RDP Athletics announces Athletes of the Week, playoff schedules

France and the RDP Queens will challenge the Medicine Hat College Rattlers in a division quarter-final on March 4.

Jacob Kendall – Kings Hockey
Hometown – Camrose, Alberta
Bachelor of Education Elementary (1st year)

Camrose’s Jacob Kendall had another fantastic weekend on the ice for the Red Deer Polytechnic Kings Hockey team. The six-foot-two student-athlete recorded a pair of points and finished as the Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference (ACAC) scoring leader with 21 points. This feat is especially remarkable for a first-year who played forward and defence throughout the season.

In Friday’s 5-4 double-overtime win over the University of Alberta Augustana Vikings, the Bachelor of Education Elementary student scored the Kings’ second and fourth goals. Kendall consistently worked hard and created opportunities, while playing sound positionally. Even though the Kings were edged 4-3 Saturday evening, the former member of the Sherwood Park Crusaders made an impact on the ice.

Kendall willingly accepts any role for the betterment of his team.

Kendall and the Red Deer Polytechnic Kings will host the Briercrest College Clippers in the best-of-three quarter-final series at the Gary W. Harris Canada Games Centre, beginning March 4.

Upcoming schedule for RDP Athletics – PLAYOFFS

Kings Hockey | Friday, March 4 | 8 pm | Gary W. Harris Canada Games Centre

The third seed Red Deer Polytechnic Kings Hockey team (9-4-2-1) will host the sixth place Briercrest College Clippers (3-12-1-0) in game one of the best-of-three quarter-final series. Over 16 regular season contests, the Kings averaged 4.00 goals per game and 3.09 against. The Clippers scored 2.56 goals and allowed 3.99. ACAC scoring leader Jacob Kendall (21 points) will be an important player for the Kings in the series, although he has a good supporting cast. Tucker Scantlebury (18 points), Erik Miller (17 points), Mathieu Lapointe (15 points), Ryley Smith (15 points), Chance Longjohn (14 points) and Kyle Salaway (11 points) hit double digits in points. Goaltenders Arik Weersink (0.916 save percentage) and Kristian Lyon (0.914) provide the Kings with a solid goaltending tandem. Both netminders played really well, especially in the latter half of the regular season schedule. Zachary Anderson is one of the Clippers’ offensive leaders. Over 13 games, he contributed 11 points to lead his squad. Briercrest goalie Dominik Tmej received the bulk of the work in net, playing 13 games and averaging 3.56 goals against and a 0.912 save percentage. During the regular season, the Kings won all three games against the Clippers (7-6, 3-0 and 3-0).

Kings Hockey | Saturday, March 5 | 5 pm | Gary W. Harris Canada Games Centre

The Kings and Clippers will meet for game two.

Kings Hockey | Sunday, March 6 | 2 pm | Gary W. Harris Canada Games Centre

If necessary, the series will be decided in the third and final game.

Queens Basketball | Friday, March 4 | 6 pm | Medicine Hat College

The fifth place Red Deer Polytechnic Queens Basketball team (7-9) will tip-off against the fourth seed Medicine Hat College Rattlers (8-8) on the road in a division quarter-final. Amy Szymanek (15.1 points per game), Sophie Melin (12.6) and Lauren France (10.3) led the way offensively for the Queens during the regular season. The Rattlers’ Katelyn Rozdeba (20.1 points per game) was the top scorer in the ACAC. Jasmine Gardiner (14.8) and Abygail LaRochelle (11.1) round out Medicine Hat’s top three offensive threats. The RDP Queens split their two games with the Rattlers this season, winning 63-55 and then dropping a 65- 45 decision. The winner of this game will face the St. Mary’s University Lightning in a division semi-final on March 5.

Kings Basketball | Friday, March 4 | 6 pm | Gary W. Harris Canada Games Centre

The third place Red Deer Polytechnic Kings Basketball team (9-7) will play the sixth seed Briercrest College Clippers (5-11) in a division quarter-final at home. Over 16 regular season contests, the Kings have scored 80.31 points per game and have allowed 80.25 against. The Clippers’ offence has averaged 72.94 points. They have allowed 89 points. ACAC scoring leader Tyronn King (24.6 points per game) and Eduardo Crespo (14.4) provide the Kings with a good one-two offensive punch. Jude Shepherd-Hills (16.1 points per game) and Christopher Cheatham (13.8) ignite Briercrest’s offence. The RDP Kings won both regular season contests against the Briercrest College Clippers (88-77 and 100- 83). The winner of this game will battle the Lethbridge College Kodiaks on March 5.

Queens Volleyball | Sunday, March 6 | 2 pm | Gary W. Harris Canada Games Centre

In a division semi-final, the first place Red Deer Polytechnic Queens (16-0) will host the winner of Friday’s match between the fourth place Lethbridge College Kodiaks (8-8) and fifth seed SAIT Trojans (6-10). In three matches against both squads, the Queens swept the Trojans and Kodiaks twice. Red Deer Polytechnic also picked up another four set win over SAIT and a five set decision over Lethbridge College. The RDP Queens have an incredible amount of depth. Despite some injuries and illnesses, the Queens rolled through the regular season undefeated – the first time it’s happened in ACAC Women’s Volleyball since the 2003/2004 season. “We want to make sure that our offence is firing and everybody is connected with each other. Being connected and focused is obviously extremely important at this time of the year,” said Chris Wandler, Red Deer Polytechnic Queens Volleyball Interim Head Coach. The RDP Queens have many offensive weapons. Tess Pearman led the Queens with 146 kills (3.17 kills per set). Outside hitter Anna Carlson, a Bachelor of Science Nursing student, ranked second in the league with a 0.478 hitting percentage. Jaiden Ferguson (2.33 kills per set) and Jadyn Leong (2.23 kills per set) provide more options on the outside for setter Emma Letkeman. The second-year setter from Victoria also effectively found middles Sydney Rix (64 kills) and McKenna Olson (90 kills) throughout the season. On the defensive side, the Queens are led by two-time ACAC Women’s Volleyball South All-Conference libero Kaylee Domoney. The talented fifth-year recorded 148 digs this season and was a stabilizing force for the Queens. “Defensively, we want to make sure that we know what our individual and team responsibilities are, and incorporate all of the components that we have worked on throughout the entire season,” added Wandler.

Kings Volleyball | Sunday, March 6 | 4 pm | Gary W. Harris Canada Games Centre

When the last Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference (ACAC) Men’s Volleyball Championship was played in 2019/2020, the Kings rose to the top and won their 19th conference gold medal. The Red Deer Polytechnic Kings have the same winning mindset and goal as they prepare for the 2021/2022 ACAC Championship. Despite some injuries and illnesses this year, the Red Deer Polytechnic Kings Volleyball team (12-4) still finished first in the ACAC Men’s Volleyball South Division standings. Seven of those 12 victories were sweeps. Without being able to field a consistent lineup many nights in the second half, the Kings relied on their depth. Many first-years rose to the occasion. Over nine matches, Nicholas Possingham pounded 83 kills (2.59 kills per set) with a 0.405 hitting percentage. Dante Furlan got into four matches and contributed 33 kills (2.54 kills per set). He was very efficient from the left side (0.857%). First-year outside hitter Brett Lower worked his way into a starting role early in the season. The Bachelor of Science Nursing student led the Kings with 185 kills. The RDP Kings played their final regular season match on February 12, downing the Lethbridge College Kodiaks in four sets. Since then, the team has purposefully maintained its intensity during training and practicing. “We have been trying to keep the compete level high with the couple of weeks that we have had off,” said Aaron Schulha, Red Deer Polytechnic Kings Volleyball Head Coach. “All of our potential opponents in the South semi-final will have played meaningful matches since our last league game in Lethbridge, so it is important that we are training at a high level.” In an ACAC South Division Semi-final, the first place Red Deer Polytechnic Kings (12-4) will host the winner of Friday’s match between the fourth seed SAIT Trojans (10-6) and Lethbridge College Kodiaks (9-7). During the regular season, the Kings downed the Kodiaks in all three matches. The SAIT Trojans edged the RDP Kings two matches to one, but the Kings didn’t consistently have their starters available.

Curling | ACAC Championships | March 5-6 | U of A Augustana

The Red Deer Polytechnic Kings and Queens Curling teams have been practicing and playing league games at Pidherney Centre, and are ready for the ACAC Championships. “Both teams know they have as good of a chance as anyone to win, so we are just trying to focus on the process and to stay on an even keel heading into provincials,” said Brad Hamilton, Red Deer Polytechnic Curling Head Coach. “The format this year doesn’t leave much room for error if you want to be in the gold medal game, so we are trying to keep the student-athletes grounded – one game at a time.” All of the teams that participated in the bonspiels will compete at the championships.

Queens’ ACAC Championships Schedule

Saturday, March 5
9:30 am: Draw 1 – UAA vs RDP
12 pm: Opening Ceremonies
2 pm: Draw 2 – NAIT vs RDP

Sunday, March 6
8:30 am: Draw 4 – Lakeland vs NAIT and RDP vs CUE
12:30 pm: Draw 5 – Lakeland vs RDP and UAA vs CUE
5 pm: Draw 6 – #1 seed vs #2 seed (Gold) and #3 seed vs #4 seed (Bronze)

Kings’ ACAC Championships Schedule

Saturday, March 5
9:30 am: Draw 1 – UAA vs RDP
12 pm: Opening Ceremonies
2 pm: Draw 2 – NAIT vs RDP

Sunday, March 6
8:30 am: Draw 4 – RDP vs CUE
12:30 pm: Draw 5 – SAIT vs RDP
5 pm: Draw 6 – #1 seed vs #2 seed (Gold) and #3 seed vs #4 seed (Bronze)

Queens Hockey | Thursday, March 3 | 7 pm | Olds College

The first place Red Deer Polytechnic Queens Hockey team (9-3-1) will face-off against the third seed Broncos (6-7-0) on the road. Forward Mary Hirsch shares third spot in league scoring with 12 points. Goaltender Madison Fox leads ACAC Women’s Hockey with a 0.83 goals against average and 0.965 save percentage.

Queens Hockey | Friday, March 4 | 5 pm | Gary W. Harris Canada Games Centre

In the final regular season game, the RDP Queens and Olds College Broncos will meet in Red Deer.

For more information on Red Deer Polytechnic Athletics, the student-athletes and teams, please visit: rdpolytechathletics.ca.

by RDP Athletics

RDP Athletics announces Athletes of the Week, playoff schedules

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