Reds, Tigers claim AUS curling titles
Montague, PEI —It took an extra end, but the UNB Reds ended Dalhousie University’s four-year Atlantic University Sport Curling Championship reign after defeating them 6-4 in nine ends Sunday afternoon at the Montague Curling Club.
The Reds earn the program’s first women’s title by beating the Tigers, who came into the championship match winners of all seven games they had played prior.
On the men’s side, the Tigers earned their sixth straight AUS title in an 8-5 win over the Saint Mary’s Huskies. Dalhousie started the weekend with a Draw 1 loss to UNB, but went unbeaten from that point on.
DRAW 10 (Semifinals)
Women’s
UNB vs. Mount Allison (Semifinal 1)
Final Score: 6-4 UNB
The UNB Reds secured a spot in the championship match after defeating Mount Allison Mounties 6-4. The Mounties pulled in front 4-3 after stealing a point in the sixth end. However, the Reds took two in the seventh and stole a point in the eighth to secure their ticket to the final.
DAL vs. SMU (Semifinal 2)
Final Score: 7-1 Dalhousie (6 Ends)
The defending champion Dalhousie Tigers cruised to the championship match after defeating the Saint Mary’s Huskies 7-1. After taking a 2-1 lead through three ends, the Tigers put up a huge three-spot in the fourth end, extending their lead 5 -1. They went onto steal a point in both the fifth and sixth end before the Huskies conceded.
Men’s
SMU vs. UNB (Semifinal 1)
Final Score: 8-3 Saint Mary’s (6 Ends)
The Saint Mary’s Huskies put up crooked numbers in the third and fifth ends to book their ticket to the final. After the Huskies and UNB Reds traded points in the first two ends, Saint Mary’s stormed in front with a three-point third. They would add four more in the fifth to make it 8-2. UNB got a point back in the sixth but conceded afterwards.
DAL vs. St. FX (Semifinal 2)
Final Score: 9-3 Dalhousie (7 Ends)
The Dalhousie Tigers scored six points in the middle ends in a 9-3 win over the St. FX X-Men. The X-Men briefly took a lead after scoring two in the second end, but it was all Dalhousie after that. They responded with two points in the third end and then stole a point in the fourth and three in the fourth to take a commanding 7-2 lead. St. FX conceded two ends later, falling 9-3.
DRAW 11 (Finals)
Women’s
UNB vs. DAL (Championship Game)
Final Score: 6-4 UNB (9 Ends)
The UNB Reds upset the Dalhousie Tigers 5-4 in nine ends to claim the 2024 AUS curling title. The Tigers opened the game with two points in the first end before the Reds responded with one in the second. After Dalhousie extended their lead to two in the fourth end, UNB scored singles in the following three ends to pull in front 4-3. The Tigers sent the game to a ninth end after evening the score in the eighth. With the hammer on their side, the Reds made it count as they scored to two to end Dalhousie’s championship reign.
Women’s Third-place Game
Mount Allison vs. Saint Mary’s
Final Score: 8-7 Mount Allison (10 Ends)
It was a back-and-forth affair between the Mount Allison Mounties and Saint Mary’s Huskies. The two teams traded three-point ends before trading singles in the third and fourth ends. After the Huskies took the lead in the fifth on a single, they stole two more in the sixth to make it 7-4. However, the Mounties countered with a two-point seventh end before stealing another in the eighth to send it to extras. After a scoreless ninth, Mount Allison stole another point in the tenth end to finish the tournament in third place.
Men’s
DAL vs. SMU (Championship Game)
Final Score: 8-5 Dalhousie
The Dalhousie Tigers are AUS champions once more after defeating the Saint Mary’s Huskies 8-5. The two teams traded points in the first three ends where the Tigers led 2-1. After the Huskies countered with two points in the fourth, Dalhousie pulled in front with two in the fifth end. They would steal a point in the sixth to make it 5-3. With the hammer on their side, Saint Mary’s needed a big seventh end and they got it, as they tied the game with two points. But the Tigers prevailed in the end, scoring three in the eighth to claim the AUS banner.
- Recap by Thomas Becker, UPEI Athletics