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Kings and Queens Curling teams seeking medals at national championships

Mar 18, 2018 | 2:39 PM

The RDC Kings and Queens Curling teams are preparing to compete on the national stage next weekend.

After the Queens won Gold and the Kings Silver at the ACAC Curling Championships in Camrose last month, the teams will now compete at the 2018 Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) Curling Canada Championships in Leduc beginning March 24.

The Queens are the defending CCAA Women’s Curling National Champions, while the Kings also won a national medal last year by capturing CCAA Bronze.

This season’s ACAC Female Curler of the Year, Sara McMann, will skip the Queens and be joined by lead Katie Primrose, second Shelby Primrose, third Brett Day and alternate Ashlyn Wozny.

The Kings meanwhile will be skipped by Austin Kelts-Larsen, Jordan Smith shared lead, Shayne Copeland shared lead, All-Conference team selection Andrew Jones at second and Carter Snethun at third.

The Queens opponents include the Camosun Charges (Pacific Western Athletic Association), MacEwan University Griffins (ACAC), NAIT Ooks (ACAC), Fanshaw Falcons (Ontario Colleges Athletic Association), Fleming Knights (OCAA), Niagara Knights (OCAA) and Holland Hurricanes (Atlantic Collegiate Athletic Association).

The Kings will face the Douglas Royals (PacWest), University of Alberta Augustana Vikings (ACAC), Concordia Thunder (ACAC), NAIT Ooks (ACAC), Fanshaw Falcons (OCAA), Niagara Knights (OCAA) and Sault Cougars (OCAA).

“All of the teams at nationals will be good and we expect to be competitive if we curl the way that we can,” says Brad Hamilton, Head Coach of RDC Curling in a college press release. “Both the Queens and Kings want to finish in the top four in the round robin and then compete for a medal. Sara, Brett, Katie, Austin and Shayne have experience at nationals, so they will know what to expect.”

The 2018 CCAA/Curling Canada Championships will take place March 24 – 28 at the Ken’s Furniture Arena and the Robinson Arena in Leduc.

The Queens first game is Saturday, March 24 at 1:00 p.m. against the Niagara Knights at Ken’s Furniture Arena.

The Kings opening game is also Saturday, March 24 at 1:00 p.m. against the Sault Cougars at the Robinson Arena.