SAULT STE. MARIE, Ont. - If Friday is going to be 'moving day' at the 2014 CCAA Curling National Championships, Thursday was a chance for teams to start packing their bags as they look to claim an elusive playoff spot at the end of round robin play.
Day 2 also featured the CCAA Championship Banquet held at the Comfort Suites & Conference Centre where the athletes had a chance to relax and enjoy a night off the ice. The curlers were treated to a great speech by legendary and Sochi Olympics gold medal curling coach Tom Coulterman, who shared his insight on curling and shared a bit of his Olympic experience.
On the ice, Thursday's women's action began with two teams unbeaten but it took one draw to change all that; as the day closed with the standings being no clearer than a glass of chocolate milk.
Both Red Deer College and NAIT won both of its draws on Day 2 to sit atop the leaderboard with 3-1 records. The host Sault College rink bounced back from its opening day losses to finish the day at 2-2, creating a five-way tie for second place and setting up a Friday slate where seven teams are still in the hunt for playoff spots.
On the men's side, MacEwan University finished the day with two wins - becoming the only team left undefeated and the leader with a 4-0 record. The host Sault squad also picked up two wins to sit second alongside NAIT with identical 3-1 records. Fleming College also posted a two-win day to bounce back from two losses on Day 1 to finish tied for third with Mohawk College with 2-2 records. All teams are poised to strike Friday as they look to punch their ticket to playoff draws Saturday.
The championships round robin portion wraps up Friday with three draws, all action takes place at Soo Curlers. Playoff medal round games go Saturday - semi-finals at 2 p.m. and finals at 7 p.m.
Follow end by end action on the web at www.ccaa.ca/curling-championship or with Sault Sports at www.saultsports.com.
Draw 3 Results
Women
NAIT 10 - MacEwan 4
Sault 7 - Mohawk 5
Seneca 9 - Fanshawe 4
Red Deer 9 - Humber 6
Men
Sault 10 - Humber 4
NAIT 10 - Portage 5
MacEwan 10 - Fanshawe 4
Fleming 7 - Mohawk 5
Draw 4 Results
Women
Sault 9 - Humber 7
NAIT 8 - Mohawk 3
Red Deer 7 - Seneca 3
MacEwan 9 - Fanshawe 4
Men
MacEwan 8 - NAIT 2
Sault 8 - Portage 4
Fleming 7 - Humber 3
Mohawk 9 - Fanshawe 8
Standings
Women
Red Deer 3-1
NAIT 3-1
Mohawk 2-2
Humber 2-2
Seneca 2-2
MacEwan 2-2
Sault 2-2
Fanshawe 0-4
Men
MacEwan 4-0
NAIT 3-1
Sault 3-1
Fleming 2-2
Mohawk 2-2
Fanshawe 1-3
Portage 1-3
Humber 0-4
Source: Sault College