curling Championship should come with a “half and half” dairy label, with four teams sharing an equal 4-2 record after Wednesday afternoon’s action from the Gerard “Turk” Gallant Arena at Summerside, P.E.I. 

All of Team Sandham/Craig (Guelph, Ont.), Team Martin/Laycock (Martensville, Sask.), Team Smith Thomson (Newmarket, Ont.), and Team New Brunswick’s Melissa Adams and Alex Robichaud (Fredericton) share that 4-2 record. 

With a direct bye to the round of eight on the line for Pool B’s winner, the permutations of who can still claim that top prize will come right down to the wire after tonight’s 7 p.m., (all times Atlantic) draw. 

Guelph’s Team Sandham/Craig were catalysts in creating Pool B’s chaos; knocking the former pool-leading Team New Brunswick down a peg after a 5-4 vanquishing Wednesday afternoon. 

“We knew we had to come into today with two wins,” said Riley Sandham. “We’ve been playing alright, so it’s good to make a lot of shots that game. We’re feeling confident going into our last now.” 

With a potential playoff berth looming, the Sandham/Craig tandem know they have another gear available to take their play to the next level. 

“It’s just figuring out the ice a bit more,” said Brendan Craig. “We’re definitely getting more comfortable as every draw passes and I’d say this is probably the most comfortable we’ve been so far. Just building on that and a big win helps.” 

Meanwhile, Team Martin/Laycock are on a three-game win streak, earning a 7-2 win over Team Lanoue/Tremblay (3-3; Boucherville, Que.) to stay in contention for Pool B’s top prize.  

After opening its 2025 Canadian Mixed Doubles Campaign with a 1-2 record, the pair are settling in to playing in must-win situations. 

“That’s what we did last year,” laughed Nancy Martin. “We started 0-2 last year, backs against the wall, you know? Away you go. Got nothing else to do so might as well go out there and throw some rocks. All we can do is get out there and get the win.” 

Team Martin/Laycock will face Team Sandham/Craig Wednesday evening in what will be standings-defining finale to pool play. 

Newmarket’s Team Smith/Thomson were also successful in an 8-4 dispatching Team P.E.I.’s Jenny White and Ed White, keeping the duo at pace with the rest of Pool B’s top contenders. 

“There’s quite a few of us at two losses,” said Megan Smith. “It’s all within our own control now, so that’s nice.” 

And while the thought of scoreboard watching can be a tantalizing one, Smith is focused on maintaining her team’s game plan for success. 

“Same thing we’ve been doing all week”, said Smith. “It’s cliché, but one rock, one shot at a time. Just try to make the next one as best we can, no matter what.” 

After the pool winners’ berths have been declared, the remaining eight qualifiers for the Round of 12 will be granted via win-loss record, regardless of pool affiliation. Any tie-breaking situations are to be settled via head-to-head record first, followed by Last Stone Delivery scores. 

The round of 12 begins Thursday at 3 p.m., followed by the round of eight at 7 p.m. 

In other action, Team Newfoundland and Labrador’s Jessica Wiseman and Greg Smith (3-3; St. John’s) bounced Team Northwest Territories’ Elizabeth King and Landon King (0-6; Yellowknife) 11-2. Team Peterman/Gallant (4-2; Chestermere, Alta.) downed Team Alberta’s Amanda and Aaron Sluchinski (5-1; Airdrie) 7-5, while Team Saskatchewan’s Christie Gamble and Matthew Lang (1-5; Langenburg) earned its first win 6-4 over Team Parmiter/Burgess (1-5; Fredericton).  

Additionally, Team Québec’s Emily Riley and Jesse Mullen (4-2; Dollard-des-Ormeaux) quintupled Team Nunavut’s Sadie Pinksen and David Aglukark (0-6; Iqaluit) 15-3 and Team Brunton/Horgan (6-0; Sudbury, Ont.) stayed perfect with a 9-3 win over Team Gionest/Desjardins (3-3; Chicoutimi, Que.). 

Action from the 2025 Candian Mixed Doubles Curling Championship continues Wednesday at 4 p.m., and 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.