From New Liskeard to the National Stage: Laurentian Graduate Student Sweeps into the Brier

(March 29, 2026) — For Olivier Bonin-Ducharme, the journey from a local bowling alley to the bright lights of national television was paved with ice, grit, and 41 ends of curling in a single 24-hour marathon. The Laurentian University graduate student and standout curler recently sat down to chronicle a career that has seen him transition from a "Little Rock" in New Liskeard to competing against the best in the world at the Montana’s Brier.

Bonin-Ducharme’s curling journey began in 2011, fueled by the excitement of the 2010 Vancouver Olympics. Initially a youth bowler, his entry into the sport was a matter of practical efficiency. "I saw curling on TV and I figured, well, that's kind of like bowling," Bonin-Ducharme joked, recalling his childhood logic. "I figured I could just kill two birds with one stone. Not the same thing, but I ended up falling in love with it".

After developing his skills under childhood coach Steve Amyot at the Horne Granite Curling Centre, Bonin-Ducharme eventually moved to Sudbury. It was here that he began competing alongside and against the city’s elite, including fellow Laurentian University standout Jacob Horgan.

The road to the 2024 Brier was anything but easy. Joining Sandy McEwan’s rink as the "fifth man" before being promoted to second, Bonin-Ducharme and his team faced a grueling triple-knockout provincial qualifier. To keep their dreams alive, the team had to win four consecutive games in just one day.

"We played about 41 ends in 24 hours," Bonin-Ducharme said. "I was pretty much dead at the end there, but it was quite the marathon". That endurance paid off in the provincial final against Team John Epping—a top-ranked team in the world. In a dramatic finish, McEwan delivered a perfect draw to the center line to secure the victory and a trip to the national stage.

While his performance on the ice is elite, Bonin-Ducharme is equally dedicated to his studies at Laurentian University. He is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Études relationnelles (Relational Studies), conducted entirely in French, while serving as a Graduate Teacher’s Assistant under Dr. Mélanie Girard.

"I do love sociology; there is sociology in everything," Bonin-Ducharme explained, noting that he has even considered focusing his thesis on a sociological approach to curling performance.

Reflecting on his time at the Brier, Bonin-Ducharme was struck by the "fraternal" nature of the sport. Despite the high stakes, he found himself sharing stories with legends of the game like Brad Gushue and Brad Jacobs. "Nobody's there to beat Kevin Koe; everybody's there to win the Brier," he observed. "It is very, very fraternal".

As he balances his academic research, leadership in the francophone community, a part-time job at TD bank, and high-level training, Bonin-Ducharme remains a proud representative of Laurentian University.