Marlee Powers

Marlee Powers
Curler
Born (1991-07-17) July 17, 1991
Bridgewater, Nova Scotia, Canada
Team
Curling clubHalifax CC,
Halifax, NS[1]
SkipChristina Black
ThirdJill Brothers
SecondMarlee Powers
LeadKarlee Everist
Mixed doubles
partner		Luke Saunders
Curling career
Member Association Nova Scotia
Hearts appearances2 (2025, 2026)
Top CTRS ranking34th (2022–23)
Medal record
Representing Nova Scotia
Canadian Olympic Curling Trials
2025 Halifax
Scotties Tournament of Hearts
2025 Thunder Bay
Canadian Mixed Doubles Championship
2025 Summerside

Marlee Powers (born July 17, 1991 in Bridgewater) is a Canadian curler from Halifax, Nova Scotia.[1] She currently plays second on Team Christina Black.

Career

Women's

Powers joined the Theresa Breen rink at third for the 2017–18 season. The team had a strong start to the season, winning the Lady Monctonian Invitational Spiel and reaching the final of the Lakeshore Curling Club Cashspiel and the Dave Jones Mayflower Cashspiel.[2] With these strong results, the team earned enough points to qualify for the 2017 Canadian Olympic Curling Pre-Trials in Summerside, Prince Edward Island.[3] The spot was initially given to Stefanie Lawton, however, she did not retain three of her four players from the 2016–17 season, giving the spot to Breen.[4] At the Pre-Trials, the team upset the top ranked Tracy Fleury rink in their opening game and then defeated 2006 Olympic bronze medallist Shannon Kleibrink.[5] Ultimately, they finished 3–3 through the preliminary round before dropping a tiebreaker to Nadine Scotland, eliminating them from contention.[6] At the 2018 Nova Scotia Scotties Tournament of Hearts, Team Breen finished 4–3 in the round robin but were once again eliminated in a tiebreaker, losing 8–5 to Jill Brothers.[7]

The Breen rink struggled to find success during the 2018–19 season, failing to qualify in all six tour events played. These struggles continued into the 2019 Nova Scotia Scotties Tournament of Hearts where they won just two games, finishing at the bottom of the pool with a 2–5 record.[8] The following season, they reached their fourth final as a team at the Dave Jones Mayflower Cashspiel, dropping a 5–3 game to Japan's Tori Koana.[9] This was their only playoff appearance of the season, however, with a 3–4 record at the 2020 Nova Scotia Scotties Tournament of Hearts ending the teams run together.[10] Powers was set to skip her own team for the 2020–21 season before it got cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

For the 2021–22 season, Powers and former teammates Jocelyn Adams and Amanda Simpson teamed up with Emily Dwyer. With Powers at the helm, the team reached the playoffs in two tour stops in Moncton and Windsor.[11] For the 2022 Nova Scotia Scotties Tournament of Hearts, Sarah Mallais of New Brunswick replaced Dwyer who was travelling for work with the World Curling Federation.[12] The team failed to advance to the playoffs, finishing 1–3 through the triple knockout qualifying round. Dwyer was replaced on the team the following season by Mary Myketyn-Driscoll. This lineup saw significantly more success with the team qualifying in four of five events. This included a finals appearance at the Bogside Cup and semifinal finishes at the Superstore Lady Monctonian, the Tim Hortons Spitfire Arms Cash Spiel and the Jim Sullivan Curling Classic.[13] Entering the 2023 Nova Scotia Scotties Tournament of Hearts as the second ranked team, the Powers rink finished third after losing in the C qualifier to Tanya Hilliard.[14]

After three seasons as a skip, Powers moved to second when she joined the Jessica Daigle rink for the 2023–24 season. With third Mary Myketyn-Driscoll and lead Lindsey Burgess, the team won The Curling Store Cashspiel to start the year.[15] In October, Myketyn-Driscoll left the team and was replaced by New Brunswick's Katie Vandenborre.[16] Leading up to provincials, the team had back-to-back semifinal appearances in Fredericton and Montague, losing out to Heather Smith and Tanya Hilliard. At the 2024 Nova Scotia Scotties Tournament of Hearts, Team Daigle had a hot start, winning two straight games to reach the A qualifier.[17] They then lost their next three games, eliminating them from contention. Following the season, Powers was added to the Christina Black rink as their alternate for the 2024–25 season, although she would rotate with Jenn Baxter at second.[18] The team had success in their first season together, winning the Tier 2 event of the 2024 Tour Challenge, qualifying them for the 2024 National Grand Slam, where they lost in the Quarterfinals to Anna Hasselborg. Black would also go on to win the 2025 NS Women's Championship, beating clubmate Mackenzie Mitchell in the final, qualifying the team to represent Nova Scotia at the 2025 Scotties Tournament of Hearts. At the 2025 Scotties, the Black rink finished 2nd in Pool B with a 6–2 record, and would make it to the semifinals, where she lost to Kerri Einarson 9–8 after a measurement in the 10th end, winning a bronze medal for Nova Scotia.

Team Black finished the 2024-25 season at number four in the Canadian Team Ranking System rankings[19], which earned them a pre-qualifier berth in the Scotties Tournament of Hearts[20], and they also prequalified for the 2025 Canadian Olympic Curling Trials based on cumulative CTRS points from 2023-25[21]. As a result, they were able to primarily focus their efforts in 2025-26 on travelling to Tier 1 and Tier 2 events outside Nova Scotia, where they could play against tougher competition and gain valuable experience[22]. Their first major event was the 2025 AMJ Masters in London, ON, where they went 2-2 in the round-robin, missing the quarterfinals by a point.[23] Next up for them was the 2025 PointsBet Invitational in Calgary; the seven teams that had prequalified for the Olympic Trials were automatically invited[24]; they went 1-3 in this event, again missing the playoffs[25]. A couple of weeks later, they flew back to Alberta for the CO-OP Tour Challenge in Nisku and fared even worse with an 0-4 record[26]. In November, Team Black participated in the 2025 Canadian Olympic Curling Trials in their hometown of Halifax, where they would finish round-robin play in 3rd place with a 4–3 record. They would go on to beat Kerri Einarson 6–3 in the semifinals but would ultimately lose both games to Rachel Homan in the best-of-three final by 5-4 and 12-3 scores, claiming the silver medal.[27] They went on the road one more time before the end of 2025, appearing at the 2025 HearingLife Canadian Open Tier 2 Division in Martensville, SK, which they qualified for based on their World Curling team ranking (#15).[28][29] Their record at the Open was 2-2; they qualified for the quarterfinals, where they beat Isabella Wranå 7-1 and then fell to Kaitlyn Lawes in the semifinal 8-3.[30] The last event on Team Black's calendar for the 2025-26 season was the 2026 Scotties Tournament of Hearts in Mississauga, ON. They finished second in Pool B with a 6-2 record, but struggled in the playoffs, losing to Manitoba’s Lawes in the 1A vs 2B game 8-6, defeating fellow Nova Scotian Taylour Stevens 11-6 in the 3A vs 4 game, then falling in the Page 3/4 game to Alberta’s Selena Sturmay 8-4.[31] Team Black participated in some smaller events earlier in the season as well, making the semifinals at the Asham Ice Breaker Challenge in Morris, MB after finishing pool play with a 3-1 record,[32] missing the playoffs at the 2025 AMJ Campbell Shorty Jenkins Classic in Cornwall, ON after a 2-3 round-robin[33], and won the 2025 Stu Sells 1824 Halifax Classic, finishing 4-1 in the round-robin and defeating Danielle Inglis in the final 6-5.[34] On March 16, 2026, Team Black announced that Baxter will be leaving the team and stepping away from competitive curling to focus on other important parts of her life and to spend more time with her family. The remaining members of the team will continue together for the 2026-27 season.[35]

Mixed

In 2022, Powers competed in the 2022 Canadian Mixed Curling Championship with Paul Flemming, Marie Christianson and Scott Saccary. The team had previously won the Nova Scotia mixed provincial with Jill Brothers, however, she was unable to attend the national championship.[36] Through the round robin, the team finished with a 4–2 record, enough to qualify for the championship pool. They then lost three of their next four games, finishing eighth with an even 5–5 record.[37] The following year, she won the provincial mixed championship, playing with fiancé Luke Saunders, his mother Colleen Jones and Flemming. This squad had much more success, finishing 7–3 through the round robin and championship pools and qualifying for the playoffs.[38] They then lost to Saskatchewan and Ontario in the semifinal and bronze medal game, respectively, finishing fourth.[39]

Mixed doubles

Powers plays mixed doubles with her fiancé, Luke Saunders. In 2024, Powers and Saunders won the Nova Scotia mixed doubles championship, qualifying for the 2024 Canadian Mixed Doubles Curling Championship in Fredericton.[40] There, the pair had a strong start with wins in four of their first five games. They then lost both of their last two games on the final day of round robin, eliminating them with a 4–3 record.[41] Powers and Saunders returned to the 2025 Canadian Mixed Doubles Curling Championship, where they would improve on their previous year's appearance, finishing second, losing to Kadriana Lott and Colton Lott 9–8 in the final. That second-place finish allowed Powers and Saunders to pre-qualify for the 2026 Canadian Mixed Doubles Curling Championship in Surrey, BC, in March.[42]

Rock League

On December 16, 2025, Powers was named a participant in the inaugural season of The Curling Group's Rock League professional curling league, which will take place in Toronto in April 2026. [43] She will be part of the Shield Curling Club, captained by Brad Jacobs, one of two representing Canada.

Personal life

Powers is employed as a planning and logistics manager at Nova Scotia Health Authority.[1] She is engaged to fellow curler Luke Saunders who she plays mixed doubles with. She previously played volleyball while attending Dalhousie University.[44]

Teams

Season Skip Third Second Lead Alternate
2014–15[45] Marlee Powers Tara LeGay Leah Squarey Laura Murray
2017–18 Theresa Breen Marlee Powers Jocelyn Adams Amanda Simpson
2018–19 Theresa Breen Marlee Powers Jocelyn Adams Amanda Simpson
2019–20 Theresa Breen Marlee Powers Jocelyn Adams Amanda Simpson Mary Sue Radford
2020–21 Marlee Powers Jocelyn Adams Emily Dwyer Amanda Simpson
2021–22 Marlee Powers Jocelyn Adams Emily Dwyer Amanda Simpson Sarah Mallais
2022–23 Marlee Powers Mary Myketyn-Driscoll Jocelyn Adams Amanda England
2023–24 Jessica Daigle Mary Myketyn-Driscoll Marlee Powers Lindsey Burgess
Marlee Powers Lindsey Burgess Katie Vandenborre
2024–25 Christina Black Jill Brothers Jenn Baxter Karlee Everist Marlee Powers
2025–26 Christina Black Jill Brothers Jenn Baxter Karlee Everist Marlee Powers
2026–27 Christina Black Jill Brothers Marlee Powers Karlee Everist

References

  1. ^ a b c "2025 Scotties Tournament of Hearts Media Guide" (PDF). Curling Canada. Retrieved February 23, 2025.
  2. ^ "2017-18 WCT/CCT Women's Schedule". TSN. August 10, 2017. Retrieved February 23, 2025.
  3. ^ "Home Hardware Road to the Roar Pre-Trials underway Monday in Summerside, P.E.I." Curling Canada. November 1, 2017. Retrieved February 23, 2025.
  4. ^ "Field confirmed for 2017 Home Hardware Road to the Roar Pre-Trials in Summerside, P.E.I." Curling Canada. July 20, 2017. Retrieved February 23, 2025.
  5. ^ "Kerri Einarson remains undefeated at curling's Olympic Pre-Trials". CFJC Today. November 7, 2017. Retrieved February 23, 2025.
  6. ^ "Scotland, Birchard stay alive at Road to the Roar". PEI Curling. November 11, 2017. Retrieved February 23, 2025.
  7. ^ "Mary-Anne Arsenault advances to Scotties final". Cape Breton Post. January 13, 2018. Retrieved February 23, 2025.
  8. ^ "2019 Nova Scotia Scotties Tournament of Hearts". CurlingZone. Retrieved February 23, 2025.
  9. ^ "2019 Dave Jones Stanhope Simpson Insurance Mayflower Cashspiel". CurlingZone. Retrieved February 23, 2025.
  10. ^ John MacNeil (January 24, 2020). "Arsenault defeats Jones, advances to Scotties final". The Chronicle Herald. Retrieved February 23, 2025.
  11. ^ "Team Marlee Powers: 2021–22". CurlingZone. Retrieved February 23, 2025.
  12. ^ "We're excited to announce that Sarah Mallais will be joining our line-up for the remainder of the 2021-22 curling season". Facebook. Team Powers. November 18, 2021. Retrieved February 23, 2025.
  13. ^ "Team Marlee Powers: 2022–23". CurlingZone. Retrieved February 23, 2025.
  14. ^ "Black, Manuel making title runs". The Chronicle Herald. January 30, 2023. Retrieved February 23, 2025.
  15. ^ Ryan Horne (September 24, 2023). "Red-hot Bottcher tops Koe in Okotoks final ahead of PointsBet Invitational". TSN. Retrieved February 23, 2025.
  16. ^ "If you guessed New Brunswick leftie Katie Vandenborre, you're right! ✅". Facebook. Team Daigle. November 8, 2023. Retrieved February 23, 2025.
  17. ^ George Myrer (January 19, 2024). "Matthew Manuel, Christina Black win A finals at provincial curling championships". PNI Atlantic News. Retrieved February 23, 2025.
  18. ^ "🚨 NEW TEAMMATE ALERT #2 🚨". Facebook. Team Black. March 20, 2024. Retrieved February 23, 2025.
  19. ^ "Canadian Team Ranking System (CTRS)". Curling Canada. Retrieved March 6, 2026.
  20. ^ "2026 Scotties Tournament of Hearts Media Guide" (PDF). Curling Canada. p. 15. Retrieved March 6, 2026.
  21. ^ "2025 Montana's Canadian Curling Trials Media Guide" (PDF). Curling Canada. p. 11. Retrieved March 6, 2026.
  22. ^ George Myrer (January 16, 2026). "Team Black, so close to Scotties final in 2025, more prepared and confident in 2026". The Chronicle-Herald. Retrieved March 6, 2026.
  23. ^ "2025 AMJ Masters Draws & Schedules". The Grand Slam of Curling. Retrieved March 6, 2026.
  24. ^ Jonathan Brazeau (September 30, 2025). "PointsBet Invitational preview". The Grand Slam of Curling. Retrieved March 6, 2026.
  25. ^ "2025 Pointsbet Invitational Scores". Curling Canada. Retrieved March 6, 2026.
  26. ^ "CO-OP Tour Challenge Draws & Schedules". The Grand Slam of Curling. Retrieved March 6, 2026.
  27. ^ "2025 Montana's Canadian Curling Trials". Curling Canada. Retrieved March 6, 2026.
  28. ^ "HearingLife Canadian Open Format & Qualification". The Grand Slam of Curling. Retrieved March 6, 2026.
  29. ^ "World Team Rankings: Women". CurlingZone. Retrieved March 6, 2026.
  30. ^ "HearingLife Canadian Open Tier 2: Schedule, standings and results". Grand Slam of Curling. Retrieved March 6, 2026.
  31. ^ "2026 Scotties Tournament of Hearts". Curling Canada. Retrieved March 6, 2026.
  32. ^ "Icebreaker Challenge". CurlingZone. Retrieved March 6, 2026.
  33. ^ "AMJ Campbell Shorty Jenkins Classic". CurlingZone. Retrieved March 6, 2026.
  34. ^ "2025 Stu Sells 1824 Halifax Classic – Women". Stu Sells Series. Retrieved March 6, 2026.
  35. ^ "TEAM BLACK UPDATE!!". Facebook. Team Black. March 16, 2026. Retrieved March 16, 2026.
  36. ^ "Our Champions". Nova Scotia Curling Association. Retrieved February 23, 2025.
  37. ^ "Three's Company". Curling Canada. November 10, 2022. Retrieved February 23, 2025.
  38. ^ "Race to the finish!". Curling Canada. November 10, 2023. Retrieved February 23, 2025.
  39. ^ "Hometown Heroes!". Curling Canada. November 11, 2023. Retrieved February 23, 2025.
  40. ^ "2024 Mixed Doubles Championship". Nova Scotia Curling Association. Retrieved February 23, 2025.
  41. ^ "2024 Canadian Mixed Doubles Curling Championship". Curling Canada. Retrieved February 23, 2025.
  42. ^ "Team Nova Scotia Double Double Send-Off". Instagram. Halifax Curling Club. March 5, 2026. Retrieved March 16, 2026.
  43. ^ Jonathan Brazeau (December 16, 2025). "Rosters unveiled for all six Rock League franchises". Rock League. Retrieved March 10, 2026.
  44. ^ George Myrer (January 23, 2025). "Love at first brush for curling power couple". The Chronicle Herald. Retrieved February 23, 2025.
  45. ^ "Marlee Powers Past Teams". CurlingZone. Retrieved February 23, 2025.
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