WELLAND, Ont. - The Niagara Knights women's and mixed doubles teams have jumped out to 2-0 starts at the first day of competition at the 2023 Ontario Colleges Athletic Association (OCAA) Curling Championships.
The bonspiel which consists of mixed doubles, men's and women's team competitions is being hosted by Niagara College at the Welland Curling Club in Welland, Ont., through Saturday.
The Niagara's women's rink led by skip Melissa Borowski (Welland) defeated Sault 9-2 and Fanshawe 10-1 to make an early statement on Thursday. The Knights will square off against Fleming and Humber on Friday to close out the single round robin. Humber is also undefeated at 1-0, winning its lone game against Sault 11-1. The Hawks are skipped by Meaghan Mallett (Waterloo).
In an all Niagara battle to begin the mixed doubles competition, Niagara-1 defeated Niagara-2 by an 11-1 score. The combo of Nick Lemieux (St. Catharines) and Claire Randell (St. Catharines) then rallied from being down 5-1 after three ends to defeat Humber 8-7 in extra ends.
The Niagara-2 pairing of Matthew Brenneman (Woodstock) and Amy Danen (Tavistock) rebounded from a 9-3 deficit after five ends to defeat Confederation-2 11-9 in their second match of the day.
The reigning OCAA men's team champion Mohawk Mountaineers started off hot as well, winning twice on Thursday. Mohawk, led by skip Jacob Jones (Brantford), defeated Humber 6-4 and Fanshawe 10-0. The Mountaineers face Fleming and Sault on Friday, with both rinks picking up opening day victories.
Draws 3, 4 and 5 will take place Friday beginning at 9:30 a.m. The top four teams in each discipline will advance to the medal rounds on Saturday with semi-finals, bronze and gold medal matches.
The top men's and women's teams will advance to the 2023 Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association/Curling Canada College Championships taking place in Sudbury, Ont., from Mar. 15-19.
Championship Website: www.ocaa.com/curl
MEN'S TEAM ROSTERS
Fanshawe: Nicholas Chasse (Metcalfe) Vice; Cameron Hall (Mississauga) Skip; Kapish Kaushal (India) Lead; Jack Welbanks (Kingston) Second
Fleming: Michael Duffy (Barrie) Lead; Cameron Fraser (Peterborough) Vice; Nolan Galardo (Innisfil) Skip; Finnian Meakins (Stirling) Second; Ben Potter (Guelph) Alternate
Humber: Matthew Abrams (Barrie) Second; Jacob Dobson (Haliburton) Skip; Noah Garner (Mississauga) Vice; Austin Snyder (Brantford) Lead
Mohawk: Jacob Jones (Brantford) Skip; Eric Just (Ancaster) Vice; Hunter Kuhlmann (Fergus) Alternate; Liam Little (Hailburton) Lead; Joel Matthews (Waterdown) Second
Sault: Avery Berry (Sault Ste. Marie) Lead; Evan Bowman (Sault Ste. Marie) Vice; Charles Darling (Sioux Lookout) Second; Connor Simms (Sault Ste. Marie) Skip
WOMEN'S TEAM ROSTERS
Fanshawe: Abigail Brown (Sudbury) Lead; Leah Hopkins (Ingersoll) Second; Nicole McClennan (Guelph) Vice; Hannah Schevers (Omemee) Alternate; Veronica Van Broekhoven (Port Stanley) Skip
Fleming: Kelly Galt (Brighton) Skip; Julianna Goertzen (Aylmer) Alternate; Brook Parcels (Peterborough) Second; Carissa Stauffer (Oshawa) Vice; Virgina Vander Byl (Alexandria) Lead
Humber: Daniela Aucoin (Brampton) Vice; Jessica Byers (Haliburton) Second; Parker Doig (Egmondville) Fifth; Meaghan Mallett (Waterloo) Skip; Emma Rebel (Ottawa) Lead
Niagara: Amelia Bender (Welland) Front End; Melissa Borowski (Welland) Skip; Alexa Desrochers (Welland) Vice; Emma Hill (Dundalk) Front End; Claire Randell (St. Catharines) Alternate
Sault: Abigail Hagger (Blind River) Vice; Taylor Pelletier-Cullerier (Sault Ste. Marie) Skip; Jayna Petingola (Sault Ste. Marie) Second; Ileana Ramirez Aguilar (Mexico) Lead
MIXED DOUBLES ROSTERS
Confederation-1: Sean Maurik (Thunder Bay); Katrina Slomke (Fort Frances)
Confederation-2: Tya Dell (Sioux Lookout); Joshua Palmai (Atikokan)
Humber: Julie Boulos (Mississauga) Spare; Kevin Genjaga (Mississauga); Sierra Hardwick (Midhurst)
Mohawk: Ashley Verhees (Elmwood); Elias Whittington (Campbellville)
Niagara-1: Nick Lemieux (St. Catharines); Claire Randell (St. Catharines)
Niagara-2: Matthew Brenneman (Woodstock); Amy Danen (Tavistock)
- OCAA -
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For over 50 years, the Ontario Colleges Athletic Association has been a dedicated leader in amateur athletics through the provision of quality varsity and recreational athletic opportunities at the collegiate level.
For additional information please contact:
Josh Bell-Webster
Marketing and Communications
Ontario Colleges Athletic Association
Tel: 416-426-7041
E-mail: bell-webster@ocaa.com