Canada’s Team Middaugh overcomes travel turmoil to earn opening win at World Seniors

GENEVA, SWITZERLAND — Canada’s Team Sherry Middaugh from Barrie, Ont., touched down in Geneva this week, ready to take on the 2026 World Senior Curling Championships. But their plans hit a snag right from the start — their luggage and curling brooms were nowhere to be found.

Despite this unexpected setback, Team Middaugh refused to let missing gear slow them down. On opening day at Centre Sportif Sous-Moulin’s Curling Club Trois-Chêne Genève, the Canadians cruised to an emphatic 10-1 victory over Team Sheila Mariano of the Philippines, wrapping up the match in six ends.

Skip Sherry Middaugh, third/vice-skip Karri-Lee Grant, second Melissa Foster, lead Jane Hooper Perroud, and coach Wayne Middaugh landed in Geneva on Wednesday, but their journey was far from smooth. After a cancelled flight out of Toronto triggered a cascade of itinerary changes, the team eventually made it to Switzerland via Montreal and Zurich — but their bags and all-important curling brooms were still en route.

Canada’s scheduled Friday morning pre-event practice had to be pushed to the afternoon. Fortunately, their equipment arrived just in time, allowing the team to finally set foot on the ice with their own brooms and belongings in hand.

Unfazed by the travel drama, Team Middaugh jumped out to a commanding start against the Philippines. With hammer in the first end, they put four on the board right away. The Philippines tried to push back by nestling a shot stone near the button behind a centre guard, but a crucial over-curl on a guard attempt gave Canada a golden opportunity to pile on — and they didn’t miss.

“It was nice to get out there and make some shots. We tried some different shots, like trying to say, ‘This might be a shot we might play in another game,’” Middaugh said. “Instead of trying to do what we normally would do, we thought, you know what, just play some shots, get to learn the ice. The ice is amazing. It’s got some good curl, it’s quick, it’s a nice sliding surface too, so the sweepers can feel like they can drag a rock. If it stays like this, it’s just perfect, because this is our ice — we love quick ice with lots of curl.”

The third end nearly saw a curling rarity, as Canada found themselves in position to steal an elusive eight-ender. But the Philippines’ skip, Mariano, rose to the occasion with a clutch pressure draw, limiting the damage to a single stolen point for Canada.

“We felt pressure for them, you just want people to make shots, because you want it to be enjoyable,” Middaugh said. “It’s not fun to be in a lopsided game. Our mindset was just to try to get the most out of the games, especially given the schedule (Canada only has four round-robin games). We want to be out there throwing rocks. We want to make sure that we see how the ice conditions change from the first end up to the sixth or the eighth.”

The Philippines got on the scoreboard in the fifth end, as skip Mariano redirected off her own stone to take out Canada’s shot and sit for one. Canada tried to answer but missed the chase. In the sixth, with hammer in hand, Canada drew to the button for three more, prompting the Philippines to concede.

For the Philippines, this game was a historic milestone — their debut in the senior women’s division. Curling Philipinas joined World Curling in 2023, and while the men’s senior team is now making its third World Seniors appearance, the women’s squad is breaking new ground.

There’s also a personal connection on the ice: Middaugh’s daughter Emily and the Philippines’ second, Cindy McAlister’s daughter Jessica, once curled together as U-18 teammates. Their junior team had even qualified for a Swiss curling tour — the same country their mothers are now competing in — but the event was cancelled by the pandemic. That full-circle moment is not lost on Middaugh.

“The fact that we know each other and that her parents are from the Philippines, so I know the pride that she is feeling wearing that on her back, and similar pride to us,” Middaugh said. “So it’s just amazing coming here, and that’s what we said, we want to embrace on the ice and off the ice, and get to know people, that’s part of it. We worked really, really hard to get here, and we’ve tried and tried and tried, so we are not going to miss any opportunity to enjoy every moment.”

Team Canada returns to the ice Monday at 10 a.m. (all times Eastern) to face Finland’s Team Mari Wickstroem.

Meanwhile, the Canadian senior men’s team, skipped by Bruce Korte of Saskatoon, had Saturday off. Korte, along with third/vice-skip Darrell McKee, second Kory Kohuch, lead Rory Golanowski, and alternate Arlen Hall, will take on Nigeria’s Team TJ Cole on Sunday at 2 a.m. ET.

For the latest scores, draws, and team lists, visit the event’s official scoring website.

Live streaming of games is available on Centre Sportif Sous-Moulin’s Curling Club Trois-Chêne Genève’s YouTube Channel.