February 5, 2009
TRENT UNIVERSITY HOSTS OUA CURLING CHAMPIONSHIPS THIS WEEKEND
HAMILTON, Ont. - The top university curlers in Ontario will compete for provincial glory at the Ontario University Athletics (OUA) Curling Championships at the Peterborough Curling Club hosted by Trent University beginning this Saturday.
While the Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks are the defending men's and women's champions, the Western Mustangs have established themselves as the team to beat this weekend. Both of Western's teams have compiled 7-1 records at the OUA sectionals and crossovers this year, and will look to give the Mustangs their first OUA curling title since 2002-03, when the women were crowned provincial champions.
Skip Scott McDonald (London, Ont.), vice Micky Lizmore (London, Ont.), second Evan Lilly (Sudbury, Ont.) and leads Peter Myslik (Sudbury, Ont.), Chris Liscomb (Ilderton, Ont.) and Raymond Balberman (Brantford, Ont.) make up the Mustangs men's team comprised entirely of first and second-year students. Their only loss came at the OUA sectionals, dropping a 6-5 decision to the Brock Badgers. The two teams will meet again in Peterborough in round robin play.
Brock, who qualified for the OUA finals with a 5-3 record, is led by third-year skip Charles Kodors (Brampton, Ont.) and second Cory Ewart (St. Thomas, Ont.). The Badgers look to capture their second title in three years and third title in school history. Rounding out the Brock starters are first-year lead Jeff Fotheringham (Palmerston, Ont.) and first-year vice Jeff Inglis (Kleinburg, Ont.). Freshmen Curtis Muir (Midland, Ont.) and Alex Harrison (Vernon, Ont.) are alternates.
The Queen's Gaels and Laurier Golden Hawks were part of a five-way tie for the final two invites to Peterborough with 4-4 records. These two teams are battle-tested, having survived an elimination round at the OUA crossovers at Brock University last weekend. Queen's eliminated the Toronto Varsity Blues 5-2, while Laurier knocked out the Windsor Lancers 6-4. The Gaels comprise of skip Jonathan Beuk (Mississauga, Ont.), vice Greg Higgs (Denfield, Ont.), second Alec Cram (Kingston, Ont.), lead David Durant (Waterloo, Ont.) and alternate Mackenzie Dixon (Kingston, Ont.).
Laurier's men won the OUA and Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) titles in 2007-08. The Golden Hawks feature a different line-up this season with the back end of Mike Anderson (Markham, Ont.) and Bill Francis (Toronto, Ont.) graduating, and previous year's lead Matt Mapletoft (Wallaceberg, Ont.) taking over the skipping reins. Paul Arkilander (Sudbury, Ont.) moves up to vice position and alternate Scott McGregor (Exeter, Ont.) was promoted into the regular rotation. Second-year alternate Dave Kaun (Fort Frances, Ont.) is back on the roster, as well as freshmen Shane Konings (Gowanstown, Ont.), Matt Lowe (Unionville, Ont.) and Justin Sim-Little (London, Ont.). Mapletoft, Arkilander and McGregor will join Francis and Anderson in representing Canada at the 24th Winter Universiade in Harbin, China in two weeks.
The Golden Hawks are also the defending OUA and CIS champions on the women's side and will also compete at the Winter Universiade. Laurier is comprised of the same line-up competing in China; fourth-year skip Hollie Nicol (Markham, Ont.), second-year vice Danielle Inglis (Kleinberg, Ont.), third-year second Laura Hickey (Toronto, Ont.) and second-year lead Hilary McDermott (Guelph, Ont.). Sophomores Tracy O'Leary (Ajax, Ont.) and Alex Hughes (Dundas, Ont.) are alternates. Laurier finished the OUA regular season with a 6-2 record.
The Western women consist of second-year skip Erin Morrissey (Ottawa, Ont.), third-year vice Jackie Masongsong (Markham, Ont.), sophomore second Jordan Ariss (London, Ont.) and second-year lead Sarah Jesson (Waterloo, Ont.), with third-year curler Fiona Muirhead (London, Ont.) and freshman Sarah Mason (Flesherton, Ont.) as alternates. Their only loss came in the crossovers, an 8-7 defeat at the hands of the upstart Laurentian Voyageurs, who advance to the championship in the program's first OUA season. Skip Amanda Gates (Sudbury, Ont.), vice Kim Curtin (Lindsay, Ont.), and front ends Denise Brown (Barrie, Ont.), Joelle Boulanger (Mattawa, Ont.) and Renee Higgins (Sudbury, Ont.) had a 6-2 record during the regular season.
The other women's team competing for an OUA title are the Trent Excalibur, who had a 5-3 record in the sectionals and crossovers. Trent is led by third-year skip Jenna Bonner (Cavan, Ont.), fourth-year vice Julia Weagle (Ottawa, Ont.), and front ends Rebecca Clements (Peterborough, Ont.), Leeann Mugford (Peterborough, Ont.), and Lorna Orpwood (Brampton, Ont.).
The championship bonspiel consists of eight-end matches, with each team playing three round robin games at 8:30 a.m., 12 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. on Saturday. The semi-finals take place at 9:30 p.m. on Sunday, followed by the OUA final at 1 p.m.
2009 OUA CURLING CHAMPIONSHIPS
(Peterbourgh Curling Club, Hosted by Trent University)
Sat., Feb. 7:
8:30 a.m. - Western vs. Trent (W), Western vs. Queen's (M), Laurier vs. Laurentian (W), Brock vs. Laurier (M)
12 p.m. - Brock vs. Queen's (M), Western vs. Laurier (W), Western vs. Laurier (M), Laurentian vs. Trent (W)
3:30 p.m. - Laurentian vs. Western (W), Brock vs. Western (M), Trent vs. Laurier (W), Laurier vs. Queen's (M)
Sun., Feb. 8*:
9:30 a.m. - Men's and Women's Semi-Final
1 p.m. - Men's and Women's Final
* - subject to change if tiebreaker is necessary
– OUA –
ABOUT ONTARIO UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS
Ontario University Athletics (OUA) and its 19 member institutions are developing Champions For Life. Giving 9,000 student-athletes the opportunity to excel academically and on the playing field, while preparing for life after university. For more information, visit OUA.ca.
While the Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks are the defending men's and women's champions, the Western Mustangs have established themselves as the team to beat this weekend. Both of Western's teams have compiled 7-1 records at the OUA sectionals and crossovers this year, and will look to give the Mustangs their first OUA curling title since 2002-03, when the women were crowned provincial champions.
Skip Scott McDonald (London, Ont.), vice Micky Lizmore (London, Ont.), second Evan Lilly (Sudbury, Ont.) and leads Peter Myslik (Sudbury, Ont.), Chris Liscomb (Ilderton, Ont.) and Raymond Balberman (Brantford, Ont.) make up the Mustangs men's team comprised entirely of first and second-year students. Their only loss came at the OUA sectionals, dropping a 6-5 decision to the Brock Badgers. The two teams will meet again in Peterborough in round robin play.
Brock, who qualified for the OUA finals with a 5-3 record, is led by third-year skip Charles Kodors (Brampton, Ont.) and second Cory Ewart (St. Thomas, Ont.). The Badgers look to capture their second title in three years and third title in school history. Rounding out the Brock starters are first-year lead Jeff Fotheringham (Palmerston, Ont.) and first-year vice Jeff Inglis (Kleinburg, Ont.). Freshmen Curtis Muir (Midland, Ont.) and Alex Harrison (Vernon, Ont.) are alternates.
The Queen's Gaels and Laurier Golden Hawks were part of a five-way tie for the final two invites to Peterborough with 4-4 records. These two teams are battle-tested, having survived an elimination round at the OUA crossovers at Brock University last weekend. Queen's eliminated the Toronto Varsity Blues 5-2, while Laurier knocked out the Windsor Lancers 6-4. The Gaels comprise of skip Jonathan Beuk (Mississauga, Ont.), vice Greg Higgs (Denfield, Ont.), second Alec Cram (Kingston, Ont.), lead David Durant (Waterloo, Ont.) and alternate Mackenzie Dixon (Kingston, Ont.).
Laurier's men won the OUA and Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) titles in 2007-08. The Golden Hawks feature a different line-up this season with the back end of Mike Anderson (Markham, Ont.) and Bill Francis (Toronto, Ont.) graduating, and previous year's lead Matt Mapletoft (Wallaceberg, Ont.) taking over the skipping reins. Paul Arkilander (Sudbury, Ont.) moves up to vice position and alternate Scott McGregor (Exeter, Ont.) was promoted into the regular rotation. Second-year alternate Dave Kaun (Fort Frances, Ont.) is back on the roster, as well as freshmen Shane Konings (Gowanstown, Ont.), Matt Lowe (Unionville, Ont.) and Justin Sim-Little (London, Ont.). Mapletoft, Arkilander and McGregor will join Francis and Anderson in representing Canada at the 24th Winter Universiade in Harbin, China in two weeks.
The Golden Hawks are also the defending OUA and CIS champions on the women's side and will also compete at the Winter Universiade. Laurier is comprised of the same line-up competing in China; fourth-year skip Hollie Nicol (Markham, Ont.), second-year vice Danielle Inglis (Kleinberg, Ont.), third-year second Laura Hickey (Toronto, Ont.) and second-year lead Hilary McDermott (Guelph, Ont.). Sophomores Tracy O'Leary (Ajax, Ont.) and Alex Hughes (Dundas, Ont.) are alternates. Laurier finished the OUA regular season with a 6-2 record.
The Western women consist of second-year skip Erin Morrissey (Ottawa, Ont.), third-year vice Jackie Masongsong (Markham, Ont.), sophomore second Jordan Ariss (London, Ont.) and second-year lead Sarah Jesson (Waterloo, Ont.), with third-year curler Fiona Muirhead (London, Ont.) and freshman Sarah Mason (Flesherton, Ont.) as alternates. Their only loss came in the crossovers, an 8-7 defeat at the hands of the upstart Laurentian Voyageurs, who advance to the championship in the program's first OUA season. Skip Amanda Gates (Sudbury, Ont.), vice Kim Curtin (Lindsay, Ont.), and front ends Denise Brown (Barrie, Ont.), Joelle Boulanger (Mattawa, Ont.) and Renee Higgins (Sudbury, Ont.) had a 6-2 record during the regular season.
The other women's team competing for an OUA title are the Trent Excalibur, who had a 5-3 record in the sectionals and crossovers. Trent is led by third-year skip Jenna Bonner (Cavan, Ont.), fourth-year vice Julia Weagle (Ottawa, Ont.), and front ends Rebecca Clements (Peterborough, Ont.), Leeann Mugford (Peterborough, Ont.), and Lorna Orpwood (Brampton, Ont.).
The championship bonspiel consists of eight-end matches, with each team playing three round robin games at 8:30 a.m., 12 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. on Saturday. The semi-finals take place at 9:30 p.m. on Sunday, followed by the OUA final at 1 p.m.
2009 OUA CURLING CHAMPIONSHIPS
(Peterbourgh Curling Club, Hosted by Trent University)
Sat., Feb. 7:
8:30 a.m. - Western vs. Trent (W), Western vs. Queen's (M), Laurier vs. Laurentian (W), Brock vs. Laurier (M)
12 p.m. - Brock vs. Queen's (M), Western vs. Laurier (W), Western vs. Laurier (M), Laurentian vs. Trent (W)
3:30 p.m. - Laurentian vs. Western (W), Brock vs. Western (M), Trent vs. Laurier (W), Laurier vs. Queen's (M)
Sun., Feb. 8*:
9:30 a.m. - Men's and Women's Semi-Final
1 p.m. - Men's and Women's Final
* - subject to change if tiebreaker is necessary
– OUA –
ABOUT ONTARIO UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS
Ontario University Athletics (OUA) and its 19 member institutions are developing Champions For Life. Giving 9,000 student-athletes the opportunity to excel academically and on the playing field, while preparing for life after university. For more information, visit OUA.ca.
