Ottawa's Next Curling Star Is Already Making Waves
Ottawa has a new name to watch in the world of curling — and he's only 17. Liam Rowe, a standout talent from the nation's capital, is part of Team MacTavish, a crew that just capped off an impressive run at the Under-18 Canadian Curling Championships with a podium finish that has the curling community buzzing.
It's easy to overlook youth curling. The sport doesn't always command the highlight-reel attention of hockey or soccer, but when an Ottawa kid starts stacking up hardware at the national level, that deserves some ink.
Three Ontario Titles and Counting
Before even stepping onto the national stage, Team MacTavish had already made history at home — claiming their third Ontario Under-18 curling championship. Winning one provincial title is an achievement. Winning three marks a dynasty in the making.
For Rowe and his teammates, those Ontario titles weren't just trophies. They were tickets — repeated invitations to test themselves against the best young curlers from every province and territory in the country.
The National Stage
At the U-18 Nationals, Team MacTavish delivered a performance that put the rest of Canada on notice. A podium finish at that level of competition — competing against provincial champions who have been honing their craft for years — is no small feat.
Curling demands a rare combination of athletic precision, strategic thinking, and composure under pressure. At the Under-18 level, those qualities are still being developed. The fact that Rowe and his rink have already shown the ability to execute when it matters most speaks volumes about the trajectory ahead.
Why Ottawa Should Pay Attention
Ottawa has a rich curling tradition. The city has produced competitive curlers at club, provincial, and national levels for decades, with facilities like the Ottawa Curling Club and the Rideau Curling Club serving as training grounds for generations of players.
Rowe's rise through the ranks is a reminder that Ottawa's curling pipeline is very much alive. For parents with kids interested in the sport — or anyone looking to follow a compelling local athletic story — Team MacTavish gives the capital something to cheer for well beyond hockey season.
What's Next for Liam Rowe
At 17, Rowe's ceiling is genuinely hard to predict — and that's the exciting part. Young curlers who perform at this level typically continue developing through the junior ranks (Under-21), with some making the leap to competitive open curling by their early twenties.
If the trajectory holds, Ottawa fans could be watching Liam Rowe compete on TSN in a Roar of the Rings qualifier sooner than anyone expects.
For now, the capital's curling community will celebrate what Team MacTavish has already built: three provincial titles, a national podium, and a lot of promising stones still left to throw.
Source: Ottawa Life Magazine
