FREDERICTON, NB - A strong start concluded with a tough finish for the Golden Hawks at the 2024 U SPORTS/Curling Canada University Championships in Fredericton on Saturday.

Having concluded the round-robin portion with a 5-2 record, which was good for second place, Laurier was paired with the Dalhousie Tigers for a semi-final match-up. 

The Golden Hawks defeated the AUS champions 9-2 for their final victory of the round-robin but, thanks to building a four-point lead within the first three ends of Saturday morning's rematch, Dalhousie flipped the script with an 8-3 win. 

Having already won an unprecedented four national titles, the loss stopped the "drive for five" in its tracks - and the chance to represent Canada at the 2025 FISU World University Winter Games in Turin, Italy in January. The eventual winners from the University of Regina earned that opportunity with an 8-5 win over the Tigers in the final.

Looking to come away with at least a podium finish for these championships, Laurier found itself behind the eight-ball again in the bronze medal game against the Alberta Golden Bears. 

The Golden Hawks gave up a five-spot in the first end but, to the team's credit, battled back to tie the game 7-7 with a three-point seventh.

They ultimately fell short once the Golden Bears secured a deuce in the tenth and final end to secure the 9-7 victory.

With sights firmly set on FISU qualification, it was a disappointing end to a season highlighted by a fourth-straight OUA championship and a strong 23-9 record over all competitions.

Not lost on the coaching staff was the solid individual play of lead Ben Pearce, who helped set the team up with a round-robin shooting percentage of 88%, which included four games of 91% and higher.

Laurier's graduating curler also brought his stellar performance into the elimination round, which turned out to be his final games as a Golden Hawk, where he curled 95% in both the semi-final and bronze medal games.

His teammates, Sam Mooibroek and Wyatt Small, also were recognized by U SPORTS as All-Canadians at the conclusion of the tournament. 

Mooibroek, named to the first team, skipped the Laurier rink to the second-highest points total among the university men's teams with 63.

Small was named to the second team after shooting 84% for the competition. 

Looking ahead to the 2024/25 season, the team will remain laregly intact with Pearce and alternate Codie Harris, a fellow fifth-year student-athlete, the only departures from a squad aiming for a fifth consecutive OUA title.