Carman’s Shaela Hayward became the first curler in Manitoba history to win three provincial championships in one season after capturing the 2024 Manitoba Mixed Curling Championships on Sunday evening at the Neepawa Curling Club.
Hayward, who was playing third for Ryan Wiebe, along with Ty Dilello and Jennifer Clark-Rouire out of the Fort Rouge Curling Club, stole the winning point in the eighth end to win 4-3 over Carberry’s Braden Calvert (Kelsey Rocque, Trevor Calvert, Alyssa Calvert) in the provincial final.
Team Wiebe went 6-2 at the provincials to win the championships, including a three-win day on Sunday by defeating Arden’s Kevin Paramor, Deer Lodge’s Sean Grassie and Calvert.
Hayward made this journalist and the rest of her teammates look very good all weekend long with her strong play on the ice.
“She’s the real deal,” said Wiebe. “We were very excited that Shaela joined our team, and everything worked out perfectly. It’s an amazing accomplishment winning this provincial together.”
In addition to Sunday’s mixed provincials victory, Hayward has also won this year’s Manitoba U18 and U21 Provincials to make it a Manitoba all-time record of three provincial championships in one year. It’s a major accomplishment for the 17-year-old who is still wrapping up her Grade 12 year at Carman Collegiate.
“I really can’t believe it,” said Shaela Hayward. “This was the most nerve-wracking win of them all I think as it was really back and forth all game. It’s going to be very exciting to be heading to another national championship. I can’t wait.”
Team Wiebe will now be headed to the 2024 Canadian Mixed Curling Championship to be played Nov. 3-9 at the St. Catherines Golf and Country Club in St. Catherines, Ontario.
In the meantime, Hayward and her junior team with Keira Krahn, India Young and Rylie Cox are now off to Fort McMurray, Alberta, this weekend for the Canadian U21 Junior Curling Championships, which runs from March 24 to 31.
