Canadian teams maintain unbeaten pace at 2025 World Senior Championships

Midway through the 2025 World Senior Championships, Canada’s teams are right where they want to be in the standings — at the top.

Both teams won their Tuesday assignments at at Willie O’Ree Place in Fredericton, N.B. to remain undefeated and in solid position to lock down playoff berths in the next day or two in the attempt to defend the world titles won by Canada a year ago in Oestersund, Sweden.

In men’s play, Regina’s Team Randy Bryden sailed to an 11-2 triumph over Team Andrew Tanner of Wales (1-3).

Bryden, whose team is rounded out by vice-skip Troy Robinson, second Russ Bryden, lead Chris Semenchuck and alternate Glen Hill, stole four in the first end and never looked back en route to improving to 4-0.

And while the team that is making its international debut is constantly aware of the weight of the Maple Leaf on their collective back, they’re getting more comfortable with the circumstances as the week goes on.

“I mean, you feel so proud to have it (Canadian uniform) but, yeah, it does weigh on you a little bit,” admitted Semenchuck. “But the ice is fantastic; every sheet’s been pretty close to the same, so we’re starting to get used to it and feel good with it. I think we’re getting better and better each game, which is the way you want to go. So that’s good.”

Canada is back in action Wednesday at 11 a.m. (all times Eastern) against Ireland’s Team Bill Gray (1-3) with a chance to lock up first place in its pool and a first-round bye in the playoffs with a victory, and Semenchuck said the excitement level is getting higher as the week goes on.

“I mean, we don’t want to look too far ahead; you try to look game to game,” he said. “But, yeah, for sure, you start to think about it a little bit. You can’t help but think about it a little bit. The excitement’s building every game, for sure.”

There are 31 men’s teams competing in Fredericton, split into five pools — one with seven teams and four with six. Following the round robins in each group, the top two teams in each group plus the two third-place teams with the best Last-Shot Draw totals will reach the playoffs.

The four pool winners with the best Last-Shot Draw totals will get byes to the quarterfinals, while other eight teams will start in the playoff qualification round.

Meanwhile, Atina Ford Johnston’s Canadian women’s team ran its record to 3-0 Tuesday night and locked up a playoff spot with a 17-1 win over the Czech Republic’s Team Hana Cechova (0-3).

Ford Johnston, backed up by vice-skip Shannon Morris, second Sheri Pickering, lead Cori Morris and alternate/coach Lesley McEwan set the tone early by scoring four in the first end, and added steals of four more in the second and three in the third.

The Czechs hit the scoreboard with one in the fourth, but Canada scored another four in the fifth and then nailed down the victory with a stolen deuce in the sixth.

While the shotmaking has been superb for Team Canada, there’s another key element that has led to the success, suggested Shannon Morris.

“Communication,” she said. “We make sure we talk a lot, stay focused, have an end goal. We talk about our goals, we stick together as a team and we support each other. You still have to throw the rocks but we help each other, we support each other and I think that’s the key for us.”

The Canadian team represents clubs in Okotoks, Calgary and Sherwood Park, Alta.

While the playoff berth is secured, the Canadians will look to improve their playoff seeding with a win in their next assignment Wednesday at 11 a.m. against Team Joanna Olszewski of New Zealand (0-3).

“It’s definitely our goal, but we’re not looking that far ahead,” said Morris. “Each game we want to get better; that’s our goal so we’re not looking past that. It’s just the game at hand.”

Sixteen women’s teams are competing in Fredericton, split into three groups — two of five teams each and one of six. After the five-game round robins (the two five-team groups play a single round-robin crossover game to fill out the schedule) are complete, the top two teams from each group will advance to the quarterfinals, along with the two third-place teams with the best Last-Shot Draw totals.

There is no streaming coverage planned for the World Senior Championships. For the latest scores, draw and list of teams, CLICK HERE.

The French version of this story will be posted as soon as possible at www.curling.ca/?lang=fr.