February 16, 2005
OUA CURLING CHAMPIONSHIP SET FOR THIS WEEKEND
New women's champ to be crowned; Queen's men try for repeat
TORONTO - The Ontario University Athletics (OUA) curling championship takes place this weekend at the University of Toronto. The top four teams from the regular season advanced to the two day event that will crown OUA men's and women's champions Sunday afternoon.
There will be a new champion crowned on the women's side as 2003-04 champs, the Brock University Badgers, failed to qualify for the championship bonspiel . The Wilfrid Laurier University Golden Hawks, the University of Waterloo Warriors and Queen's University Golden Gaels are ranked first, second and third respectively, entering the bonspiel with identical 5-2 records. The University of Western Ontario Mustangs snuck into the fourth and final spot, advancing over Brock in the tie-breaker between the 4-3 teams. The Mustangs could surprise this weekend as they are the only competing team to win the title in recent years. In fact, Western has won the OUA women's banner two of the last three years. To make it three, the Mustangs will have to overcome Laurier, who has been unstoppable since starting the season with two straight losses. The Golden Hawks reeled off five straight victories heading into this weekend's championship and look poised to continue their success. However, all four teams have lost at least one game to the other three championship teams in the regular season.
For the men, Queen's, Brock, Trent University and Waterloo will be competing for the OUA title. The Golden Gaels are the defending champions and finished the regular season in first place with a 6-1 record. Their only loss came at the hands of Toronto, a team that failed to qualify for this weekend's championship bonspiel. They are undefeated against the other three teams that are curling this weekend, outscoring them 22-6. While Queen's looks for their second straight title, the Trent Excalibur are hoping to make history by winning their first ever OUA curling title. Although Waterloo made it into the playoffs on tiebreakers over two other teams, they cannot be counted out, having beaten Trent 10-5 earlier in the season. With the exception of the Golden Gaels, all teams in the final bonspiel are at 1-2 against the other competing teams this weekend.
TORONTO - The Ontario University Athletics (OUA) curling championship takes place this weekend at the University of Toronto. The top four teams from the regular season advanced to the two day event that will crown OUA men's and women's champions Sunday afternoon.
There will be a new champion crowned on the women's side as 2003-04 champs, the Brock University Badgers, failed to qualify for the championship bonspiel . The Wilfrid Laurier University Golden Hawks, the University of Waterloo Warriors and Queen's University Golden Gaels are ranked first, second and third respectively, entering the bonspiel with identical 5-2 records. The University of Western Ontario Mustangs snuck into the fourth and final spot, advancing over Brock in the tie-breaker between the 4-3 teams. The Mustangs could surprise this weekend as they are the only competing team to win the title in recent years. In fact, Western has won the OUA women's banner two of the last three years. To make it three, the Mustangs will have to overcome Laurier, who has been unstoppable since starting the season with two straight losses. The Golden Hawks reeled off five straight victories heading into this weekend's championship and look poised to continue their success. However, all four teams have lost at least one game to the other three championship teams in the regular season.
For the men, Queen's, Brock, Trent University and Waterloo will be competing for the OUA title. The Golden Gaels are the defending champions and finished the regular season in first place with a 6-1 record. Their only loss came at the hands of Toronto, a team that failed to qualify for this weekend's championship bonspiel. They are undefeated against the other three teams that are curling this weekend, outscoring them 22-6. While Queen's looks for their second straight title, the Trent Excalibur are hoping to make history by winning their first ever OUA curling title. Although Waterloo made it into the playoffs on tiebreakers over two other teams, they cannot be counted out, having beaten Trent 10-5 earlier in the season. With the exception of the Golden Gaels, all teams in the final bonspiel are at 1-2 against the other competing teams this weekend.
