CURL: Alberta sweeps conference banners in Edmonton
Connor Hood, Bears and Pandas Athletics
EDMONTON – The Alberta Pandas defeated the Regina Cougars 9-4 in Draw 6, claiming the first Canada West Curling Championship in program history.
The win completes the weekend sweep for Alberta, as the Golden Bears secured the men’s title on Saturday afternoon.
2019 marked the return of curling as a Canada West sanctioned sport after a more than three-decade hiatus. The last conference men's title was won in 1981 to Lethbridge, while the most recent CW women's champion before Sunday was Saskatchewan back in 1984. Since 2011, Canada West teams participated in the Western Canadian University Curling Championships, which served as the qualifier for U SPORTS nationals.
The Pandas held a slim 4-3 lead at the fifth end break, before scoring one in six, and three in eight en route to the Draw 6 win. Both Alberta programs finished with perfect 4-0 records, while the Regina women and Lethbridge men finished the competition second at 2-2.
“It was a tight game, Regina is really strong, and they have some talented athletes. But the girls pulled through with some key shots in the later ends,” said Pandas coach, and female team coach of the year Garry Coderre. “It’s special to capture the first Canada West banner for this program. The girls have worked so hard to get here, and they’ll appreciate what this means.”
Both Alberta programs swept the conference awards as well, earning all eight all-stars and both Coach of the Year awards.
The Bears finished their round robin with a 9-2 win over Regina on Sunday morning, as they led for the entire match. The Bears have now combined to win 10 western championships, with this being the Pandas fifth.
Both Alberta rinks, as well as the Lethbridge men and Regina women will represent Canada West in Fredericton, NB for the Curling Canada/ U SPORTS Canadian University Curling Championship, March 15-19, 2019.
GAME SCORES FOR DRAW 6
MEN | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | TOT |
Alberta Golden Bears * | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 2 | X | X | X | 9 |
Regina Cougars | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | X | X | X | 2 |
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WOMEN | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | TOT |
Alberta Pandas * | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 1 | X | 9 |
Regina Cougars | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | X | 4 |
* Last Rock First End
FINAL MEN’S TOURNAMENT STANDINGS
TEAM | WINS | LOSSES |
Alberta | 4 | 0 |
Lethbridge | 2 | 2 |
Regina | 0 | 4 |
FINAL WOMEN’S TOURNAMENT STANDINGS
TEAM | WINS | LOSSES |
Alberta | 4 | 0 |
Regina | 2 | 2 |
Lethbridge | 0 | 4 |
MEN’S ALL-STARS
- Skip: Karsten Sturmay – Alberta Golden Bears
- Third: Chris Kennedy – Alberta Golden Bears
- Second: Glenn Venance – Alberta Golden Bers
- Lead: Caleb Boorse – Alberta Golden Bears
WOMEN’S ALL-STARS
- Skip: Selena Sturmay – Alberta Pandas
- Third: Abby Marks – Alberta Pandas
- Second: Kate Goodhelpsen – Alberta Pandas
- Lead: Paige Papley – Alberta Pandas
MEN’S TEAM COACH OF THE YEAR
Rob Krepps – Alberta Golden Bears
WOMEN’S TEAM COACH OF THE YEAR
Garry Coderre – Alberta Pandas