The Montana’s Brier wrapped up Sunday, and while Ontario didn’t make the playoffs, a local team has made its mark on the national stage. Team Ontario is represented by Sam Mooibroek, and his team from the Whitby Curling Club.
Mooibroek and his squad finished the round robin with a disappointing 7-3 loss. As a result, they ended the Brier with a 4-4 record, just shy of a playoff berth. While this is a disappointing result, the team has a strong future ahead. Skipped by a rookie with a university championship under his belt from Laurier, the squad has now found success at every level.
Many curlers and fans around the Durham Region have been showing their support for team Mooibroek, including Karen Bemister. Bemister works as the manager of the Whitby Curling Club, and said there’s been an increase in interest and support for the club throughout the tournament.
“It’s amazing, the unbelievable amount of pride beaming from our club has been spectacular,” Bemister said. “Everybody is just making sure that the boys in Kelowna know how much Whitby is supporting them.”
According to Bemister, the team representing Ontario at this year’s Brier had formerly played in the Whitby Curling Club’s men’s competitive league. However, as they prepared for the tournament, their focus shifted to higher-level competitive events.
Curling is a small sport, and depends heavily on a sense of community. Players around the Durham Region have begun to also show support for fellow competitors on Canada’s biggest curling stage. Among these supporters is Lillianne Wrigley, a curler on Ontario Tech’s women’s curling team.
“That competitive group is so small in Durham, with me being a part of it as well … it makes it more special, there’s a lot of pride going into this,” Wrigley said.
Though Team Ontario didn’t secure a playoff spot, they’ve strengthened local pride and brought increased attention to curling in the Durham Region.