Graphic on a blue background with an action shot of a Laurentian women’s curler with the OUA Women’s Curling Championship logo and event details next to the photo.
January 30, 2025

Banner Season: Women’s curling finale kicks off winter championship slate

Burlington, Ont. – It isn’t often that the defending champions play host for the provincial championship, but that is the case for the Laurentian Voyagers this weekend, as they look to secure another Ontario University Athletics (OUA) Women’s Curling Championship at home this weekend. With banner season kicking off at the Idylwylde Golf & Country Club, 16 teams will step onto the ice in Sudbury to show their stuff and ultimately try to come away with the first conference banner of the winter season.

CHAMPIONSHIP DETAILS:

Host: Laurentian Voyageurs
Date: January 31 – February 2, 2025
Venue: Idylwylde Golf & Country Club
Participating Teams (16):  Algoma Thunderbirds, Brock Badgers, Carleton Ravens, Guelph Gryphons, Laurentian Voyageurs, McMaster Marauders, Ontario Tech Ridgebacks, Queen’s Gaels, Toronto Varsity Blues, TMU Bold, Trent Excalibur, Waterloo Warriors, Western Mustangs, Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks, Windsor Lancers, York Lions
Format: Women’s Open Championship
Past Champion: Laurentian Voyageurs

STUDENT-ATHLETES TO WATCH

Daniela Aucoin, York Lions | The Lions skip will make her first OUA banner season appearance this weekend. Before coming to York, Aucoin played at Humber, finding great success with the Hawks, having won gold in 2022 and 2023 at the Ontario Colleges Athletic Association (OCAA) championship.

Emma Artichuk, Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks | Artichuk is set to compete in her fourth OUA Championship, but her first as skip of the Hawks. The Ottawa, Ont. product will look to better Laurier’s fifth-place finish from 2024 and will do so backed by experience as a 2022 U21 Canadian silver medalist.

Stella Armstrong, Toronto Varsity Blues | Competing in her second OUA finale for the Varsity Blues, Armstrong primarily plays third for Toronto. She will be turned to by her teammates to contribute her strong sweeping skills and great knowledge of the game.

Sarah Bailey, Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks | The fifth-year education student joins the Laurier squad this year, but is not new to the varsity scene. With four years of experience competing with the Brock Badgers during her undergrad career under her belt, the veteran curler will be counted on for her extensive OUA experience this weekend.

Lisa Brisson, Algoma Thunderbirds | Brisson truly exemplifies what it means to be a student-athlete, balancing her academics and love for curling flawlessly. The rookie received two major awards in her first year, including the John R. Rhodes Scholarship and the 2024 Fran Todd All Heart Scholarship.

Violet French, Waterloo Warriors | The second-year environmental engineering student enters her second OUA Championship this weekend. After starting last year as an alternate, French then stepped up at the U SPORTS event, throwing lead stones and holding the broom for skip’s stones. Her quiet confidence on the ice and a relationship in the house that’s only getting stronger each game will help her make her mark this weekend.

Lena Haase, Brock Badgers | Heading into her first championship, Haase’s two years of hard work and dedication to the Badgers curling program earned her a starting spot on the varsity team this year. Her positive attitude and support of others makes her the spirit of the team.

Leslie Inglis, Trent Excalibur | A veteran member of Excalibur curling, Inglis has been crucial to the team's quarterfinal showings over the last three years. With eyes on the podium this time around, this impressive curler from Carrying Place, Ont. is hoping to lean on her experience and drive to propel her Peterborough rink past the quarters this year.

Jia Leblanc, Ontario Tech Ridgebacks | Leblanc is the first tri-sport athlete in Ontario Tech history, having competed in hockey and lacrosse in addition to curling. The Cobourg, Ont. product is no newcomer to the OUA championship scene as a result, having already won a silver medal this year at the conference’s lacrosse finale.

Bella Lehtimaki Croisier, Laurentian Voyageurs | Lehtimaki Croisier skipped her team to an OUA gold medal last year and was named a first-team all-Canadian skip the year prior. She will look to back up last year’s performance with another medal in 2025, this time with the chance to do so in front of her home crowd.

Piper Lehtimaki Croisier, Laurentian Voyageurs | The Sudbury, Ont. local will look to capture her second OUA medal in just her third year of competition, after taking home a gold in last year’s OUA Championship. This year’s contest will be a special one for the sports administration student, who will get to compete on home ice in her hometown.

Jade Lew, York Lions | Lew is a newcomer to the sport of curling, stepping on the ice for the first time less than two weeks before the start of the OUA competition. However, this is not her first OUA competition, as Lew is also York’s field hockey goalie and past conference champion. She also has two U SPORTS silver medals to her credit. This past fall, she was awarded the 2024 OUA Gail Wilson Outstanding Contributor Award in field hockey.

Jenny Madden, Carleton Ravens | In her third year with the Ravens, studying Interactive Multimedia and Design at Carleton, Madden is the team skip and will hope to lead her Carleton rink to a strong finish in Sudbury.

Holly Mosco, Windsor Lancers | Mosco is a first-year graduate student enrolled in a Master of Science in biology. This is her fourth time competing with the team at an OUA championship, and second year in the skip position. As the team's recipient of the 2023-24 Most Valuable Player award, she continues to be a strong leader for her fellow Lancers, mentoring three new players on the rink.

Ryenne O'Keefe, Brock Badgers | O’Keefe throws second stones, but takes on the vice role in the house lending her veteran experience to new skip Rhiannon Beckstead. The St. Catharines, Ont. product wants her last year on the team to finish on a high.

Toula Pappas, Trent Excalibur | A rookie of the Trent squad, Pappas is ready to compete at her first OUA event, missing last year's competition due to a conflict with U18 Nationals. With provincial and national experience under her belt, Pappas has her eyes on the prize and has high aspirations for this banner season.

Evelyn Robert, McMaster Marauders | The third-year honours health, society and anthropology student has racked up the accolades in her time at McMaster. Robert won an OUA gold medal in 2023 and was a first team all-star both provincially and nationally. In 2024, she won a silver medal and was named an OUA second team all-star. 

Rachel Steele, McMaster Marauders | The Guelph Gryphons transfer from Port Perry, Ont. brings a wealth of provincial and national experience to the Marauders team from her competitive career.

Justine Toner, Queen’s Gaels | Jumping into her first OUA championship with the Gaels, the first-year nursing student brings some serious provincial accolades to the team. Toner has curled with her sister, Mia, and was crowned the 2025 Northern Ontario U20 Provincial Champion, the 2023 Northern Ontario U18 Provincial Champion, and the 2022 Northern Ontario U18 Provincial Champion.

Mia Toner, Queen’s Gaels | After a fourth-place finish in 2024, Toner looks to build on that experience at the 2025 OUA Championship. She brings a lot of provincial experience to the team, having been the 2025 Northern Ontario U20 Provincial Champion, the 2023 Northern Ontario U18 Provincial Champion, and the 2022 Northern Ontario U18 Provincial Champion.

Jill Uniacke, Guelph Gryphons | The criminology and criminal justice policy master's student brings national experience to the Gryphons squad, having competed at the Canadian Mixed National Championships in November of 2024 as part of Team Ontario.

Shannon Warriner, Waterloo Warriors | The Burlington, Ont. native takes on her fifth OUA championship with the Warriors this year and has been a key part of the team throughout her tenure there. She moved from throwing lead to vice while sweeping skip’s stones, and has made more than a few shots with her strong sweeping. Warriner provides leadership from her years of experience, which includes an OUA silver medal in 2022 and OUA bronze medal in 2024. She is ready for another podium push in her last year curling as a Warrior.

BURNING QUESTIONS

  1. Will the McMaster Marauders re-gain their provincial title after falling short to the Voyageurs last year at the OUA Championship?
  2. Can the Waterloo Warriors upgrade their medal colour from last year’s bronze?
  3. With a strong mix of veteran and rookie players, will the Excalibur finally punch their ticket to the semifinals following quarterfinal defeats over the past three years?
  4. On the heels of a successful exhibition season, can this Windsor Lancers team capitalize on their combination of seasoned veterans and new talent to clinch a playoff spot at the OUA Championship?
  5. With the same back end from last season and quality replacements on the front end, can the Laurentian Voyageurs defend their banner on home ice?

WHAT THEY ARE SAYING

“Our focus this year has been on growth and laying a strong foundation for the future. We view every game and practice as an opportunity to improve, challenge ourselves, and show resilience. Championships are won by teams that believe in the process, and that’s exactly what we’re doing – one stone at a time.” - Steve Acorn, Head Coach, Algoma Thunderbirds

"Second-year player and first-year skip, Rhiannon Beckstead, is eager to take control of the house and the game with the help and leadership of fourth-year veteran Ryenne O'Keefe. They have worked hard at practice, instilling discipline and commitment of perfecting the team’s skills going into the Championship. The team is looking to improve their 2-2 record from last year." - John Sawchuk, Head Coach, Brock Badgers

"I'm excited to compete in my last OUAs with Carleton. Every season has been full of unforgettable memories, and this year we're ready to give it our all while enjoying every moment."- Jenny Madden, Student-Athlete, Carleton Ravens

“We are looking forward to defending our title at this year's OUA Championship. As the host team, it is extra special to be able to compete in our hometown. It's going to be a fantastic event and we can't wait to have our fans and the Laurentian community cheer us on!” - Bella Lehtimaki Croisier, Student-athlete, Laurentian Voyageurs

“We are very excited to compete in the OUA Championship together. We have a mix of returning and new players who are eager to hit the ice as a team. We look forward to the opportunity to bring home another banner for McMaster!” - Anastasia Cornea, Student-Athlete and Women's Curling Co-President, McMaster Marauders

“We are extremely excited to head north and compete at home alongside the support of our friends and family!” – Mia and Justine Toner, Student-Athletes, Queen’s Gaels

“My primary goal for OUA competition is to have fun while giving my absolute best. While aiming for a top-three finish is a key objective, success for me ultimately means enjoying the experience, working hard, and representing the University of Toronto with pride and integrity.” - Stella Armstrong, Student-Athlete, Toronto Varsity Blues

“We are looking forward to this year’s OUAs after a tough season battling injuries. The ladies feel like things are starting to come together at the right time for a good showing in Sudbury. With lots of great teams on the ice, we are eager and ready to go.” - Dillon Muldoon, Head Coach, Trent Excalibur

"We’re all super pumped up heading into OUAs! We’ve been working hard all year both on and off the ice, and can’t wait to give it our all in Sudbury to improve on last year’s strong results. We’re hungry for gold, and with this being my last year, I’m particularly looking forward to making it the best year yet!" – Shannon Warriner, Student-Athlete, Waterloo Warriors

“Our team’s greatest asset is our chemistry and how we work together. Every success we’ve had this season has been a collective effort, and we’re excited to bring that same energy to the OUA Championship. We trust each other, push each other, and we know that no matter what, we’ll face the challenges ahead as a team.” - Emma Artichuk, Student Athlete, Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks

“We are excited to make the journey to Sudbury to compete at the OUA Championship. We are confident that our hard work and preparation will pay off towards a successful weekend. Our positive outlook and team bond will be our greatest strength” – Erin Tester, Assistant Coach, Windsor Lancers