Young curling stars earn spot at nationals
Team Sugden is gearing up for an incredible opportunity as they prepare to compete at the 2025 New Holland Canadian U20 Curling Championships in Summerside, Prince Edward Island. The young curling team secured their spot after a strong second-place finish at the Provincial U20 Championship, proving they can compete with the best in Manitoba despite being one of the youngest teams in the competition.
A hard-fought path to nationals
Led by skip Nash Sugden, the team includes third Tyler Fehr, second Tanner Treichel, and lead Ryan Thiessen. The team battled through a competitive field at provincials, finishing with a 4-2 record in the round robin before winning a crucial semifinal matchup against Zach Norris of Morris. In the finals, they faced off against Jace Freeman’s team from Virden, ultimately falling short but still securing one of the two provincial spots at nationals.
Reflecting on their journey, Fehr shared, “We were probably the youngest team at provincials, but we worked our way up and came out second. It was a tough field, and making it to the finals shows how much we’ve improved.”
Playing in the U20 category has been a challenge for Team Sugden, as most of their competitors are older and more experienced. “The biggest difference is that there are fewer misses,” said Fehr. “You can’t just put a rock in the house and expect an easy mistake. These guys make their shots, so you have to play at your best every game.”
Excited to compete on the national stage
For some team members, this will be their first time traveling to the East Coast. “I’ve been to the East Coast before, but never for curling,” said Sugden. For others, like Treichel and Thiessen, this will be a brand-new experience.
The team is feeling confident heading into nationals. “We’re fully dialed in and ready to compete,” said Fehr. With their previous experience at U18 nationals, they know what to expect. “We’ve been to two nationals before, and that experience will help us stay sharp,” added Treichel.
A coach who makes a difference
Much of Team Sugden’s success can be attributed to their coach, Gord Titchkosky, who has played a pivotal role in their development. Titchkosky, a two-time Coach of the Year recipient, has been instrumental in refining the team’s strategy and technique.
“The team has worked incredibly hard over the last few years, and I couldn’t be more proud,” said Titchkosky. “They got a taste of nationals last year and really wanted to go back, so they put in the work to make it happen.”
The players have immense respect for their coach, comparing him to the legendary Doc Hudson from Cars. “He’s that older role model who coaches us through everything,” said Fehr. “He’s always been there for us, guiding us, and making us better players and better people.”
Community support and how to follow along
Team Sugden is grateful for the support they’ve received from their community. “We want to thank all our sponsors and everyone who has helped us through fundraising. We couldn’t do this without them,” said Treichel.
For those wanting to follow Team Sugden’s journey, several of their games will be streamed on Curling Canada’s YouTube channel.
The 2025 New Holland Canadian U20 Curling Championships take place from March 23-30 in Summerside, PEI. Team Sugden will represent Manitoba with pride, and their local supporters will be cheering them on from home.
Stay tuned for updates as this talented young team takes on the nation’s best in pursuit of curling glory!