Team British Columbia #2 is eliminated from the 2025 Canadian Wheelchair Curling Championship after an outstanding first showing

Team British Columbia #2’s Marney Smithies (3-3; Delta) took the 2025 Canadian Wheelchair Curling Championship by storm this week in Boucherville, Que. in the team’s very first national championship. Although their playoff run ended early in a 13-0 loss at the hands of Newfoundland and Labrador’s Dennis Thiessen (4-2; St. John’s), they certainly made a name for themselves on the national stage, winning their first three games of the tournament.

It’s no secret that the Canadian championship celebrates the long-term dedication of many of the athletes who have competed at this event since its early years, but all eyes were on Smithies when she took down the two-time defending champions, Team Saskatchewan #1’s Gilbert Dash (3-3; Moose Jaw), in her first game on Tuesday morning.

Smithies is joined on the ice by lead Lelainia Lloyd, second Kim Egger, vice-skip Rob Spencer, and coach Martin Matsutani, and while she is no stranger to this event, she led a team of newer curlers to an impressive feat.

“The highlight of the week was winning so many games and making it into the quarterfinals,” said Smithies. “We were totally surprised, but we’ve been taking training very seriously and putting in a lot of hard work, and it showed on the ice. I’m just really proud of everybody.”

However, Thiessen’s squad halted their playoff momentum in the quarterfinal Friday afternoon in an expertly played game. The Newfoundland team came out of the gates firing on Friday afternoon, already putting up seven points by the fourth-end break.

There was hope for a repeat of the outstanding seven-point comeback Team Québec #2’s Luc Hamel (4-2; Quebec City) got a taste of on Thursday night, when the British Columbians climbed out of a 9-0 deficit in the third end to a respectable 10-8 finish, but Newfoundland kept up the pressure and put up another three in the fifth and sixth ends.

The Newfoundland takeout game was impenetrable, with a full team of experienced players to support Thiessen: vice-skip Felix Green, second Karl Allen, and lead Cecilia Carroll.

“I really hope our team sticks together; we have amazing coaches and a great group,” said Smithies. “We all have learned a lot, so I hope that we stick together and continue to show up at these events.”

Although their final game did not end up in their favour, Smithies’ team can fly home with their heads held high after what they accomplished as a first-time team.

Speaking of the event’s first-timers, six-time Paralympian Billy Bridges, Canadian sledge hockey gold medallist, took to the ice this week for Team Ontario’s Shauna Petrie (1-4; Toronto). Bridges was, as expected, right at home on the ice and made several great calls for the Ontarians.

Bridges and the Ontario squad play their last game of the tournament Saturday morning against Team Nova Scotia’s Laughie Rutt (1-4; Lower Sackville).

Team Newfoundland and Labrador will head to the semifinal round against Team Québec’s Carl Marquis (5-1; Magog). The other semifinal will be between Team Northern Ontario’s Douglas Dean (4-2; Thunder Bay) and Team British Columbia #1’s Rick Robinson (4-2), also looking for a chance to play in the gold medal game at 3 p.m. ET.

For live scores, team lineups, and schedule information, click here.

Tickets to the 2025 Canadian Wheelchair Curling Championship are free of charge. For directions to the venue, click here.