(RDC Athletics)

By rdnewsNOW staff

Medal Performance

Curling Queens earn ACAC silver and trip to nationals

Mar 2, 2020 | 12:19 PM

The Red Deer College Queens Curling team earned Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference (ACAC) silver at the Pidherney Curling Centre over the weekend.

The RDC Queens fought to the end against the University of Alberta Augustana Vikings in the final, but Augustana sealed a close 5-4 decision, and gold at the ACAC Curling Championships presented by Holiday Inn.

“I think they did very well. We came into this expecting very tough competition and we had very tough competition,” said RDC Queens Curling Coach Eldon Raab, in a news release. “The girls excelled and really showed maturity. They did what we wanted them to do, perform at their best. I’m very proud of them.”

The RDC Queens began the final day earning an impressive 8-1 decision over the Concordia University Thunder in the 10:00 am matchup. The win set up a Red Deer College Queens and University of Alberta Augustana Vikings final, where the Vikings capitalized on their final shot for the win.

“We’ve played them (Augustana) five times this year and credit to them, they won all of them,” stated Raab. “All of them have been to the last rock and won by one score. They performed very well and that last match, I’m very proud of our girls how they came back. They were down but they never gave up.”

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The final was another tight one between the two squads, but Vikings Curling Coach Roger Galenza wasn’t surprised.

“When you’re here you’re supposed to enjoy the moment, but still try your hardest and leave everything on the ice, and I believe our girls did exactly that,” said Galenza. “Red Deer Queens are a fantastic team. Our girls played their hearts out and it just turned out our way this year.”

In the women’s bronze medal game, the NAIT Ooks downed the Concordia University Thunder 7-2.

The Vikings and Queens are among a list of ACAC teams that will compete at the 2020 Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA)/Curling Canada College Curling Championships in Portage La Prairie, MB from March 11-15.

“Nationals are in a week and a half. We are meeting in five minutes here to go over our preparation” said Raab. “We are going to practice, have exhibition games and keep sharp that way, with some mental training. I think they are very excited and it will be a great experience for them. They’re going to perform the best that they can do and that’s all I can ask of them.”

The SAIT Trojans Men and MacEwan University Griffins Mixed team also found themselves at the top of the podium.

In the morning draw, the NAIT Ooks Men’s team shaded the Concordia University Thunder 8-7. The victory pushed the Ooks into the gold medal final against the SAIT Trojans. In a battle to the end, the SAIT Trojans earned a close 5-4 victory for the title. The Thunder defeated the Lakeland College Rustlers 8-3 in the bronze game.

The NAIT Ooks Mixed Curling team began the final day of competition on the right foot with a 13-4 victory over the Lakeland College Rustlers. The win sent NAIT to the final against the MacEwan University Griffins, and the Griffins picked up a 6-2 decision, and a gold medal. The University of Alberta Augustana Vikings shaded the Lakeland College Rustlers 6-5 in the bronze medal game.

Men’s Division

Gold – SAIT Trojans

Silver – NAIT Ooks

Bronze – Concordia University Thunder

Fourth – Lakeland College Rustlers

Women’s Division

Gold – U of A Augustana Vikings

Silver – RDC Queens

Bronze – NAIT Ooks

Fourth – Concordia University Thunder

Mixed Curling Division

Gold – MacEwan University Griffins

Silver – NAIT Ooks

Bronze – U of A Augustana Vikings

Fourth – Lakeland College Rustlers

Charles Morter Memorial Award

Nadia Van Bruinessen, from the U of A Augustana Vikings, received the Charles Morter Memorial Award for best exemplifying Chuck’s spirit, dedication, sportsmanship and leadership towards fellow curlers. She is a second-year student-athlete from Leduc.

ACAC Male Curler of the Year

Evan Van Amsterdam, Concordia University Thunder

ACAC Female Curler of the Year

Hannah Terry, U of A Augustana Vikings

The championship schedule and results can be reviewed online.

Photos can be found on Flickr.