CURL: Alberta Pandas, Calgary Dinos capture Canada West Curling banners

Recap provided by University of Alberta Athletics

Jan. 19, 2026 – History was made on Sunday at Saville Centre, as the Alberta Pandas continued their dynasty over Canada West women’s curling, while the Calgary Dinos men captured their first conference banner in 62 years.

The CW title for the Pandas is their fourth in seven years, with the hosts going a perfect 9-0 across four days to maintain their grasp atop the conference hierarchy. After falling in the conference final a year ago, the Dinos rebounded with one more win in 2026, rolling through the men’s side to earn their first title since curling regained Canada West status in 2019.

The Pandas punched their ticket to the CW Final with a 5-4 semifinal win over Calgary earlier on Sunday, as Gracelyn Richards made a hit in the eighth to run the Dinos out of rocks. A low-scoring final against Regina ensued as the Pandas held a 2-1 lead into the fourth-end break, before scoring another two with hammer in both the fifth and seventh ends to force handshakes from the Cougars. The Pandas now own a 22-0 record all-time in Canada West Championships held at Saville Centre.

After dispatching the Golden Bears the day prior in round robin play, the Dino men showed that their success was no fluke this week, cruising past Alberta with a 7-4 win in the championship final on Sunday. Calgary went 9-1 over the four-day competition, which saw them secure the No. 1 seed entering the playoffs thanks to a 7-1 round-robin record.

First-team CW All-Star Skip Kenan Wipf was excellent in the final, leading the Dinos to scores of two in the first and third ends, and a steal of one in the fourth to give Calgary a commanding 5-2 lead at the break. The Dinos kept their foot on the gas with aggressive shot-making in the fifth, holding the Bears to a single, before scoring another pair in the sixth to all but seal the win.

The Dinos earned a 10-1 win over Victoria in the semifinal on Sunday morning to set up the championship match with the Bears, who defeated Regina 5-3 in the semifinal.

The Dinos and Bears will join the host Regina Cougars at the 2026 U SPORTS Championship in Regina, with the Calgary women earning a 7-3 over UBC Okanagan in the third-place game to secure the final Canada West berth to nationals. 

The 2026 U SPORTS Championship will run from Feb. 17 to 21 at the Callie Curling Club in Regina.

Championship Quick Links

View game scores at the Curling Zone website (Men's and Women's).

View photos from the event (Credit Connor Hood / University of Alberta Athletics).

View the championship webpage.

2026 Canada West Men's Curling Awards

Men's Champion: Calgary Dinos

Men's 1st Team All-Stars

​ Lead: Spencer Else – Calgary Dinos

​ Second: Ethan Drysdale – Calgary Dinos

​ Third: Ky Macaulay – Calgary Dinos

​ Skip: Kenan Wipf – Calgary Dinos

Men's 2nd Team All-Stars

​ Lead: Adam Naugler – Alberta Golden Bears

​ Second: Will Butler – Alberta Golden Bears

​ Third: Ronan Peterson – Alberta Golden Bears

​ Skip: Zach Davies – Alberta Golden Bears

Coach of the Year: Clayton Robins – Brandon Bobcats

2026 Canada West Women's Curling Awards

Women's Champion: Alberta Pandas

Women's 1st Team All-Stars

​ Lead: Sophia Ryhorchuk – Alberta Pandas

​ Second: Rachel Jacques – Alberta Pandas

​ Third: Emma Yarmuch – Alberta Pandas

​ Skip: Gracelyn Richards – Alberta Pandas

Women's 2nd Team All-Stars

​ Lead: Lauren Speidel – Regina Cougars

​ Second: Hannah Rugg – Regina Cougars

​ Third: Tesa Silversides – Regina Cougars

​ Skip: Chloe Johnston – Regina Cougars

Coach of the Year: Heather Rogers – Calgary Dinos