Saunders qualified for one Canadian Junior Curling Championship in 2013, playing second for Stuart Thompson. At the provincial championship, the team of Thompson, Scott Babin, Saunders and Alex MacNeil went undefeated to claim the title.[4] Representing Nova Scotia in Fort McMurray, Alberta, the team went through the round robin and championship pools with an 8–2 record, earning a spot in the playoffs. They then lost to Manitoba's Matt Dunstone 9–4 in the semifinal, earning the bronze medal.[5]
During the 2021–22 season, Team Manuel qualified in two of their five events. After a quarterfinal finish at the Dave Jones Mayflower Cashspiel, the team made it to the final of the Superstore Monctonian Challenge where they lost to James Grattan.[10] Due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Nova Scotia, the 2022 provincial championship was cancelled.[11] The Nova Scotia Curling Association then decided to appoint Team Paul Flemming to represent Nova Scotia at the 2022 Tim Hortons Brier.[12] The following season, the Manuel rink continued to build on their success from the previous year, reaching the final of the New Scotland Brewing Men's Cash Spiel and the semifinals of the Stu Sells 1824 Halifax Classic and the Superstore Monctonian Challenge.[13] At the 2023 Nova Scotia Tankard, the team lost their first game before rattling off seven straight victories to become both the B and C qualifiers. They then lost the first playoff game against Owen Purcell, forcing a sudden death final. Tied 4–4 in the tenth, Team Manuel stole a single point for the 5–4 victory and their first provincial men's title.[14] This qualified the team of Manuel, Saunders, Meagher and Zachernuk for the 2023 Tim Hortons Brier where they finished with a 3–5 record, earning wins against the Northwest Territories, Nunavut and Saskatchewan.[15]
Throughout the 2023–24 tour season, the Manuel rink only qualified in three of seven events and did not reach any finals. They had two semifinal finishes in Halifax and Moncton and a quarterfinal result at the Challenge de Curling Desjardins.[16] Despite this, the team dominated at the 2024 Ocean Contractors Tankard, winning all five of their games.[17] This included three victories against the Purcell rink who were ranked higher before the event began. This sent the team to the 2024 Montana's Brier in Regina, Saskatchewan. After struggling out of the gate with three consecutive losses, the team found their footing, rallying off wins against higher seeds Alberta's Aaron Sluchinski, Saskatchewan's Mike McEwen and Alberta's Kevin Koe.[18] They then lost to Nunavut in their penultimate game, eliminating them from contention. They ended on a high note with a victory over Quebec to finish with an even 4–4 record.[19] At the end of the event, Saunders won the Ross Harstone Sportsmanship Award which is voted on by fellow peers as the curler who best represented Harstone's high ideals of good sportsmanship, observance of the rules, exemplary conduct and curling ability.[20]
After five seasons with Team Manuel, Saunders left to team to join the Owen Purcell rink for the 2024–25 season.[21]
Mixed
In 2019, Saunders won the 2019 Nova Scotia mixed championship playing with his mother Colleen Jones, Peter Burgess and Lindsey Burgess.[22] This qualified the foursome for the 2020 Canadian Mixed Curling Championship in Jonquière, Saguenay where they finished in tenth place with a 4–5 record.[23] He qualified for his second mixed championship in 2023 with Jones, Paul Flemming and fiancé Marlee Powers. This squad had much more success, finishing 7–3 through the round robin and championship pools and qualifying for the playoffs.[24] They then lost to Saskatchewan and Ontario in the semifinal and bronze medal game, respectively, finishing fourth.[25]
Mixed doubles
Saunders began playing mixed doubles with his mother Colleen, but now plays with fiancé Marlee Powers. In 2024, Powers and Saunders won the Nova Scotia mixed doubles championship, qualifying for the 2024 Canadian Mixed Doubles Curling Championship in Fredericton.[26] 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.[27]
Personal life
Saunders is employed as a department manager at Waegwoltic Club. He is engaged to fellow curler Marlee Powers who he plays mixed doubles with.[3] His mother is six-time Scotties champion and two-time World champion, Colleen Jones and his father is one-time Canadian mixed champion, Scott Saunders.[23]
