A great deal of time is spent with brooms and stones.

Two rinks. They are proficient and accomplished curling teams on a mission – to be the best in the country.

Both are also Ontario champions, who are striving to reach that final level of accomplishment. To do that, the combination of lots of talent, explosive moves, preparation, miracle shots, great communication and, yes, even a bit of luck needs to happen. All of that, at just the right time.

While it’s that time of the year when celebrations occur for many reasons, Ontario’s curlers are again zeroing in on the winner’s podium. The centre of attention for five women and five men is to claim back-to-back elite curling events in the country. It’s one of those rare opportunities that hasn’t happened for Ontario in more than three decades.

In 2025, Team Inglis and Team Mooibroek are focussed, confident and determined to end the drought and shift the hype to two of the biggest events in their careers. 

Danielle Inglis, originally from Kleinburg, will skip her rink to the Scotties Tournaments of Hearts set for February 14-23 at the Fort Williams Gardens in Thunder Bay. Two weeks later, Sam Mooibroek leads his team to the men’s finale and the Montana’s Brier at Prospera Place in Kelowna, B.C.

Reaching a championship is not easy. To get there, Team Inglis and Team Mooibroek had to win bonspiels and then the playdowns.

Over the years, Canada has had curling success, winning at least one medal at each of the Olympic Winter Games since 1998. Twelve total medals and six golds are the most won by any country in the sport. Yet, it’s a long way to the international stage.

While Inglis and Mooibroek, like most athletes, are hoping for major prizes in their respective curling careers. the goal is straightforward – play for today and plan for tomorrow.

The last time Ontario rinks won the Canadian men’s and women’s championships in the same year, dates back to1990. Ed Werenich skipped the men to the then called Labatt Brier in Sault Ste Marie. On the women’s side, Alison Goring led her rink to the Scott Tournament of Hearts in Ottawa.

Mooibroek, while still on a jubilant and emotional high after a huge win over Scott Howard for the Ontario Tankard Trophy won recently at the Cobourg Community Centre, knows performance, precision and audacity are factors to success.

“Curling is a lifetime sport that is open to people of all ages,” said the 25-year-old Mooibroek, whose initiation to the sport occurred as a two-year-old tagging along with his father to the rink. 

“Over the years, I have learned a great deal. Most important, is teamwork – we want to do well and don’t like losing. That means communicating with each other, staying focussed and taking advantage of opportunities.”

Mooibroek said that winning the Tankard award was something he’ll never forget. He linked it to the time he was the skip for his hometown Wilfrid Laurier University rink that won three consecutive Ontario University Athletics (OUA) gold medals followed by the big one – the Canadian university championship in 2023.

“Great years at Laurier – but hoisting the (Ontario) trophy in Cobourg was a special celebration,” he said. “We also saw ourselves as role models. One of the coolest parts came after the championship. We were handing out extra jerseys to young kids after the win – and signing autographs with them. 

“There was cause for celebrating, but also a responsibility to push (curling) more, and wherever possible, to market the sport every way we can and create awareness that also leads to sponsorships.”

Mooibroek’s rink consists of Nathan Steele as the lead, Scott Mitchell as second. Third is Ryan Wiebe, who is new to the group this year. Gavin Lydiate is the alternate. Mooibroek and Wiebe are particularly enjoying the spotlight as both, admittingly, had very little success as junior curlers.

“Curling has its highs and lows – we have to stick to the highs, try stay relaxed and each do our roles,” said Wiebe, who lives in Winnipeg, is a 24-year-old University of Manitoba student and is allowed to compete for Ontario as rules for the Brier allow teams to have one import player. “I was humbled to be included (with the Ontario rink). 

“The guys lost last year – and we have had to work very hard together this year. When you don’t win, it’s not a great feeling. For us, re-living the (Ontario) victory (in Cobourg), being super excited, shaking hands, then dropping our brooms and the hugs that followed. That was a very special time for me.”

Wiebe is trying not to look ahead but, like everyone, he has career and personal goals. Also, ambition has no limits.

“One day, I’d like to wear the Maple Leaf,” said Wiebe, thinking of what it would be like to curl and compete at the World championships or Olympic Games. “It’s the pinnacle of an athlete’s career. You dream about these things as a kid. Curlers peak later in their career. For now, the goal is the (Montana’s) Brier.”

While the Ontario men’s team is hoping to bounce back from last year’s crushing loss, the women are defending provincial champs. 

Inglis, who also graduated from Wilfrid Laurier and attended when the sport was in danger of being cancelled, owns an impressive record during her university curling days. She was on the Golden Hawks 2008 and 2009 Canadian gold medal championship-winning teams and won a bronze in another year. Add to that an OUA title.

For Inglis, there was also a special moment. It came while competing on the international circuit. Inglis was a member of the Canadian rink that earned a silver medal, losing out to China, at the World University Games in 2009.

With the Scotties Tournament of Hearts being the next major hurdle, Inglis heads up a team that includes Cassandra de Groot as lead, Calissa Daly as second and Kira Brunton as third. Kimberly Tuck is the alternate. 

deGroot is the player who delivers the first two stones while Daly takes on the challenges of the third and fourth. Brunton follows with the fifth and sixth stones and Inglis plays the last two stones.

For Team Inglis, her rink needs to communicate effectively with each other. It’s not something new as they have effectively achieved it throughout the season allowing them to reach the national showcase. Strong skills, mental strength, concentration, and a sound strategy have been evident throughout the journey. 

“We know what we’re capable of doing and there could be added pressure, but we are familiar with the pressure of playing in a Scotties,” said Inglis, who lives in Whitby and has been curling for an impressive 30 years. “I have always been fired up as a competitor. For me, I thrive under pressure.”

“A strong result at the Scotties goes a long way towards our team’s ultimate goal of qualifying for the Canadian Trials later this year in Halifax.” 

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About David Grossman

David Grossman is a veteran multi award-winning Journalist and Broadcaster with some of Canada’s major media, including the Toronto Star and SPORTSNET 590 THE FAN, and a Public Relations professional for 50+ years in Canadian sports and Government relations.