The weekend got off to a fabulous start at the Défi sportif AlterGo with a gold medal in Wheelchair Curling, the return of sports for the deaf and hard-of-hearing at the Claude-Robillard Sports Complex, and plenty of action at the Cégep Édouard-Montpetit Sports Center.
Carl Marquis leads his team to victory
Saturday afternoon at the Gilles-Chabot Ice Rink in Boucherville, tension was at its height as Carl Marquis’s Team Québec 1 faced off against Douglas Dean’s Team Northern Ontario in a hotly contested gold medal game.
This year, Quebec quickly took the lead in this thrilling rematch, leading 5-0 after the first two rounds.
However, the game was far from over, as the defending champions tied the score by earning 4 points in the third round and 1 more in the fourth.
Marquis and his teammates rallied back, placing 5 scoring stones in the fifth round.
Team Northern Ontario managed to narrow the gap in the sixth round but then conceded the victory in the seventh, handing the win to the Quebecers with a final score of 10-6.
Making the win all the more special was the fact that it was Team Québec’s first gold medal victory since 2013, second-end François Lacourse’s final Canadian Championships, and substitute Noémie Gagné’s inaugural match. The latter athlete is the latest addition to the team, which also includes third and vice-captain Sébastien Boisvert, as well as lead Johanne Mathieu.
Carl Marquis and his team were very proud, having won every game played throughout the week and, ultimately, the gold medal.
“We’re super happy to do this at home, something we’d never had the chance to do before. The last time we won was in 2013, in Ottawa. The following year, we finished on the podium in Boucherville for the first time, but we won the silver medal. Last year, silver again. I’m really happy with my team, especially François, who is retiring,” said Marquis, who was himself named tournament MVP by Curling Canada.
Carl Marquis attributes their success to his team’s ability to read the ice well, and their excellent preparation.
“We were very well prepared, we stayed calm, and we were able to read the ice well. It’s like a game of chess on ice, so the ice behaves differently at times. Everyone responded really well. Our newcomer, Noémie, who played as a substitute, is really stepping up. She has no choice – she has to replace François!”
François Lacourse was thrilled to end his curling career with a magnificent victory. “How do I feel about it? Well, I’m great! I’m happy! I’m sure I’ll get emotional later, but right now I’m just so happy!”
“This is the result we wanted,” concluded Noémie Gagné.
Douglas Dean’s Team Northern Ontario won the silver medal, and Marie Wright’s Team Saskatchewan will take home the bronze medal.
Doubles matches continue at the Montreal 2026 World Boccia Cup
At the Maurice-Richard Arena, doubles matches at the Montreal 2026 World Boccia Cup continued throughout the day Saturday.
The Canadian BC4 duo of Alison Levine and Iulian Ciobanu won their match against Japan 5-1, following two losses—one against the United States and the other against Chile.
Their next match against Germany on Sunday morning will determine whether or not they will advance to the semifinals.
Meanwhile, Canada’s BC3 team of Alexandre Lemaire and Fatima Abderrahmane, were unable qualify for the semifinals in their category.
Competitions Return for Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Athletes
Although the school component of the Défi has concluded, the Claude-Robillard Sports Complex remained an athletic hub, with some 65 athletes with hearing impairments. Competing in softball and pickleball, they delivered dynamic performances in an atmosphere that was both competitive and inclusive.
The Défi is pleased to have partnered with the Association sportive des Sourds du Québec (ASSQ) to make these competitions possible.
Even More Action in Longueuil!
The action may have begun Friday evening at the Cégep Édouard-Montpetit Sports Centre, but it continued all day Saturday for the International Invitational Powerchair Soccer Tournament and the Wheelchair Basketball tournament. Close to 200 para-athletes took to the courts, and will do so once more on Sunday for the conclusion of the competitions.
