Repping at home!

Team Prince Edward Island #1 leverages home-ice advantage in 9-3 opener win over Team Québec at 2025 New Holland Canadian U-20 Curling Championship

The last time the New Holland Canadian U-20 Curling Championship was hosted at Summerside, P.E.I., Team Prince Edward Island #1 skip Isaiah Dalton, nor any of his teammates, had yet been born. 

That was all the way back in 2002. Fast forward to today, in 2025, and Dalton – alongside his Team Prince Edward Island #1 squadron of vice-skip Connor Bruce, second Sheamus Herlihy, lead Nate MacRae, and coach Dennis Watts – finds itself firmly in the spotlight as the home-province representatives, hosted at the Gerard “Turk” Gallant Arena and Silver Fox Entertainment Complex. 

But the bright lights of being the host team didn’t fluster the Cornwall, P.E.I., squadron as it cruised to a 9-3 win over Team Québec’s Pierre-Olivier Roy (0-1; Chelsea) Sunday afternoon in its opening draw. 

“It’s pretty awesome to play in front of the home crowd,” said Dalton. “It’s nice to travel, but it’s really awesome to be able to play here. I knew some people were going to show up, but like, twice the amount of people I thought showed up.” 

Dalton credits his previous experience at the Canadian U-18 Boys Curling Championship for his measured approach at the U-21 level. 

“It was really comfortable,” said Dalton. “We’ve been to a few nationals before. This is my fourth; the other three were U-18s before this so the environment is pretty comfortable. It’s great ice, so it’s really easy to go out there and make shots.” 

Despite what appeared to be a lopsided scoreboard where Team Prince Edward Island carried an 8-2 after seven ends, the win wasn’t always assured. Dalton flashed a hit on his final stone in the eighth end, leaving Team Québec a chance for a low-weight hit-and-stick to count four points with hammer.  

The Québec offering stayed wide however, missing its target, and it would have to settle for scoring a single point instead of the coveted four-score.  

Dalton knows his team was lucky to escape the potential big score and was ready to focus on the next shots to finish out the win. 

“It’s just making the next one, right,” said Dalton. “It’s just making shots. We got out to an early lead and we got some breaks there. We were playing good but we were on the right side of a lot of stuff too. It’s just sticking with what the plan is and not getting too comfortable in that lead.” 

After going 4-1 to secure the Prince Edward Island U-20 male provincial title back in January, the team is only gaining momentum.  

“This season has been probably one of our best seasons,” said Dalton. “Like in league play, and not winning a whole bunch of tournaments, but provincials, we’re always doing good.” 

With a winning start, Dalton and Co. have a chance to become the first male team from P.E.I., to win the New Holland Canadian U-20 crown since Charlottetown native Brett Gallant (second, Team Brad Jacobs) accomplished the feat in 2009 at Salmon Arm, B.C.  

Dalton isn’t ruling that chance out, either. 

“I mean, who knows?” said Dalton. “We’re 1-0 right now, so you never know. We’ll keep going out there, getting better, and that’s the plan.” 

In other opening draw action from the 2025 New Holland Canadian U-20 Curling Championships, Team Nova Scotia #1’s Zachary Atherton (1-0; Chester/Halifax) defeated Team Alberta #1’s Zachary Davies (0-1; Edmonton) 7-3. Team Ontario #1’s Tyler McTavish (1-0; Waterloo) earned an extra-end win over Team Saskatchewan’s Dylan Derksen (0-1; Martensville) while Team Manitoba #2’s Nash Sudgen (1-0; Morden) took an 8-5 win over Team Northern Ontario #2’s Riley Winters (0-1; North Bay). 

As well, Team Manitoba #2’s Jace Freeman (1-0; Virden) bested Team Northern Ontario #1’s Brendan Rajala (0-1; Sudbury) 11-9. Team Newfoundland and Labrador’s Simon Perry (1-0; St. John’s) downed Team British Columbia’s Harrison Hrynew (0-1; New Westminster) 10-9 while Team New Brunswick’s Rajan Dalrymple (1-0; Oromocto) needed an extra to defeat Team Nova Scotia #2’s Calan MacIsaac (0-1; Truro) 8-7 and Team Alberta #2’s Peter Hlushak (1-0; Edmonton/Sherwood Park) vanquished Team Ontario #2’s Noah Garner (0-1; Mississauga) 9-5. 

Action from the 2025 New Holland Canadian U-20 Curling Championships resumes Sunday at 9 p.m., (all times Atlantic). 

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.