RDP Queens curling team. (Photo by RDP Athletics)

By RDP Athletics

Curling preview

2024/2025 RDP Curling team to leverage experience in quest for gold

Nov 19, 2024 | 2:51 PM

With two Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference (ACAC) medals and a trip to nationals last year, the Red Deer Polytechnic (RDP) Kings, Queens and Mixed Curling teams are motivated to take another step in 2024/2025.

Aiden Berube (lead), Reece Brigley (second), Nick Woznesensksy (third), Jaden Morlock (skip) and first-year Rhett Whittmire (spare) will compete for the Kings this season.

“The Kings won gold last year and we added one curler who won an ACAC Championship a few years ago,” says Brad Hamilton, RDP Curling Head Coach, of Brigley who returned to the Polytechnic after helping the Kings earn gold in 2021/2022. “They have high expectations of winning ACAC gold, again.”

Last year, the Red Deer Polytechnic Kings had a 6-4 record at the Fall and Winter Regionals and then elevated their game in the playoffs, winning the ACAC Championship. The RDP Kings qualified for the Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA)/ Curling Canada Championships in New Brunswick. The team picked up two wins but missed the playoffs.

“I don’t think the Kings were satisfied with their performance at nationals, so they’d love the opportunity to return,” adds Hamilton, a three-time ACAC Curling Coach of the Year.

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RDP Kings curling team. (Photo supplied by RDP Athletics)

Nicole Homan (lead), Cuyler Desmorneau (third) and Kaylee Raniseth (skip), ACAC Women’s Curling All-Conference team selections last season, are reunited with Morgan Deschiffart (second) to compete for the RDP Queens this year. In 2023/2024, the Queens ranked second after the Fall and Winter Regionals (10-2) and then placed fourth at the ACAC Curling Championships.

“With a few of the Queens completing their academic programs soon, they are motivated to win an ACAC Championship and go to nationals this year,” says Hamilton.

Teryn Herder (lead) and Cassidy Blair (skip), both 2023/2024 ACAC Mixed Curling All-Conference team members, along with Reegan Cox (second) and Joel White (third), will look to improve upon last year’s ACAC silver medal as members of this season’s RDP Mixed Curling team.

“The mixed team has good experience,” notes Hamilton. “They are all motivated to take another run at ACAC gold.”

In 2023/2024, the Red Deer Polytechnic Mixed Curling team went 12-0 at the ACAC Fall and Winter Regionals and then were downed by Lakeland College in the gold medal game.

The RDP Mixed curling team. (Photo supplied by RDP Athletics)

This season, the RDP student-athletes got together earlier than past years to help them prepare for the upcoming campaign.

“The team gathered during the first week of classes in September,” says Hamilton. “We also participated in a [non-conference] bonspiel in Lethbridge September 20 and 21, which was the earliest we’ve been on the ice.”

Besides honing their skills and strengthening team bonds, the RDP curlers had the opportunity to compete at Lethbridge Curling Club where the 2025 CCAA/Curling Canada Championships will be held February 24-28.

“Eight RDP student-athletes participated in Lethbridge and they performed quite well,” says Hamilton. “We hope to be back there later in the season for nationals.”

Eldon Raab (Queens Coach), Andrew Jones (Kings Coach and RDP alum) and Jaycee Bourke (Queens Coach and RDP alum) join Hamilton (Mixed team and Head Coach) on the Red Deer Polytechnic Curling Coaching staff.

With a veteran team of 12 returning student-athletes and only one first-year, Hamilton can rely on the Kings and Queens to support one another as they strive for excellence in the classroom, during training and competition, and as ambassadors in communities.

“There is a whole group of leaders on the ice,” says Hamilton. “Off the ice, Nicole [Homan] helps to organize a variety of events and initiatives. She has been the curling representative on the RDP Student-Athletes Advisory Council for the past two years and is a member again this year.”

The institution’s Student-Athletes Advisory Council provides social and academic opportunities for RDP’s more than 190 student-athletes who participate on 19 teams in 10 sports. The Council also organizes a variety of initiatives for the Kings and Queens to help address the various needs of Red Deer Polytechnic students and communities, such as collecting food donations for the RDP Students’ Association Emergency Student Food Bank and Red Deer Food Bank.

The RDP Curling teams will compete at the ACAC Fall Regional hosted by the University of Alberta – Augustana Vikings at Rose City Curling Club in Camrose from November 22-24, 2024.

The combined results from the Fall and Winter Regionals determine the top four teams in each division which qualify for the ACAC Curling Championships. The Polytechnic will host the provincial championships at the Pidherney Centre from February 7-9, 2025.

“It’s fun to host the ACAC Championships, but we have to earn our way there,” notes Hamilton. “The student-athletes enjoy hosting the playoffs. They can compete on their home ice and have their families watch. We are fortunate to have one of the nicest rinks in Alberta.”