On Feb. 28, the Wilfrid Laurier University Golden Hawks men’s and women’s curling teams capped off historic seasons, each winning their U SPORTS gold medal matches against Carleton and McMaster, respectively.
The men’s team, led by fourth-year communications studies skip Kibo Mulima, finished the season 16-7. Mulima, a key part of Laurier’s 2023 national championship team, credited their success to striking the right balance between competition and support.
“We pushed each other to get better, but did it constructively,” he said. After losing to Carleton in the OUA final, Laurier got its revenge with a 6-5 win in pool play before defeating them 7-4 in the championship match.
“We had a game plan,” Mulima said. “We kept them at bay, worked our way back to tied with hammer, and made key shots when needed.”
Tied 3-3 after the fourth end, Laurier seized control with a crucial deuce in the fifth. A stolen point in the sixth extended their lead to 6-3, forcing Carleton to chase. “We kept rolling on that momentum and maintained control to the end,” Mulima said.
The teams traded single points in the final ends, but Laurier’s defensive play sealed the win, marking their third national title in four years. The women’s team, led by fifth-year communications studies skip Emma Artichuk, finished with an impressive 25-4 record.
“Laurier has become the school for top curlers,” Artichuk said. “It’s well-funded and has strong coaching, which made this season’s success important.” The team won both the Toronto Intercollegiate Bonspiel and the McMaster Invitational, but fell short in the OUA final as they lost 5-3 to McMaster.
“We had a big lineup change mid-year due to scheduling conflicts,” Artichuk said. “That was a setback, but we adapted.”
Head coach John Gabel praised the team’s resilience. “We set clear goals, held each other accountable, and the athletes fully bought in,” he said. Laurier got its chance at redemption against McMaster in the U SPORTS gold medal game.
“We knew it would be tough, but we trusted our skills and past experiences,” said Scotia Maltman, a third-year education major.
Laurier jumped ahead in the second end before McMaster tied it 2-2 in the third. The Hawks regained control with single points in the fourth and fifth, but McMaster responded with a crucial two in the sixth to tie it once more.
“With the time change, long games, and a tough week, we were exhausted, but the adrenaline kept us going,” Maltman said. “Especially on Emma’s last shot, we were locked in.” With the game on the line, Artichuk delivered the winning shot in the final end.
“I was nervous, but we knew it was our best chance. There’s no better feeling than making the shot to win it all,” she said. Coach Gabel wasn’t surprised. “Emma holds herself to a high standard, and that passion spreads to her teammates,” he said.
Laurier’s sweep marked the first double gold in U SPORTS curling history. “We were all crying and cheering,” Maltman said. “And when the guys won, we swarmed together as a big group.”
“A lot of teams never get this opportunity,” Mulima added. “Winning both championships, 10 feet apart — it was incredible.”
Contributed Photo/Tim Harrison
