February 15, 2008
NEW CHAMPIONS TO BE CROWNED IN 2008 AT OUA CURLING CHAMPIONSHIPS
HAMILTON, Ont. - In a sport where the slightest wrong touch of the rock can mean the difference between a championship and heart break, is why curling fans will see new champions crowned this weekend at the Ontario University Athletics (OUA) Curling Championships. On the men's side, since the 2000-01 season six different schools have taken home the banner, with the Laurier Golden Hawks being the only team to win twice in that span (2005-06, 2002-03). On the women's side 2007 Champion Waterloo Warriors missed out on the finals by one game, finishing their season with a 3-4 record. The University of Windsor will play host to the event February 16-17 which is sure to see a very competitive curling spiel this season.
On the men's side the Laurier Golden Hawks and the Western Mustangs come in as the heavy favourites, finishing the season tied for first place with a 6-1 record. The two teams faced-off at the crossover tournament hosted by Trent University which saw a tight battle to the end between these two top teams. In the sixth draw of the spiel, and with both teams having a very skilled and talented line up, the game featured aggressive play by both teams. A steal in the first and third end by the Hawks set the stage for the rest of the game. The Mustangs continued to look for an opening, but the Hawks strength in shot making was too much. Another steal in the sixth end by the Hawks dictated the end result, with the Hawks up by two going into the eighth end. The Hawks ran the Mustang's out of rocks, final score Hawks 5 , Mustangs 3.
A team who has always been in the hunt, the Queen's Golden Gaels will look to hold the banner Sunday afternoon. They come into the championship with an impressive 5-2 record, and will hope that their team comprised of first and second-year student-athletes can make the push for the gold medal game on Sunday.
The Waterloo Warriors youthful team will hope their energy and precise shooting is what they need to make a run at the championship. Fifth year skip Ryan Sayer (New Liskard, ON) will have to continue his stellar play to compete with the other squads as he leads the way for his first-year teammates in Scott Hindle (Ottawa, ON), Ed Cyr (Minden, ON) and Rob Fry (Midland, ON).
On the women's side the Western Mustangs led by Jennifer Scott come into the championship undefeated this season. Scott's excellent shot selection and decision-making skills have been exemplary, according to head coach Rory Munro. \"She has matured tremendously over the course of the season,\" he said. \"She's just taken it to the next level in terms of performance and leadership capabilities.\"
In just her second season as a skip at the OUA level, Scott's finesse draws, double takeouts and precision hits-and-rolls in the Crossovers (Feb. 2-3) were a major factor in Western going undefeated. \"She has a great support staff and has a tremendous rapport with her teammates,\" Munro said, \"and that has enhanced the team's performance immensely.\"
Rounding out the women's competition are the Laurier Golden Hawks who come in with a 5-2 record and will look to skip Hollie Nicol (Markham, ON) to take them to the final. The Queen's Golden Gaels with a 4-3 record will bring a balance of offensive and defensive strategies to the ice, and will be in tough with the Trent Excalibur (4-3) as the teams fight for the provincial championship.
OUA CURLING CHAMPIONSHIP SCHEDULE
MEN
Saturday February 17, 2008
8:00 am- Waterloo vs Laurier
8:00 am- Western vs Queen'
12:00 pm- Laurier vs Queen's
12:00 pm- Western vs Waterloo
4:00 pm- Queen's vs Waterloo
4:00 pm- Laurier vs Western
Sunday February 18, 2008
IF TIEBREAKERS ARE REQUIRED
8:00 am- Tiebreaker game if necessary
12:00 pm - 2-3 game
4:00 pm - Gold Medal Match (1 vs Winner of 2 vs 3)
IF TIEBREAKERS ARE NOT REQUIRED
8:30 am - 2-3 game
1:00 pm - Gold Medal Match (1 vs Winner of 2 vs 3)
WOMEN
Saturday February 17, 2008
8:00 am- Western vs Trent
8:00 am- Laurier vs Queen's
12:00 pm- Western vs Queen's
12:00 pm- Laurier vs Trent
4:00 pm- Queen's vs Trent
4:00 pm- Western vs Laurier
Sunday February 18, 2008
IF TIEBREAKERS ARE REQUIRED
8:00 am- Tiebreaker game if necessary
12:00 pm - 2-3 game
4:00 pm - Gold Medal Match (1 vs Winner of 2 vs 3)
IF TIEBREAKERS ARE NOT REQUIRED
8:30 am - 2-3 game
1:00 pm - Gold Medal Match (1 vs Winner of 2 vs 3)
- OUA -
Michelle Church
Communications & Media Relations Coordinator
Ontario University Athletics
Tel: (905) 540-5156
Fax: (905) 574-2840
E-mail: michelle.church@oua.ca
Web: www.oua.ca
On the men's side the Laurier Golden Hawks and the Western Mustangs come in as the heavy favourites, finishing the season tied for first place with a 6-1 record. The two teams faced-off at the crossover tournament hosted by Trent University which saw a tight battle to the end between these two top teams. In the sixth draw of the spiel, and with both teams having a very skilled and talented line up, the game featured aggressive play by both teams. A steal in the first and third end by the Hawks set the stage for the rest of the game. The Mustangs continued to look for an opening, but the Hawks strength in shot making was too much. Another steal in the sixth end by the Hawks dictated the end result, with the Hawks up by two going into the eighth end. The Hawks ran the Mustang's out of rocks, final score Hawks 5 , Mustangs 3.
A team who has always been in the hunt, the Queen's Golden Gaels will look to hold the banner Sunday afternoon. They come into the championship with an impressive 5-2 record, and will hope that their team comprised of first and second-year student-athletes can make the push for the gold medal game on Sunday.
The Waterloo Warriors youthful team will hope their energy and precise shooting is what they need to make a run at the championship. Fifth year skip Ryan Sayer (New Liskard, ON) will have to continue his stellar play to compete with the other squads as he leads the way for his first-year teammates in Scott Hindle (Ottawa, ON), Ed Cyr (Minden, ON) and Rob Fry (Midland, ON).
On the women's side the Western Mustangs led by Jennifer Scott come into the championship undefeated this season. Scott's excellent shot selection and decision-making skills have been exemplary, according to head coach Rory Munro. \"She has matured tremendously over the course of the season,\" he said. \"She's just taken it to the next level in terms of performance and leadership capabilities.\"
In just her second season as a skip at the OUA level, Scott's finesse draws, double takeouts and precision hits-and-rolls in the Crossovers (Feb. 2-3) were a major factor in Western going undefeated. \"She has a great support staff and has a tremendous rapport with her teammates,\" Munro said, \"and that has enhanced the team's performance immensely.\"
Rounding out the women's competition are the Laurier Golden Hawks who come in with a 5-2 record and will look to skip Hollie Nicol (Markham, ON) to take them to the final. The Queen's Golden Gaels with a 4-3 record will bring a balance of offensive and defensive strategies to the ice, and will be in tough with the Trent Excalibur (4-3) as the teams fight for the provincial championship.
OUA CURLING CHAMPIONSHIP SCHEDULE
MEN
Saturday February 17, 2008
8:00 am- Waterloo vs Laurier
8:00 am- Western vs Queen'
12:00 pm- Laurier vs Queen's
12:00 pm- Western vs Waterloo
4:00 pm- Queen's vs Waterloo
4:00 pm- Laurier vs Western
Sunday February 18, 2008
IF TIEBREAKERS ARE REQUIRED
8:00 am- Tiebreaker game if necessary
12:00 pm - 2-3 game
4:00 pm - Gold Medal Match (1 vs Winner of 2 vs 3)
IF TIEBREAKERS ARE NOT REQUIRED
8:30 am - 2-3 game
1:00 pm - Gold Medal Match (1 vs Winner of 2 vs 3)
WOMEN
Saturday February 17, 2008
8:00 am- Western vs Trent
8:00 am- Laurier vs Queen's
12:00 pm- Western vs Queen's
12:00 pm- Laurier vs Trent
4:00 pm- Queen's vs Trent
4:00 pm- Western vs Laurier
Sunday February 18, 2008
IF TIEBREAKERS ARE REQUIRED
8:00 am- Tiebreaker game if necessary
12:00 pm - 2-3 game
4:00 pm - Gold Medal Match (1 vs Winner of 2 vs 3)
IF TIEBREAKERS ARE NOT REQUIRED
8:30 am - 2-3 game
1:00 pm - Gold Medal Match (1 vs Winner of 2 vs 3)
- OUA -
Michelle Church
Communications & Media Relations Coordinator
Ontario University Athletics
Tel: (905) 540-5156
Fax: (905) 574-2840
E-mail: michelle.church@oua.ca
Web: www.oua.ca
