New Brunswick wins gold for first time in 18 years at 2025 Canadian Mixed Curling Championship

New Brunswick's Team Rene Comeau with the championship trophy. (Submitted: Rene Comeau)

On Nov. 8, a Fredericton team that represented New Brunswick won the 2025 Canadian Mixed Curling Championship in Assinobioa, Sask. 

Based out of the Capital Winter Club, Team Rene Comeau beat Ontario’s Team Sam Mooibreak 6-5, winning gold for the first time since 2007.

“It's surreal. It's something that you dream about and you never really know if you're going to reach that goal,” said team second Alex Robichaud. “It’s an incredible feeling and it's really special and to be doing it with friends— the team that we've done it with is just so great.”

The tight game went down to the wire. It was tied 5-5 until the end, when New Brunswick used their last shot to knock their opponent’s stone slightly out of the centre for the win.

“Alex and I both called the way pretty much as soon as Rene had let go,” said lead Katie Vandenbore. “That was really nice to see, because Jen was able to know and call line appropriately … calling us on to either sweep or not. So that was really nice to see, that we were communicating when the shot was so important.”

Rene Comeau, team skip and STU alumnus, said that the team’s “chemistry” was key to their success.

Alongside Robichaud, they have been on curling teams together since 2020, while Vandenbore and third Jennifer Fenwick have been playing on teams since 2017. 

“We've all known each other for so many years … so we have that familiarity and we just have so much respect for each other … we're all great curlers, great athletes in our own right,” said Comeau. “From the very beginning, we just meshed really well. The dynamic was amazing and we were basically unstoppable.”

Team Comeau celebrating after their winning take-out shot. (Submitted: Rene Comeau)

Because of the Nationals win, the team will earn the right to represent Canada at the upcoming Mixed Doubles World Championship next year. 

The win is a “full-circle moment” for Comeau.

Ten years ago, he was a part of the junior N.B. team that lost in the final, missing the chance to represent Canada.

“You never know when you're going to play in another national final, right? So [I] got the opportunity and was able to seize it this time,” he said. “It’s really a dream come true to be able to wear the maple leaf.”

He said support for the team was “very loud and proud.” 

Before the matches, the team received a few video messages from fans back home and members of the Capital Winter Club.

Fenwick works for a company based out of Regina as well, which is nearly a two-hour drive from Assiniboia.

A group of her Saskatchewanian co-workers made the trip to watch and cheer for N.B. 

“That was really cool, to actually have some fans in the stands in a province that was quite far away,” she said.