Yellowknife, NWT – Saskatchewan’s curlers narrowly beat the Northwest Territories to gold at the Canadian Mixed Championship in North Bay, Ontario.
The NWT team, skipped by Jamie Koe and featuring Kerry Galusha, Robert Borden and Megan Cormier, had been searching for the territory’s first-ever national curling title.
Saskatchewan skip Max Kirkpatrick, however, came away with a 7-4 victory for the province’s 10th victory at the Canadian Mixed.
Saskatchewan had taken an early lead before Koe produced the shot of the championship in the fourth end to tie the contest at 3-3 – only to see his rivals accelerate away once more in the fifth, and seal victory in the seventh.
“Sorry, NWT fans, but we gave ‘er a go and did our best,” Koe tweeted following the final.
“Tough go tonight. But no shame in this, so proud of my team,” added Cormier, tweeting a photo of her silver medal.
Galusha (pictured above), speaking live on Moose FM moments after the defeat, paid tribute to her Saskatchewan rivals and said the NWT quartet had yet to decide if they would try again at the next Canadian Mixed.
This was only the third appearance by a Northwest Territories curling team in a Canadian national final, and the first at senior level.
In 1981, the NWT took the national junior men’s final to 12 ends before losing to Manitoba.
Thirteen years later, Kevin Koe led another NWT junior men’s team to the national gold-medal game, only for a burnt rock to cost them victory.
That 1994 team will be inducted into the Sport North hall of fame on Saturday, November 22, alongside biathlete Robin Clegg and badminton coach Laurell Graf.
Our club is beyond proud of @JKnwt @kkoeyk @RobertBorden @MegCormier – mixed silver medalists! Way to go you guys! Party it up tonight! #yzf
— Yellowknife Curling (@YK_Curling) November 15, 2014
Wowza. I won a silver medal at nationals. #sohappy #proud #northernpride pic.twitter.com/hZOofS3mLV
— Kerry Galusha (@kkoeyk) November 15, 2014
Good effort out there this afternoon, but came away with the #silver medal. Congrats to Team Saskatchewan, and now Team Canada! #2015mixed
— Robert Borden (@RobertBorden) November 15, 2014
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