2025 Brier Curling Championship Recap: Young Skips Shine in Early Rounds
Image credits: Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press
The 2025 Brier curling championship has begun, and the early rounds have seen a mix of experienced teams and young skips making their mark on the competition. Ontario's Sam Mooibroek, a 25-year-old skip, made a strong debut, scoring five points in the second end en route to an 11-4 rout of Quebec's Jean-Michel Menard. Mooibroek's performance was impressive, especially considering the pressure of playing on the Brier stage. He was joined by other young skips, including Rylan Kleiter of Saskatchewan and Owen Purcell of Nova Scotia, who also won their opening games.
The young skips have been making a name for themselves in the curling world, and their performances at the Brier have been no exception. Purcell, who flashed a stone in the fourth end, rebounded with a runback for three in the fifth against Kleiter, ultimately winning 7-2. The three young skips, all in their mid-20s, came up together at the junior level and now lead a new generation of Canadian curling talent. According to Ontario coach Jake Higgs, "We desperately need these teams... Old guys like me and just slightly younger than me, they're going to be gone (from the sport soon). We need this new influx of talent … I expect big things out of all those teams this week."
In other games, Saskatchewan's Mike McEwen opened with a 6-4 win over Prince Edward Island's Tyler Smith, and Alberta's Brad Jacobs defeated Yukon's Thomas Scoffin 10-3. The evening draw saw Canada's Brad Gushue defeat British Columbia's Cameron de Jong 5-3, and Manitoba's Reid Carruthers dump Newfoundland and Labrador's Ty Dilello 14-2. The round-robin play continues through Thursday, with the final set for March 9. The competition is heating up, with teams looking to make a strong impression and secure a spot in the playoffs. The strategy and skill of the teams will be put to the test as the tournament progresses.
The list of match scores from the early rounds includes:
- Ontario's Sam Mooibroek defeated Quebec's Jean-Michel Menard 11-4
- Nova Scotia's Owen Purcell defeated Saskatchewan's Rylan Kleiter 7-2
- Saskatchewan's Mike McEwen defeated Prince Edward Island's Tyler Smith 6-4
- Alberta's Brad Jacobs defeated Yukon's Thomas Scoffin 10-3
- Canada's Brad Gushue defeated British Columbia's Cameron de Jong 5-3
- Manitoba's Reid Carruthers defeated Newfoundland and Labrador's Ty Dilello 14-2
- Round-robin play continues through Thursday
- Final set for March 9
The 2025 Brier curling championship is shaping up to be an exciting tournament, with a mix of experienced teams and young skips vying for the top spot. As the round-robin play continues, teams will be looking to make a strong impression and secure a spot in the playoffs. The competition is heating up, and the young skips are ready to take on the challenge. The tournament will be a test of endurance and skill, and the teams will need to be at the top of their game to succeed.
brier curl skip young rylan kleiter mooibroek purcell championship owen
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