SUDBURY, Ont. - They say that good things come in pairs, but when it comes to the Laurier Golden Hawks men's curling team that adage is definitely an understatement.

Not only did the rink of lead Ben Pearce, second Wyatt Small, third Kibo Mulima, skip Sam Mooibroek, and alternate Codie Harris make the program back-to-back national champions, but it also doubled their overall tally to an unprecedented four men's U SPORTS/Curling Canada University Championship gold medals, breaking a tie with the University of Alberta. 

In a rematch of the 2020 final, which was the last time this bonspiel was held before the COVID-19 pandemic led to the cancellation of the 2021 and 2022 editions, Laurier once again defeated the Dalhousie Tigers, this time by a 9-7 score. 

Leading from start to finish in this one, Laurier was enjoying an 8-4 lead in the eighth end before disaster nearly struck. Fortunately, a hit-and-stick attempt for four by the Tigers instead saw the shooter roll out by inches and limit them to three.

With an 8-7 lead and the hammer going into the tenth, Laurier once again showed cool resolve by playing a clean end and scoring a single to wrap up the win. 

Amidst the celebrations, Mooibroek described how the win was a culmination of "a years worth of work since August."

"The guys were able to play ridiculously well today and everybody did so well. We overcame a lot. It's a really great day," he said.

Head coach Matt Wilkinson conveyed after the championship draw just how much "the boys deserved it".

"They were able to come together in a big way this week. Words can't describe it right now," he said, visibly emotional after hugging assistant coach John Gabel. "This is amazing but there's more to come. We'll relish this one and then start working on next year in a little bit."

It was a grueling week for the team who, despite playing a total of nine draws over five days, pieced together a 6-1 record in pool play before winning a dramatic semi-final match-up against the Queen's Gaels and the title-clinching game against Dalhousie.

In the aforementioned penultimate draw, the Golden Hawks were comfortably in front 8-3 with two ends to go. But disaster struck when the Gaels recorded a rare six-point end with hammer to take a 9-8 lead.

Scoring once more in the ninth to double their lead, Laurier headed into the final end needing at least two points to force an extra end.

With Queen's holding shot rock, the Golden Hawks faced a hit-and-stick attempt for four points and the win with its final throw. Calm under pressure, Mooibroek converted the shot perfectly to complete the dramatic comeback.

In the final, Laurier jumped out to a 7-2 lead after six ends but the Tigers chipped away at that lead, scoring five of the six points recorded by both teams over the next three ends. With the purple and gold clinging to a one-point lead and the hammer, they proved once again an impressive coolness under pressure to score one and secure the victory. 

After the presentation of gold medals and championship trophy to the team, three Golden Hawks received individual recognition from U SPORTS and Curling Canada.

Mooibroek (first-team, skip) and Small (second-team, second) were named All-Canadians while Mulima was recognized with the Sportsmanship Award.
 

As this year's U SPORTS title holders, the team has also received a berth at the 2023 PointsBet Invitational from September 26-October 1 at the Sixteen Mile Sports Complex in Oakville, Ont. and an opportunity to chase a prize purse over $350,000 in a sudden-death single-knockout format.