Though the curling is sure to be outstanding, local representation at the upcoming Canadian U21 Mixed Doubles Curling Championship (March 24th to the 27th) and the 2026 New Holland Canadian U20 Curling Championships (March 28 to April 4th) is going to be limited.
Though both sets of finalists were advancing to represent Northern Ontario from the recent NOCA (Northern Ontario Curling Association) U20 Provincials at the Idylwylde Golf & Country Club, it was rinks from North Bay, Thunder Bay, Kakabeka Falls and New Liskeard who would ultimately prevail.
After a one year absence, the Claire Dubinsky foursome from Kakabeka Falls regained the banner they captured in 2024. Team Dubinsky (Rylie Paul; Lily Wright; Bella McCarville) were untouchable last week, posting a 6-0 round robin record and then adding a pair of playoff victories, including an 8-3 triumph over Rhya Baker (Horne Granite CC) in the final.
Curling with her team of Jorja Catt, Sydney Catt and Caleigh Holmes, skip Baker invited local rock-thrower Sophie Perreault to join Team Baker as an alternate at nationals.
Still with a few years ahead of them at this age bracket, the Perreault rink that brings together Vivienne Bolestridge, Gracie Schmidt, Caitlyn Connors, along with the skip, finished the week with a record of 2-4.
Over in the three team men's draw, Riley Winters (NB Granite Club) atoned for a round robin loss to Jacob Curtis (Port Arthur CC) - he also beat Team Curtis once - breaking open a 3-3 affair by scoring two with the hammer in the seventh end and adding a steal of one in the eighth for a 6-3 win.
Breaking through for the first time at the U21 level, the Winters rink (Wesley Decary, Grayson Gribbon, Aidan Baxter) became the first North Bay junior men's team since 1994 to capture the NOCA crown, with Brad Minogue completing his three-peat that year.
Joining the Winters quartet in Sudbury will be Jacob Curtis, Warren Stroud, Owen Weiss and Kain Cristofaro while local skip and two-time defending champion Brendan Rajala and his NCUCC entry fell victim to a pair of one point losses and another setback by just two.
