Tbaytel Major League of Curling

⏳ RSVP Deadline Tomorrow

A reminder to current teams and invited guests that tomorrow (March 15) is the final day to confirm your attendance for the Major League of Curling 50th Anniversary Banquet.

The celebration will take place Sunday, April 12 at 5:00 PM at the Port Arthur Curling Centre.

Please check your poster or email invitation for sign-up instructions.

If you’ve misplaced the information, feel free to send the page a message and we’ll help you out.

Send-Off Party TODAY! 🎉🥳
Huge congratulations to Brayden and Lily on winning the 2026 NOCA Mixed Doubles Provincial Championship! 🥌🏆

Two of the youngest curlers in the Major League defeated teams across all age groups and will now represent Northern Ontario at the Canadian Mixed Doubles Curling Championship in Surrey, BC (March 21–27).

To celebrate and wish them luck, a Send-Off Party will be held TODAY at 7:30 PM at the Kakabeka Falls Curling Club.

Everyone is welcome — come out and show your support before they head to Nationals! 💚💛

🥌 Major League of Curling 50th Anniversary Banquet Reminder

A reminder to current teams and invited guests that the Major League of Curling will be celebrating its 50th Anniversary with a banquet on Sunday, April 12 at the Port Arthur Curling Centre.

If you plan to attend, please remember to confirm your attendance by March 15 so we can finalize meal planning and seating arrangements.

Please refer to your email invitation or your team poster for sign-up details.

If you’ve misplaced the information, feel free to message the page and we can resend it.

We look forward to celebrating 50 years of Major League curling together!

🏆 MAJOR LEAGUE CHAMPIONS! 🏆

Congratulations to Team Brian Adams Jr. on capturing the milestone 50th season of the Tbaytel Major League of Curling! 🥌🔥

Entering playoffs as the #7 seed, Adams Jr. started every single game without hammer — and still found a way.

⸻

⭐ Quarterfinal – vs #2 Johnston

They opened with a steal of 3, but after surrendering points in four straight ends trailed 5–3 after five.
They answered with 2 in the 6th, then — incredibly — stole 3 again, before running Johnston out of stones to complete the upset.

⸻

⭐ Semifinal – vs #6 Byrd

Adams Jr. stormed out to a 5–1 lead, but Byrd responded with 3 in the 6th to make it tight.
After another deuce from Jr., Byrd scored 3 in the final end to force extras.
With hammer in the extra end, Adams Jr. finished the job and punched their ticket to the final.

⸻

⭐ Final – vs #4 Burgess

Burgess opened with a deuce, but Adams Jr. answered with steals in the 2nd, 4th, and 5th to grab momentum.
Burgess battled back with 2 in the 6th and a blank in the 7th to keep it tense.

Down one coming home — hammer in hand — Adams Jr. had the tie secured.
Needing the four-foot for the championship…

He made no mistake. 🥇

From #7 seed.
No opening hammers.
Multiple momentum swings.
Huge steals.

An unforgettable playoff run.

⸻

This marks another impressive chapter for this foursome:
🏆 Champions in 2022–23
🥈 Runners-up last season
🏆 Champions again in the 50th year

That’s 3 finals appearances and 2 championships in four seasons.
Elite consistency. Incredible resilience.

⸻

🥌 Consolation Bracket

Congratulations as well to Team Mikkelsen, who captured the Consolation title — defeating Belchior (3–1) and Despins (6–2) before a final that quite literally came down to the finest of margins… sometimes in curling, you just have to trust the bounce. 🪙😉

⸻

A massive thank-you to:
• Our incredible sponsors
• Our dedicated volunteers
• The staff at PDR Contracting Place (Port Arthur Curling Centre)
• And all the fans who packed the lounge and supported all season long

You made this 50th year unforgettable.

And while the curling is over… the celebration isn’t.

🎉 50th Anniversary Banquet – April 12 (5–10 PM)
More details coming soon — stay tuned!

Cheers to 50 years. 🧊🔥

🔥 MAJOR LEAGUE PLAYOFFS – TOMORROW! 🥌

The Tbaytel Major League of Curling wraps up its milestone 50th season tomorrow at the Port Arthur Curling Centre — and it all comes down to one day.

🏆 The Top 8 teams will battle it out for the Tbaytel Championship Cup, while the remaining 8 teams compete in a full Consolation Bracket — ensuring every team takes the ice with something meaningful on the line.

This is a true one-day bracket showdown:

⏰ Round 1 – 9:00 AM
⏰ Round 2 – 12:00 PM
⏰ Final Round – 2:30 PM (Championship & Consolation Finals)

⸻

🏆 Championship Bracket Matchups:

#1 Bonot vs #8 Morissette
#4 Burgess vs #5 Hackner
#2 Johnston vs #7 Adams Jr.
#3 Stewart vs #6 Byrd

With Bonot holding the top seed, Stewart riding a 10-game heater earlier this season, and multiple teams peaking at the right time — expect fireworks from the very first stone.

⸻

🥌 Consolation Bracket:

#9 Despins vs #16 Dubinsky
#12 Mikkelsen vs #13 Belchior
#10 Pozihun vs #15 Palmer
#11 Scharf vs #14 Stevens

Plenty of pride, momentum, and bragging rights on the line here as well.

⸻

One day. Two trophies.
The final chapter of a historic 50th season.

If you’ve followed along all year, tomorrow is the payoff.

📍 Port Arthur Curling Centre
📅 February 21
⏰ First stones at 9:00 AM

Come out and be part of it. 🧊🔥

⭐ TEAM SPOTLIGHT: TEAM BONOT ⭐
Presented by: PDR Contracting
Skip - Trevor Bonot
Vice - Mike McCarville
Second - Jordan Potts
Lead - Jamie Childs

Some teams are chasing history. Team Bonot is defending it.

As the final Team Spotlight of the season, it’s fitting that we feature the back-to-back Major League champions — and this year’s top seed heading into the playoffs, looking to defend their titles once again.

The back-to-back Major League champions return this season with a slightly refreshed lineup and the same uncompromising standard that has defined their run at the top. With Jamie Childs joining the team at lead, this group adds experience without disruption — Childs is no newcomer, having previously played alongside Mike McCarville at the 2014 Brier.

🧊 A Résumé That Speaks for Itself

This lineup brings an extraordinary level of championship experience:
• Trevor Bonot - Brier 2024
• Mike McCarville - Brier 2014, 2024
• Jordan Potts - Brier 2024
• Jamie Childs - Brier 2014

Beyond the Brier stage:
• Trevor Bonot - 2017 World Mixed Silver Medalist
• Trevor Bonot & Mike McCarville - 2022 Canadian Mixed Silver Medalists

Across the league’s history, few teams can match their impact. Team Bonot is one of only three teams to ever win Major League titles back-to-back, with McCarville also part of one of the other championship squads. Individually, Mike McCarville leads the league with 7 Major League championships, while Trevor Bonot sits among the all-time leaders for wins as a skip.

😤 Team Identity

Their personality is simple and honest:
“Hungry.”

When asked who their toughest opponent is, the answer was just as telling:
“Ourselves.”

They know what the standard is — and they expect to meet it.

🔥 League-Wide Respect

Before the season began, teams were asked who they thought would win the Major League this year. Team Bonot received multiple votes, a reflection of the respect they’ve earned through results, consistency, and accountability.

Now, as the top seed entering the playoffs, they’ll look to turn that respect into another championship run.

❄️ Why They Curl in Thunder Bay

Their answer says a lot about why champions keep coming back:
“The deadly curling community.”

🏷️ Team Nickname

“Old School.”
No shortcuts. No excuses. Just winning.

📲 Social Media

Facebook:
Instagram:

🏷️ Sponsors

Title Sponsor: PDR Contracting
Supporting Sponsors: Concrete Walls, Frequency Hearing Centre, Power Systems Solutions Ltd., Keating, North Shore Forest Products, Wakefield Oil Change Plus, Sharpgroup 1103458 Ontario Inc., Nortenos Taqueria, National Bank Financial, Montanas, George Saarinen, Lake of the Woods Brewing Company, Goldline, Fountain Tire, Red Pines Carpentry, Tbaytel

⭐ TEAM SPOTLIGHT: TEAM BURGESS ⭐
Presented by: Recreation World RV
Skip - Bryan Burgess
Vice - Gary Weiss
Second - Dale Wiersema
Lead - Aaron Rogalski

This spotlight features a brand-new lineup with a clear purpose, a steady hand, and just enough personality to keep things interesting: Team Burgess.

Now in their first season together, this group describes themselves as “competitive and focused” — and they play exactly that way. No flash, no distractions, just a team that shows up ready to compete every night.

🎯 Season Focus

Team Burgess is set to compete at the NOCA Club Championships, chasing a straightforward goal:
🏆 Win Club Provincials.

They’ll also be taking part in NOCA Seniors, with one small technicality. While the rest of the group is ready to go, Bryan Burgess has to wait one more year before officially joining the Seniors ranks, meaning the team will be skipped by Rosengren for that event — with Bryan contributing from the bench in a coaching role this season.

Hence the nickname:
“Almost Seniors.”
(So close.)

🧊 A Familiar Face in Major League

Beyond the ice, Bryan Burgess is also a driving force behind the scenes as the head of the executive team that helps organize and run the Major League. When he’s not running the league, he’s running the game on the ice - and for the last 24 years, he’s doing both.

🔥 League-Wide Respect

Before the season began, teams were asked who they thought would win the Major League this year. Team Burgess received two votes, a meaningful sign of the respect they command around the league, even as a first-year lineup.

That respect has translated into results, as Team Burgess has earned a spot in this year’s Major League Championship Bracket.

❄️ Why They Curl in Thunder Bay

When asked what they love most about curling in TB, their answer was simple and fitting:
“The people.”

📲 Social Media

None — they’re more likely to be found at the rink than online.

🏷️ Sponsors

Title Sponsor: Recreation World RV
Supporting Sponsors: Pizza Hut, Wintergreen Group Ltd., Quirion Financial Services

⭐ TEAM SPOTLIGHT: TEAM HACKNER ⭐
Presented by: Turnkey
Skip - Al Hackner
Vice - Jonah Dupuis
Second - Rob Sinclair
Lead - Gary Champagne

Some teams are new challengers. Others are benchmarks. Team Hackner has spent decades being the latter.

Now in their fifth season together, this group continues to prove that experience, chemistry, and patience still win games. Their stated goal this season is straightforward:
🏁 Make the Major League playoffs once again.

Given recent history, that feels like familiar territory.

🧊 Sneaky Vets, Indeed

When asked to describe themselves, they went with:
“Sneaky Vets.”
And it fits. This team has made the playoffs several years in a row — only to run into Team Bonot in the semifinals three straight times, a rivalry both teams are well aware of and regularly joke about.

When asked who their toughest opponent has been in the league, Hackner’s answer was simple:
“Bonot.”

🏆 Experience That Still Matters

While this isn’t an Al Hackner history lesson, it’s worth noting just how rare it is to still have him on the ice in the Major League:
• 48 years in the league (out of 50 possible)
• Most Major League championships by a skip (5)
• Most finals appearances (10)
• 9-time Brier competitor
• Two-time World Champion (1982, 1985)

That legacy sets the tone — but this team’s success is far from a one-man story.

🥌 A Deeply Accomplished Lineup
• Gary Champagne sits tied atop the leaderboard for most Major League championships by a lead (4) and is among the league leaders overall.
• Rob Sinclair has 5 Major League championships, placing him alongside Champagne among the most decorated players in league history.
• Jonah Dupuis is also a Major League champion, having won the 2005/06 title — adding another championship pedigree to this lineup.

Experience runs through every position.

🔥 League-Wide Respect

Before the season began, teams were asked who they thought would win the Major League this year. Team Hackner received two votes, a reminder that even now — they’re still taken very seriously.

And once again this season, they’ve backed that up — earning a spot in the Major League Championship Bracket.

❄️ Why They Curl in Thunder Bay

Their favourite part of the local game keeps things simple:
“The sociability of all.”

😄 Team Nickname

“Hack.”
Short, efficient, and effective.

🏷️ Sponsors

Title Sponsor: Turnkey
Supporting Sponsors: Pelletier’s Gas Bar, Seal n Save, Northern Lights Golf

⭐ TEAM SPOTLIGHT: TEAM MIKKELSEN ⭐
Presented by: Jones Insurance
Skip - Ben Mikkelsen
Vice - Greg Doran
Second - Mark Blanchard
Lead - Devin Doran

Some teams build chemistry over time. Team Mikkelsen has made it their identity.

Now in their fifth straight season together, this group is tied as the longest-tenured team in the league without a lineup change — a rare achievement in any competitive environment. Their self-described personality says it all:
“Club curlers.”
Reliable, committed, and always ready to compete.

🎯 Season Focus

Team Mikkelsen is entering the NOCA Club Championships, chasing a clear objective:
🏆 Win Provincials.

They’ll also be competing in the Major League Consolation Bracket on February 21, and they’re a team worth keeping an eye on — especially after coming off a Super Bowl Bonspiel championship last weekend!

🧊 Experience That Grew Up Here

Skip Ben Mikkelsen is the team’s longest-tenured Major League member, now in his 29th season. One of his favourite Major League memories perfectly captures what this league is all about:

At 14 years old, Ben played his first Major League game sparing for Ron Rosengren, then joining the league the following year at just 15 years of age!

From sparing as a teenager, to leading one of the league’s most stable lineups — it’s a full-circle Major League story.

🟡 Team Nickname

Known around the league as:
“The Port Arthur Posse.”

❄️ Why They Curl in Thunder Bay

Longevity, loyalty, and local pride continue to define this group — a true reflection of the Major League’s 50-year tradition.

📲 Follow Their Team

Facebook:

🏷️ Sponsors

Title Sponsor: Jones Insurance
Supporting Sponsors: Heartbeat Hot Sauce, Goldline Curling Supplies

🔥 PLAYOFF MATCHUPS ARE SET! 🥌

Last night’s special makeup game delivered exactly what we expected — high stakes, momentum swings, and a season hanging in the balance.

In the final chapter of the regular season, Team Scharf came out sharp — blanking the first, scoring two, and forcing one to take an early 2–1 lead with hammer after three.

But Team Hackner showed their veteran savvy. Back-to-back steals of two in the 4th and 5th completely flipped the game, putting Hackner up 5–2 and firmly in control.

With their season on the line, Scharf answered with a clutch deuce to keep hopes alive — but Hackner responded again, taking two more in the 7th, and ultimately running Scharf out of stones in the 8th for a 7–4 victory.

The win eliminates Team Scharf from playoff contention and officially locks in the bracket for February 21.

⸻

🏆 CHAMPIONSHIP BRACKET

🥇 #1 Bonot vs #8 Morissette
🥈 #2 Johnston vs #7 Adams Jr.
🥉 #3 Stewart vs #6 Byrd
4️⃣ #4 Burgess vs #5 Hackner

⸻

🥌 CONSOLATION BRACKET

#9 Despins vs #16 Dubinsky
#10 Pozihun vs #15 Palmer
#11 Scharf vs #14 Stevens
#12 Mikkelsen vs #13 Belchior

⸻

📅 Playoffs – February 21
⏰ Round 1 – 9:00 AM
⏰ Round 2 – 12:00 PM
⏰ Round 3 – 2:30 PM

One day. Two brackets. The end of a historic 50th season.

You do not want to miss it. 🧊🔥

🔥 PLAYOFF SPOT ON THE LINE TONIGHT! 🥌

We’ve got a special makeup game tonight at 8:00 PM at the Port Arthur Curling Club, and it carries massive playoff implications to close out the 50th season round robin.

Team Hackner vs. Team Scharf
(Makeup game from October 26 when Team Scharf was competing at the Olympic Pre-Trials.)

🎯 What’s at Stake?

If Team Scharf wins in regulation:
➡️ They claim 7th place
➡️ They face 2nd seed Johnston in Round 1
➡️ Adams Jr. moves to 8th and faces Bonot

If Team Hackner wins — or even forces a shootout:
➡️ Team Morissette retains the 8th and final playoff spot
➡️ Morissette faces Bonot
➡️ Adams Jr. draws Johnston

One game. Multiple playoff scenarios. Everything shifts depending on the result.

This is the final chapter of the regular season — don’t miss the high-stakes action tonight!

📊 Follow live scores: https://www.curlingzone.com/event.php?view=Main&eventid=9300
🌐 Standings & playoff info: https://www.majorleaguecurling.com