Regina Cougars fall short at Canada West curling championships

University of Regina Cougars second Tesa Silversides throws a rock during the 2026 Canada West conference championships in Edmonton, Alta. (Source: Regina Cougars curling)

The defending men’s and women’s Canada West conference curling champions are no more after the Regina Cougars were dethroned Sunday in Edmonton, Alta.

Both University of Regina (U of R) teams made the tournament’s semifinals after finishing 7-1 and 6-1, respectively, through the round robin.

The women, led by third-year skip Chloe Johnston, defeated British Columbia-Okanagan to move on to the conference championship.

In the final, the Cougars would fall 6-2 to the University of Alberta’s (U of A) Gracelyn Richards, earning Regina a silver medal.

The women’s championship is the U of A’s second conference title in three years. Regina has won two Canada West titles (2022 & 2025) since the conference returned post-pandemic.

As the host for the U Sports championships, Regina was already guaranteed its spot at next month’s national tournament. The Cougars have not won a women’s U Sports title since 2010.

Johnston is joined by third Lauren Speidel, second Tesa Silversides, lead Hannah Rugg and alternate Makena Bailey.

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The championship also punched the Pandas’ ticket to February’s nationals. The University of Calgary (U of C) Dinos claimed bronze to also earn a trip to nationals.

Alberta has won six of the last nine national championships – including three in a row in 2019, 2023 and 2024.

The men, led by skip Carter Williamson also lost to the U of A Sunday, albeit in the semifinals.

Needing to score a single point to tie in the final end, the Cougars gave up a steal of one to lose 5-3.

Alberta went on to lose to Calgary in the men’s final, earning both teams a berth at nationals.

Team Williamson includes third Rhett Whittmire, second Andrew Moulding, lead Evan Arnold and alternate Nathan Weiss.

The Cougars are two-time men’s national champions with wins in 2009 and 2024. The 2024 U Sports championship also earned the U of R the ability to represent Canada at the FISU Winter Games, where they finished fourth.

The 2026 U SPORTS Curling Championships and 2026 Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association Curling Championships will run from Feb. 17–21 at the Callie Curling Club.