THUNDER BAY, Ont. - Twenty teams representing nine schools across the Ontario Colleges Athletic Association (OCAA) will compete in Thunder Bay, Ont. this week at the 2016 OCAA Curling Championships.
The event will be hosted by Confederation College at the Port Arthur Curling Club. As one of the original sports in the OCAA, this marks the 49th time collegiate curlers will compete for provincial titles.
Men's, women's and mixed competitions will take place during the four-day bonspiel. Host Confederation Thunderhawks will be represented by teams in each category in search of the school's first OCAA curling title since 2008. Confederation has a strong history at these provincials, having been awarded 53 total OCAA medals.
Confederation's men's team will be led by first-year skip Philp DeCorte (Atikokan), while second-year vice Kyle Prystie (Kenora) is the lone returnee to the team. Ditto for third-year vice Carly Angers (Miami, Man.) on the Confederation women's team, led by third-year skip Megan St. Amand (Kakabeka Falls). Confederation's mixed team skip is first-year student-athlete Aidan Harvey (Nipigon).
Along with Confederation, Fanshawe College and Humber College will be represented in all three competitions. Fleming College and Niagara College will compete for both men's and women's medals, while Mohawk College, St. Clair College and Sault College will compete in men's and mixed. Seneca College will enter a women's team.
The Sault Cougars are the team to beat in the men's competition, winners of back-to-back OCAA gold medals, and three of the past four provincials. Back to defend their crown are fourth-year skip Matt Mann (Renfrew), second-year vice Josh Vanderburg (Sault Ste. Marie) and fourth-year second Kyle Sherlock (Thessalon). Second-year lead Brad Manson (Sault Ste. Marie) was an alternate on the team last season.
Fanshawe's women's team has had an excellent run the past few seasons, winning back-to-back provincial gold medals along with three of the past four national crowns. Fourth-year skip Shannon Kee (Sarnia) along with third-year second Christina Borgs (Guelph) are holdovers from last year's squad. Second-year lead Julie Clinton (London) was an alternate last season.
Sault is also the defending mixed champions. Fourth-year skip Sandy Toole (Cambridge) is the lone returnee from last year's gold medalists.
Beginning Thursday, teams will compete in a round robin, with the top four in each category advancing to Sunday's medal round. Semi-final winners advance to the gold medal draw, while losing teams compete for bronze.
Competitors will get an opportunity to advance to the 2016 Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association Curling National Championship from March 23-26 hosted by Fanshawe in London, Ont.
Championship Website: www.ocaacurlingchamps16.ca
Championship Schedule
Thursday, February 11
Draw 1 - 8 a.m.
Sheet 1 - St. Clair vs. Sault - Men
Sheet 2 - Confederation vs. Fanshawe - Men
Sheet 3 - Confederation vs. Sault - Mixed
Sheet 4 - Fleming vs. Humber - Men
Sheet 5 - Fanshawe vs. Humber - Mixed
Sheet 6 - Mohawk vs. Niagara - Men
Sheet 7 - Mohawk vs. St. Clair - Mixed
Draw 2 - 11 a.m.
Sheet 1 - Mohawk vs. Sault - Mixed
Sheet 2 - Confederation vs. Humber - Women
Sheet 3 - Fanshawe vs. St. Clair - Mixed
Sheet 4 - Fleming vs. Niagara - Women
Sheet 5 - Fanshawe vs. Seneca - Women
Sheet 6 - Confederation vs. Humber - Mixed
Opening Ceremonies - 1:30 p.m.
Draw 3 - 3:30 p.m.
Sheet 1 - Fanshawe vs. Fleming - Women
Sheet 2 - Fleming vs. Mohawk - Men
Sheet 3 - Fanshawe vs. Sault - Men
Sheet 4 - Confederation vs. St. Clair - Men
Sheet 5 - Humber vs. Niagara - Women
Sheet 6 - Confederation vs. Seneca - Women
Sheet 7 - Humber vs. Niagara - Men
Friday, February 12
Draw 4 - 8 a.m.
Sheet 1 - Humber vs. Seneca - Women
Sheet 2 - Confederation vs. Humber - Men
Sheet 3 - Mohawk vs. St. Clair - Men
Sheet 4 - Niagara vs. Sault - Men
Sheet 5 - Confederation vs. Fleming - Women
Sheet 6 - Fanshawe vs. Fleming - Men
Sheet 7 - Fanshawe vs. Niagara - Women
Draw 5 - 11:30 a.m.
Sheet 1 - Humber vs. Mohawk - Men
Sheet 2 - Fanshawe vs. Sault - Mixed
Sheet 3 - Confederation vs. Niagara - Men
Sheet 4 - Confederation vs. Mohawk - Mixed
Sheet 5 - Fanshawe vs. St. Clair - Men
Sheet 6 - Humber vs. St. Clair - Mixed
Sheet 7 - Fleming vs. Sault - Men
Draw 6 - 3:30 p.m.
Sheet 1 - Fleming vs. St. Clair - Men
Sheet 2 - Humber vs. Sault - Men
Sheet 3 - Fleming vs. Seneca - Women
Sheet 4 - Confederation vs. Niagara - Women
Sheet 5 - Confederation vs. Mohawk - Men
Sheet 6 - Fanshawe vs. Humber - Women
Sheet 7 - Fanshawe vs. Niagara - Men
Saturday, February 13
Draw 7 - 8 a.m.
Sheet 1 - Confederation vs. Fanshawe - Mixed
Sheet 3 - Humber vs. Mohawk - Mixed
Sheet 4 - St. Clair vs. Sault - Mixed
Draw 8 - 11:30 a.m.
Sheet 1 - Confederation vs. Sault - Men
Sheet 2 - Confederation vs. St. Clair - Mixed
Sheet 3 - Humber vs. St. Clair - Men
Sheet 4 - Fanshawe vs. Mohawk - Men
Sheet 5 - Fleming vs. Niagara - Men
Sheet 6 - Fanshawe vs. Mohawk - Mixed
Sheet 7 - Humber vs. Sault - Mixed
Draw 9 - 3:30 p.m.
Sheet 1 - Confederation vs. Fanshawe - Women
Sheet 2 - Niagara vs. Seneca - Women
Sheet 3 - Confederation vs. Fleming - Men
Sheet 4 - Fleming vs. Humber - Women
Sheet 5 - Mohawk vs. Sault - Men
Sheet 6 - Niagara vs. St. Clair - Men
Sheet 7 - Fanshawe vs. Humber - Men
Sunday, February 14
Semi-Finals - 8:30 a.m.
Championship Finals* - 12 p.m.
*OCAA Medals presented at conclusion of final draw
- OCAA -
ABOUT ONTARIO COLLEGES ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION
The Ontario Colleges Athletic Association (OCAA) is a recognized leader in intercollegiate athletics in the province, dedicated to student athlete and sport development. The OCAA has 30 members sponsoring 11 sports.
For additional information please contact:
Josh Bell-Webster
Marketing and Communications
Ontario Colleges Athletic Association
Tel: 416-426-7041
Fax: 416-426-7308
E-mail: bell-webster@ocaa.com