Team Canada’s roster for the FISU World University Games grew by two on Sunday, as Curling Canada’s national qualifier came to a close in Toronto.
Halifax’s Ally MacNutt and Nick Mosher, both students at Dalhousie University, claimed the mixed doubles berth by defeating Nathan Jewell and Kelsea Marcolini (representing the University of Guelph), 7-3, in the final of the 18-team event.
“It feels amazing,” said MacNutt, following the final. “ I am so grateful to be playing with Nick. He’s the best partner.”
“We’ve worked for this all year,” said Mosher. “This is what we’ve been practicing for.”
The qualifier began on Thursday with three six-team pools. Eight teams moved on to quarterfinals on Saturday at the Toronto Cricket Skating and Curling Club. MacNutt and Mosher defeated Sean Beland and Rebecca Watson from the University of New Brunswick. Megan Ford and Daniel Krowchuk were the other semifinalists.
“There were so many good teams here,” said MacNutt. “It was a fight every game.”
“It was a fantastic event,” said Helen Radford, manager of Curling Canada’s NextGen Program and Podium Pathway. “The venue was fantastic, the event ran smoothly, the ice was great, and we crowned some worthy champions.”
“It was an awesome event,” said Mosher. “The ice and the rocks were great all week.”
“It’s such a great facility,” said MacNutt. “The people were all so kind and helpful. It was an amazing experience.”
Both MacNutt and Mosher have worn the Maple Leaf before at the junior level and will now become part of a larger Team Canada at the university-level multi-sport games in Changchun, China in January. Mosher is also part of Curling Canada’s NextGen program.
“It feels incredible to represent Canada again,” said MacNutt. “I’m so grateful for the opportunity, I can’t even explain it.”
“It doesn’t feel real yet,” added Mosher.
The four-player teams for the event were decided at the U SPORTS national championship earlier this year in Regina. The Calgary Dinos skipped by Kenan Wipf will be the men’s entry, and Memorial University Sea-Hawks skipped by Cailey Locke will represent the women.
The FISU World University Games will begin on January 15, 2027 and run for ten days. Canada has 11 medals (including three golds) in the Games which run every other year.
