SUDBURY, Ont. - Laurier's quest of capturing an unprecedented fourth U SPORTS men's curling title will continue into Sunday, as the team secured a semi-final birth at the 2023 U SPORTS/Curling Canada University Championship with an 11-8 win over the Calgary Dinos. 

Having improved to 5-1 through six of seven pool games, the Golden Hawks were guaranteed at least a spot in the final four before their final game scheduled against the AUS conference champions from Dalhousie.

With both teams carrying identical records, a win would secure a semi-final match-up against the lowest remaining seed among the top four. 

In a rematch of the 2020 national final, which the Golden Hawks won, this year's group replicated the same result - although it took an unlikely scenario late in the game.

With two ends remaining and the Tigers in control leading 6-4, a few uncharacteristic mishits led to an opportunity for Laurier's skip Sam Mooibroek to draw for five. He made no mistake in giving the Golden Hawks a 9-6 lead. 
 

?? MCURL - A draw for ??? and the LEAD??

Golden Hawks lead @DalTigers 9-6 heading into ten.#USPORTScurling2023 pic.twitter.com/dGye85ISVk

— Laurier Golden Hawks (@WLUAthletics) March 18, 2023

Dalhousie would end up conceding in the 10th end, handing Laurier its sixth win and the #1-seed heading into the elimination weekend.

They will now face the Queen's Gaels at 9:30 AM on Sunday, with a match-up against either Dalhousie or Laurentian on the line. The Owen Purdy-led rink, having lost to Laurier on Friday afternoon, reeled off three straight wins against SMU, UNB, and Albert to finish 4-3. 

As Laurier went on to piece together a four-game winning streak of its own, second Wyatt Small was optimistic after Saturday morning's victory that it was a sign of big things yet to come.

"Hopefully we have a couple more good games, make some shots, and keep on track," Small said. 

If Laurier were to go on and win the program's fourth U SPORTS/Curling Canada University Championship, it would be the most of any school in the country sicne the event was officially sanctioned by the CIS - the precursor to U SPORTS - prior to the 2005/2006 season.

Laurier would also become the first to win in back-to-back seasons, having been victorious at the last event in 2019/20 - before the student-athletes face two years of cancellations due to the COVID pandemic and associated restrictions.

As of late Saturday night, no decision had been publicly announced by Curling Canada if the draw would be live streamed on its subscription-based platform Curling Canada +. Be sure to check back at our website for potential viewing links or visit our social media channels @WLUAthletics on Instagram and Twitter for all the latest game information and updates.