The 2025 Canadian Mixed Doubles Curling Championship marked the third time, all year, that the NCUCC (Northern Credit Union Community Centre) tandem of Kira Brunton and Jacob Horgan had competed as a team.

Clearly this is a case of quantity over quality.

The well-known local curlers reeled off seven straight wins to finish first in their pool, a run that included a 6-5 decision over the Jocelyne Peterman / Brett Gallant duo that will represent Canada in Mixed Doubles play at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy.

Team Brunton / Horgan tacked on a quarter-final win over Emily Riley and Jesse Mullen (8-2) before being edged out by the eventual Canadian champs as Kadriana Lott and Colton Lott scored three in the final end to eke out a 6-5 semi-final victory.

For a pair that could draw only on a relatively small amount of experience together, the performance of the Sudbury natives (Brunton now lives in Ottawa; Horgan in Mississauga with his brother, Tanner) was nothing short of sensational.

"I think it helps that Jake and I have known each other since we were really young," said Brunton, coming off an appearance at the 2025 Scotties Tournament of Hearts as vice-skip for the Danielle Inglis Ontario team.

"We're really comfortable with each other and we have really similar beliefs in terms of strategy."

In the case of Horgan, the turnaround from the Brier (where he and his brother and Team Epping posted a 6-2 record) was even shorter than his teammate, a total of just six nights at home prior to leaving for Prince Edward Island.

"He was coming off a really good Brier and my team had a good time at the Scotties, so we were just kind of in this momentum flow," said Brunton. "We were trying to ride that wave as long as we could."

For as much as the primary focus for both Brunton and Horgan remains their four-person teams, there is no way around the fact that the mixed doubles game is different - perhaps even more for this pair than with other entries.

"It's a pretty big adjustment going from one discipline to the other, mostly because of the way that Kira and I play mixed doubles is that I sweep every single rock that we throw," stated Horgan. "It definitely takes a couple of games to get back into the swing of things."

"He's a great sweeper," Brunton chimed in. ""I feel if I let it go close, most of the time, he's making the shot for me - and I appreciate that."

By elite curling standards, both of the locals are blessed with the ability to remain relaxed and easy-going - or at least as relaxed and easy-going as one can be given what is on the line when you are facing the elite of the elite in the country.

"I think our success at mixed doubles is a bit of a happy accident," said Brunton with a smile. "We are both really focused on men's and women's and the mixed doubles is our bonus curling. We just so happen to jive well together and really like competing together."

"It's just a lot of fun."

Which is not to diminish by one iota the notion that both partners hold themselves up to a very high standard in the sport, constantly looking for those small areas of improvement, even as they attempt to master an offshoot of curling that they contest far less often.

"Our strategy has changed," said Horgan. "That's something that Kira and I have gotten a lot better at in the last two seasons, knowing what shot to play in what situations."

"A big part of this is accepting the fact that you have to make your first two freezes in the end. If you make those two shots, it's hard for the other team to gain a lot of points."

For as much as the details might differ, there is something to be said for the elements that bond mixed doubles participants and four person team members together.

"Curling is still curling," Horgan added. "When you play in the four person game at a really intense level, we can definitely bring that experience back to mixed doubles."

"Throwing the rock, learning ice conditions are still the same."

The simple truth is that Kira Brunton and Jacob Horgan are two exceptionally talented curlers, plain and simple.

"I think we're both really good hitters," said Brunton. "That's one of our strengths - so we can sort of rely on a bailout shot at pretty much any point in the end."

"Jake has a really good eye for angles," she added. "I've definitely learned stuff from him based on what he has called for his shots or sees for my shots."

As for 2025-2026, don't expect much to change, despite the success of Team Brunton - Horgan.

"We make our four person team schedules and then see what we have left," said Brunton. "We would like to get back to nationals and do a little bit better."